Sybilla Silver!"

No words can describe the look of agony, of terror, of repulsion, that
crossed my lady's face. She held up both hands with a gesture of
loathing and horror.

"Keep off!" she cried. "You murderess!"

"Yes," she cried, "that is the word--murderess!--for I murdered your
daughter-in-law. You never liked her, you know, Lady Kingsland.
Surely, then, when I stabbed her and threw her into the sea, I did you
a good turn. Lie still, and listen to me. I have a long story to tell
you, beginning with the astrologer's prediction."

With fiendish composure Sybilla repeated the story she had told Sir
Everard, while Lady Kingsland lay paralyzed and listened.

The atrocious revelation ended, she looked at her prostrate foe with a
diabolical smile.

"My oath is kept; the prediction is fulfilled. In a few hours the last
of the Kingslands dies by the hand of the common hangman. I have told
you all, and I dare you to injure one hair of my head. Within the hour
my journey from England commences. Search for last year's snow, for
last September's partridges, and when you find them you may hope to
find Sybilla Silver. Burn the prediction, destroy my grandmother's
portrait and lock of hair, so carefully hidden away for many years.
Their work is done, and my vengeance is complete. Lady Kingsland,
farewell!"

"Murderess!" spoke a deep and awful voice--"murderess! murderess!"

"Ah-h-h-h-h!"

With a shriek of wordless affright, Sybilla Silver leaped back, and
stood cowering against the wall. For the dead had risen and stood
before her. The phantom slowly advanced.

"Murderess, confess your guilt!"

"Mercy, mercy! mercy!" shrieked Sybilla Silver. "Spare me! Touch me
not! Oh, God! what is this?"

"Confess!"

"I confess--I murdered you--I stabbed you! Sir Everard is innocent!
Keep off! Mercy! mercy!"

With an unearthly scream, the horrified woman threw up both arms to
keep off the awful vision, and fell forward in strong convulsions.

"Very well done," said Mr. Bryson, entering briskly. "I don't think we
need any further proof of this lady's guilt. You have played ghost to
some purpose, my dear Lady Kingsland. Come in, gentlemen. We'll have
no trouble carrying off our prize."

He paused, and stepped back with a blanched face, for Lady Kingsland
lay writhing in the last agony.

With a wild cry, Mildred threw herself on her knees by her mother's
side.

"Mamma--dear mamma--don't look like tha