and moved to some
slight response.

"Yes! I thought so! No! I did not! I knew you were too clever to die
so. But then the flames! They ate up the whole building, and I did not
see how--I could not imagine--and I was afraid! But now you are safe
again! You are with me, and I love you a million times more that I
have mourned your death!"

"Come, come, dear heart! I am alive and unhurt. I never was in danger.
I would not kill myself, you know. I love my life too well! And it was
I who set the fire!"

"I thought that too at times! You did it to baffle the police! I see
it all! Oh, you are so clever! Now they will think you dead, and we
can go away together and live without fear! Is it not so?"

"No, Cora! As I told you this afternoon, I shall give myself up to the
police!"

"No, no, no! You must not! You shall not! What, risk your precious
life again? You will not, say that you will not! If you love me, say
it!"

She twined her arms about his neck, and held him tight as though he
meditated going away at once. In the fear of this new danger, an agony
welled up about her heart, and tears choked her utterance. But the
Doctor remained impassive. He gently, but forcibly, disengaged himself
from her embrace, and seating himself, drew her down to her knees
beside him. Then he took her head in his hands, compelling her to look
at him, and spoke to her in measured tones.

"Cora! Calm yourself! You are growing hysterical. You know me too
well, to suppose that I would swerve from a fixed purpose. I will not
leave this city. As I have told you, all my hopes for the future bind
me here. Elsewhere I should be as nothing, here I will grow into
greatness,--greatness which you shall share with me, if you be but
brave!"

"But this trial! Suppose--suppose--oh! The horror of it!" She dropped
her head upon his lap and wept. He stroked her beautiful black hair,
which had become disengaged and now fell down her back, completely
covering her shoulders. Presently when she was more quiet, only an
occasional sob indicating that she was yet disturbed, he spoke to her,
soothingly, caressingly, so that under the magic of his tones she
gradually recovered her self-possession.

"My little one, have no fear! This trial is but an incident which
scarcely gives me a troublesome thought. The worst is that I shall
probably be in prison for some time awaiting trial. A meddlesome
interference with the liberty of a man, which the law takes, offering