and where she had
expected to see her brother's golden curls, the crisp, black locks of
Mr. Dunbar met her gaze.

"You! Here?"

She staggered, and sank back on the bench; the realization of Bertie's
peril throttling the joy that leaped up in her heart, at sight of the
beloved features.

"I am here. I come as promptly to fulfil my promise as you to keep your
tryst. Do you understand me so little, that you doubted my word?"

Her bonnet had slipped back, and as all the chastened beauty of her
face framed in the dainty cap, became fully exposed, a heavy sigh
escaped him, and he set his teeth, like one nerved to endure torture.

For months he had nourished the germ of a generous purpose, had tried
to accustom himself to the idea of ultimately surrendering her; but in
her presence, a certain bitter fury swept away the wretched figment,
and he remembered only how fair, how holy, how dear she was to him.
Once more the cry of his famishing heart was: "Death may part us. I
swear no man's arms ever shall."

"Why waylay and torment me? Have I not suffered enough at your hands?
Between me and mine not even you can come."

"Take care! For your sake I am here, hoping to spare you some pangs; to
allow you at least an opportunity to see him--"

"What have you done? Don't tell me I am too late. Where is he? Oh!
where--where is he?"

She had sprung up, and her hands closed around his arm, shaking it in
the desperation of her dread; while her voice quivered under the strain
of a conjecture that Bertie had already been arrested.

"Where is your chivalrous, courageous, unselfish, devoted lover? To
ascertain exactly where he skulks, is my mission to Canada; for I
thought I had schooled myself to bear the pain of--"

"What do you mean? What have you done with my Bertie? Oh--"

She threw herself suddenly on her knees, held up her hands, and a
wailing cry broke the stillness:

"Save him, Mr. Dunbar! You will break my heart if you bring ruin upon
his dear head. He is all I have on earth, he is my own brother! My
brother! my brother!"

The blood ebbed from his face; the haughty mouth twitched in a sudden
spasm, and he put his hand over his eyes.

Could she adopt this ruse to thwart pursuit of the man whom she
idolized? For half a moment he stood, with whitened lips; then stooped,
took the face of the kneeling woman in his palms, and scanned it.

"Your brother?"

"My brother. Do you understand at last, why I must save him? Wh