r another word I
rushed into my state-room and bolted the door.

"'Not once did I leave my room during that trip across the ocean, but
when the steamer arrived at Liverpool, and I started to go ashore, the
very first person my eyes rested upon was John Convert; and from that
time on he incessantly dogged my footsteps all over Europe. The more I
saw of him, the more debased and despicable he appeared to me. The good,
kind, old face, that I had loved so well, had now apparently become
distorted by a murderous expression, and the soulful eyes which had
intoxicated me with ecstasy, now depicted the nature of a degenerate. I
shunned him as I would a leper, and many times I wished that I had left
him to die in the hospital, instead of aiding him to recover. He became
so objectionable to my sight that I threatened to have him arrested if
he did not stop following me about. But this had no effect upon him
whatever, and after three long, weary months of travel on the continent,
in which I attempted to elude him, without success, I finally returned
to England and boarded a steamer at Southampton for New York. I fully
expected to see John Convert make the voyage also, but to my surprise
and great joy I saw him standing on the pier after the steamer had left
her moorings and was steaming away. He stood waving his hand at me, and
I watched him until beyond the range of vision, then went down to my
state-room, with a feeling of relief, as though a great load had been
lifted from my shoulders. One of the first things that attracted my
attention after entering the state-room, was a large, well-filled
envelope, lying upon the bed, and addressed to me. Tearing it open, I
found an assortment of various documents, among which was the following
letter.'"

"'My dear Arletta: At last realizing that you are beyond my reach and
that further efforts to win your love would be useless, and feeling that
after all, my affinity is not really you but she whom I recently killed,
and as my conscience is torturing me until I can find no rest or
contentment in life, I have decided to avenge the many crimes I have
committed during the past by taking my own life, and ere you read these
lines I shall be dead.

"'My life has been a most miserable failure, and were it not for the
fact that during my last hours I feel a strong desire to try and make
amends, through you, to the man I have been impersonating for many
years, I should, quietly pass out of existe