not a Nihilist that I might betray him, he had me arrested and sent
to Siberia, where I suffered the tortures of the damned for more than a
year, until chance took me here again, as the valet of a surgeon on
leave of absence, when I managed to escape long enough to reach the
American minister, who quickly secured my liberation, together with an
official apology and indemnity."

"You astonish me, sir."

"But I am telling you too much, perhaps."

"No, you are not, young man, for I am Peter Vola," said the man, leaping
to his feet and extending his hand, "I am the same man who accosted and
conducted you hither, for I have had a spy on your track ever since you
imprudently inquired for me. But I feel that I can trust you."

"You can. I am not a Nihilist in form, but I am one at heart, and will
yet make these despots feel what I have undeservedly felt," said he,
vehemently.

"Good. We need you. But you spoke of a message you had for me."

"Yes."

"From Siberia?"

"Yes."

"And from---"

"Whom do you think?" asked Barnwell, resolved to put a final test to the
man's identity.

"Perhaps from my poor sister, Zora."

"The same."

"Heaven be praised!"

"She had a letter written to send you, but I thought it might be unsafe
to have on my person, both for you and myself."

"You were right."

"So I took her verbal message."

"Oh, tell me of my poor dear sister!" the man almost cried, and
thereupon Barnwell related his acquaintance with her, together with the
story of his life in Siberia, as already known to the reader.

Then he repeated the message Zora had entrusted him with, while tears
streamed down the brother's face.

"Poor girl, what a fate is hers! But if she lives she shall yet be free.
Oh, sir, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindness
to her and to me, and if we are never able to repay you, Heaven surely
will do so," said Vola, greatly moved.

"I am amply repaid by being able to do someone a kindness. But my
mission has not yet begun. I have a trust to keep of which I have not
yet spoken. You, of course, know of Batavsky?"

"I have heard of him, but he worked and was exiled before my time
almost--at least, before I began to work."

"Well, at his death I received from him a certain charge that may
possibly enable me to benefit his compatriots in Russia; but he told me
to become an active Nihilist, that I might be the better able to work
successfully."

"And so you shall, m