out his
hand to clutch it.

A deep groan startled them and they sprang to their feet, pale and
trembling with sudden terror, each holding his breath and straining his
ear to catch a repetition of the dread sound.

But all was silent, and after a moment of anxious waiting, they sat down
to their game again; trying to conceal and shake off their fears with a
forced, unnatural laugh.

But scarcely had they taken the cards into their hands when a second
groan, deeper, louder and more prolonged than the first, again started
them to their feet.

"I tell you this is growing serious," whispered one in a shaking voice,
his very lips white with fear.

"It came from under the table," gasped Ward, "look what's there."

"Look yourself."

"Both together then," and simultaneously they bent down and peered into
the space underneath the board.

There was nothing there.

"What can it have been?" they asked each other.

"Oh, nonsense! what fools we are! of course somebody's ill in one of the
state-rooms." And they resumed their game for the second time.

But a voice full of unutterable anguish, came from beneath their feet,
"'Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue: for I am tormented in
this flame," and in mortal terror they sprang up, dashed down their
cards and fled, not even waiting to gather up the "filthy lucre" for
which they wore selling their souls.

It was the last game of cards for that trip.

The captain coming in shortly after the sudden flight of the gamblers,
took charge of the money, and the next day restored it to the owners.

To Elsie's observant eyes it presently became evident that the Dalys
were in very straitened circumstances. They made no complaint, but with
her warm sympathy and delicate tact, she soon drew from the wife all the
information she needed to convince her that here was a case that called
for the pecuniary assistance Providence had put it in her power to give.

She consulted with her husband, and the result was a warm invitation to
the Dalys to spend the winter at Viamede, where they would have all the
benefit of the mild climate, congenial society, use of the library,
horses, etc., and be at no expense.

"Oh how kind, how very kind!" Mrs. Daly said with tears of joy and
gratitude, "we have hardly known how we should meet the most necessary
expenses of this trip, but have been trying to cast our care upon