hateful veil? You alone can save her from this dreadful
dilemma.'

"My Yankee cautiousness was awakened, but I replied, 'I do love your
sister, sir, and would do any thing but marry a woman who does not
love me to save her from such a fate as you represent; but still, sir,
I cannot perceive how that I, till lately unknown to you, can have
such an influence over you and yours. Is not your own power sufficient
to prevent such undesirable results?'

"I saw by the moonlight that my companion's eyes flashed with anger,
but he made a strong effort to control himself.

"'I do not wonder,' he said, a moment after, 'that you are angry, Mr.
Stewart, after the conduct of my madcap sister, or indeed that you
deem it strange to find yourself of so much importance suddenly,' he
added, a little maliciously, 'but I will explain the last matter to
you, relying upon your honor. About two years ago, I accompanied
Alvarez to Havana, upon some business relative to Clara's estate.
While returning late one evening to our hotel, we heard in a retired
street the cries of a woman in distress. Midnight outrages were then
very common in the city, and usually the inhabitants, if they were not
themselves interested in the issue, paid very little attention to
calls for assistance, and Alvarez, upon my suggesting to him to go
with me to the aid of the lady making the outcry, advised me to
consult my own safety by keeping clear of the _fracas_, but when a
louder cry for help reached my ears, I could restrain myself no
longer, but started for the scene of action. I soon perceived a
carriage drawn up before a house which had been broken open. Two of
the professional bravos were forcing a lady into this carriage, whom,
by the light of the lanterns, I recognized to be an actress at the San
Carlos. A gentleman in a mask stood by, apparently the commander of
the expedition. I called to the ruffians to desist, but was hindered
from attacking them by the gentleman, who drew his sword and kept me
off, while the robbers forced the lady into the carriage and drove
rapidly away. My antagonist seemed also disposed to retreat, but I was
very angry and kept him engaged, until, growing angry in his turn, he
seriously prepared himself to fight. He was a very expert swordsman,
nevertheless in a few minutes I ran him through the body, and he
instantly fell and expired. At this juncture Don Carlos stepped up,
and when we removed the mask from the face of the corpse, I