ining room.

"Oh, Miss Moore, surely your services were never so much needed as now,
you seem so clever! Oh, if you could, by any means in earthly power,
coax young Mrs. Gardiner from her husband's bedside, the operation would
be performed, whether she consented or not! In God's name, see what you
can do!"

Bernardine waited to hear no more, but, like a storm-driven swallow,
fairly flew across the lawn to the house, without even stopping a moment
to give the least explanation concerning the strange horse and buggy
which she had left in the groom's hands.

As the man had said, the greatest excitement pervaded the mansion.
Servants were running about hither and thither, wringing their hands,
expecting to hear each moment--they knew not what.

Like one fairly dazed, Bernardine flew along the corridor toward the
blue and gold room which she knew had been set apart for Jay Gardiner's
use.

She could hear the murmur of excited voices as she reached the door.

She saw that it was ajar. A draught of wind blew it open as she
approached.

As she reached the threshold, Bernardine stood rooted to the spot at the
spectacle that met her gaze.

Young Mrs. Gardiner was bending over her hapless husband with a face so
transformed by hate--yes, hate--there was no mistaking the
expression--that it nearly took Bernardine's breath away. In her right
hand she held the gleaming blade, the end of which rested against Jay's
bared breast.

The doctor had sunk into the nearest seat, and in that unfortunate
moment had taken his eyes off the sufferer, whose life was ebbing so
swiftly, and had dropped his face in his trembling hands to think out
what he had best do in this dire moment of horror.

All this Bernardine took in at a single glance.

Jay Gardiner's life hung in the balance. She forgot her surroundings,
forgot everything, but that she must save him even though at the risk of
her own life. She would have gladly given a hundred lives, if she had
them, to save him.

She did not stop an instant to formulate any plan, but with a cry of the
most intense horror, born of acute agony, she had cleared the space
which divided her from young Mrs. Gardiner at a single bound, and in a
twinkling had hurled the blade from her hands.

Sally Gardiner was taken so entirely by surprise for an instant that she
did not stoop to recover the gleaming knife which had fallen between her
assailant and herself.

In that instant, the doctor, who had