crossed his path, Wilfrey Lawson turned
about and passed out without another word.

He returned to the castle and ascended the Donjon tower.

"Tell me how you became possessed of the warrant," he said. "Tell me,
I beg of you, for my soul's sake as well as for your life's sake."

Ralph shook his head.

"It is not even yet too late. I shall take horse instantly for
Newcastle."

Sim had crept up, and, standing behind Ralph, was plucking at his
jerkin.

Ralph turned about and looked wistfully into the old man's face. For
an instant his purpose wavered.

"For the love of God," cried the sheriff, "for your own life's sake,
for this poor man's sake, by all that is near and dear to both, I
charge you, if you are an innocent man, give me the means to prove you
such."

But again Ralph shook his head.

"Then you are resolved to die?"

"Yes! But for my old friend here--save him if you will and can."

"You will give me no word as to the warrant?"

"None."

"Then all is over."

But going at once to the stables in the courtyard, he called to a
stableman,--

"Saddle a horse and bring it round to my quarters in half an hour."

In less time than that Wilfrey Lawson was riding hard towards
Newcastle.

CHAPTER XLVII. THE BLACK CAMEL AT THE GATE.

Next morning after Rotha's struggle with Mrs. Garth at the bridge, the
rumor passed through Wythburn that the plague was in the district.
Since the advent of the new preachers the people had seen the dreaded
scourge dangling from the sleeve of every stranger who came from the
fearsome world without. They had watched for the fatal symptoms: they
had waited for them: they had invited them. Every breeze seemed to be
freighted with the plague wind; every harmless ailment seemed to be
the epidemic itself.

Not faith in the will of God, not belief in destiny, not fortitude or
fatalism, not unselfishness or devil-may-care indifference, had saved
the people from the haunting dread of being mown down by the unseen
and insidious foe.

And now in very truth the plague seemed to have reached their doors.
It was at the cottage by the smithy. Rumor said that Mrs. Garth had
brought it with her from Carlisle, but it was her son who was stricken
down.

The blacksmith had returned home soon after Rotha had left him. His
mother was there, and she talked to him of what she had heard of the
plague. This was in order to divert his attention from the subject
that she knew to be upp