sed our threshold; and this accounted for the manner in which he
had managed to avoid me in my own household.

"'You! You fiend incarnate, have I found you at last? I could kill you
here and now!' I cried as my fingers tightened around his throat. 'But I
will give you one chance to save yourself. Name your own place as to
where you will meet me. I did not recognize you before. You shall tell
me what you have done with Dorothy Glenn, or I will kill you!'

"Those words seemed to recall him to his senses. He drew back defiantly,
and his flashing black eyes met mine, while a terrible sneer curled his
lips.

"'You shall never know whether Dorothy Glenn is living or dead!' he
cried.

"I could have borne anything better than those scathing words from the
lips of the man who had taken from me the girl I loved.

"'You will find me at my home up to the hour of noon,' he said. 'Make
any arrangements you deem necessary.'

"I turned on my heel and left him; and here I am, awaiting a summons
from him."

Mrs. Garner had risen slowly to her feet. The import of his words had
just begun to dawn upon her.

"Jack!" she cried, wildly, throwing herself upon her knees at his feet,
"is it to be a duel? Oh, my God, Jack, answer me!"

They heard a crash in the conservatory, but both were too excited to
mind it.

"Let me go in your place," cried a hoarse voice from the doorway of the
conservatory. "Pardon me, but I could not help overhearing all;" and
Mrs. Brown advanced excitedly into the breakfast-room, and up to Jack's
side. "Let me go in your place," she repeated. "Let me give my life for
yours. I--I have nothing left to live for; you have."

Jack was deeply touched.

"You forget your little child," he said, gently. "Besides, any man might
reasonably take up the quarrel of a lady, and, if need be, die in her
defense, be she friend or stranger; but no woman should make such a
sacrifice for a man. I thank you for the kindness of heart that prompted
the words; but it can not be. I am sorry that you overheard my words to
my mother. See! she has swooned away. I beg that you will take care of
her, and let none of the household know what is about to occur."

As Jack Garner uttered the words, he kissed the prostrate form of his
mother, and, turning, walked hastily out of the room.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Dorothy then set about restoring Jack's mother, and with the first
breath of returning consciousness she fled from the room and