, and the dark eyes so like his mother's, were for an
instant dimmed by tears.

"Keep it; no sin of theft soils your hands. You can wear it without a
blush. You never robbed an old man of his gold. That was my crime, I am
a thief."

"Our God sees you have repented bitterly; and He has pardoned your sins
for His dear Son's sake. Tell me, Bertie, have you made your eternal
salvation sure? Are you, in your soul, at peace with God?"

"At perfect peace. I want to die, because now I am no longer afraid to
meet Him, who forgives even thieves. Gigi, wait a little--"

He seemed to make a desperate effort to rally his strength, and the
thin, fine nostril flared, in the battle for breath.

"There has been a terrible mistake, and they made you suffer for what
they imagined happened. When I found I had only a few months to live, I
wrote to Father Beckx, whom I had known in Montreal, and asked him to
tell mother where I was. I never knew till he went to X---and wrote us
about the trial, that you were suspected and punished for a crime that
was never committed. I thought you and mother were safe in New York,
all those years, and I knew that you would be sure to take care of her.
I have it all written down--and I can't tell you now--but I want to
look straight into your dear eyes--my brave sister, my loving
sister--and let you learn first from me--the reward you have won--your
Bertie is not a murderer. I did take the money from the vault which was
wide open, when first I saw it. I did steal and destroy the will, which
I thought unjustly robbed us all of our right to the Darrington estate,
but that was my sole offence. I am a thief, before God and man, but
there is no more stain of blood on my hands than on yours. General
Darrington was not murdered. He died by the hand of God alone--"

A bluish shadow settled around his parted lips, and he panted.

Mr. Dunbar raised him, fanned him, rested his head more comfortably
against his sister's shoulder; and again he looked intently into her
eyes, as though his soul, plumed for departure, must right itself in
the presence of hers, before the final flight.

"He struck me with the andiron, and broke my wrist here--then before I
ever touched him--as he raised it to assault me the second time--there
came an awful blinding glare--the world was wrapped in a blue fire--and
God struck us both down. When I became conscious, my senses were all
stunned, but after a while I knew I was lying on the