ing with infernal joy, would drag her to the flaming gulf that yawns for him. The dreamer leaps at the wretch's throat, and crying, "Villain, was it for this fate I saved her?”——awakes to find himself struggling with the monster of his dream, the idol of his waking senses-" Mr. North."

North, paralyzed no less by the suddenness of the attack than by the words with which it was accompanied, let fall his cloak, and stood trembling before the prophetic accusation of the man whose curses he had come to earn.

"I was dreaming," said Rufus Dawes. "A terrible dream! But it has passed now. The message—you have brought me a message, have you not? Why-what ails you? You are pale-your knees tremble. Did my violence-?"

North recovered himself with a great effort. "It is nothing. Let us talk, for my time is short. You have thought me a good manone blessed of God, one consecrated to a holy service; a man honest, pure, and truthful. I have returned to tell you the truth. I am none of these things." Rufus Dawes sat staring, unable to comprehend this madness. "I told you that the woman you loved—for

you do love her-sent you a message of forgiveness. I lied."

"What!"

"I never told her of your confession. I never mentioned your name to her."

"And she will go without knowing-Oh, Mr. North, what have you done?"

My task is

"Wrecked my own soul!" cried North, wildly, stung by the reproachful agony of the tone. "Do not cling to me. done. You will hate me now. wish-I merit it. Let me go, I be too late."

That is my

say. I shall

"Too late! For what?" He looked at the cloak-through the open window came the voices of the men in the boat-the memory of the rose, of the scene in the prison, flashed across him, and he understood it all. "Great Heaven, you go together!"

"Let me go," repeated North, in a hoarse voice.

Rufus Dawes stepped between him and the door. "No, madman, I will not let you go, to do this great wrong, to kill this innocent young soul, who-God help her-loves you!" North, confounded at this sudden reversal of their position towards each other, crouched bewildered against the wall. "I say you shall

VOL. III.

18

not go! You shall not destroy your own soul and hers! You love her! So do I; and my love is mightier than yours, for it shall save her!"

"In God's name" cried the unhappy priest, striving to stop his ears. "Ay, in God's name! In the name of that God whom in my torments I had forgotten! In the name of that God whom you taught me to remember! That God who sent you to save me from despair, gives me strength to save you in my turn! Oh, Mr. North-my teacher-my friendfriend-my brother -by the sweet hope of mercy which you preached to me, be merciful to this erring woman!"

North lifted agonized eyes. her! Love her, do you hear? know of love?"

"But I love

What do you

"Love!" cried Rufus Dawes, his pale face radiant. "Love! Oh, it is you who do not know it. Love is the sacrifice of self, the death of all desire that is not for another's

good, Love is Godlike! You love?-no, no, your love is selfishness, and will end in shame! Listen, I will tell you the history of such a love as yours."

North, enthralled by the other's overmaster

ing will, fell back trembling.

mean ?"

"What do you

"I will tell you the secret of my life, the reason why I am here. Come closer."

HE house in Clarges Street was duly placed at the disposal of Mrs.

Richard Devine, who was installed in it, to the profound astonishment and disgust of Mr. Smithers and his fellow-servants. It only remained that the lady should be formally recognized by Lady Devine. The rest of the ingenious programme would follow as a matter of course. John Rex was well aware of the position which, in his assumed personality, he occupied in society. He knew that by the world of servants, of waiters, of those to whom servants and waiters could babble; of such turfites and men-about-town as had reason to inquire concerning Mr. Richard's