ge made He man;" these words
came to my mind as I looked into that dear face. Then I prayed in
silence--for him. Thank God! his eyes were open now and his lips were
moving. I bent lower until I could feel his breath upon my cheek.

"Is it you, Kendric?" he whispered. "Did I save you from the fire? I
cannot see you, but I know you are here."

I heard his words distinctly, but I could not answer. The power of
speech seemed to have left me.

"The fire awoke me," he continued, moaning. "We were lying on the floor.
I called to you, but you did not answer. Thank God! you are safe now."

Returning consciousness brought with it an increasing sense of his
pain, and he began to struggle and groan in dreadful agony. Suddenly,
extending one of his blackened hands until it touched my face, he
shouted in a loud voice:

"Kendric! Kendric! help--help me!"

Then some men laid hold of me and lifted me up. I clung to Rayel with
all my strength, but could not resist them, and as I was borne away I
knew that Rayel and I had parted forever.

CHAPTER XVII

After that midnight parting the first thing I can recall was the touch
of a gentle hand upon my face. When my eyes opened I saw Hester bending
over me.

"You are at home now, Kendric," said she. Such a feeling of weakness
came over me that I could not speak. I thought a nail had been driven
into my brain, but the tears that began rolling down my cheeks and the
moans that broke from my lips seemed to loosen it.

Many days passed before I was able to reflect upon this last tragic
episode in my life or to take any thought of the morrow. One evening
I awoke from a deep sleep feeling a new interest in life. There were
people sitting in the room and talking in low tones.

"Has he asked for Rayel yet?" said one of them.

"Not yet," was the answer.

"Better not let him know about it yet. There's time enough. He'll be
around soon."

I called to them and they came quickly to my bedside. There were Hester
and Mr. Earl and his good wife, all looking down upon me with smiling
faces.

"You need not be afraid to tell me now. I know that Rayel is dead."

They made no answer.

"I know he is dead, but tell me how it happened," I said. "There is no
danger; I am quite strong now."

Mr. Earl took my hand and told me in a low, calm voice, all he knew of
the tragedy. He only knew, however, that the lamp had exploded and that
Rayel had been horribly burned by the oil.

"I suppose,"