" he said.

"Let me answer instead of him," Dorothy panted, hoarsely. "He knows
nothing about it. Oh, hear me!--listen to me, I pray you! It is I--I
whom you must hold guilty. Do with me as you will!"

Both of the doctors nodded toward each other. A groan broke from
Garner's lips--this acknowledgement was so terrible for him to hear from
this strange woman's lips.

"Who are you, and what was your motive for this horrible crime?" asked
the doctor, sternly. "You must make a clean breast of why you attempted
to poison Miss Staples, here and now."

There was one person in that room who listened to Dorothy's most
extraordinary confession, white with terror, and that was--Nadine Holt.

She knew full well that the stranger was entirely guiltless; then why
under heaven had she placed herself in such a horrible position?

Nadine recovered her outward composure by a great effort, and listened
intently to what they were saying.

"You must reveal your identity here and now," Doctor Crandall was
repeating, vehemently, "or I shall force you to do so. When we once
become convinced who you are, and your motive for this crime, then we
will know how to proceed against you. In the first place, I order you to
remove both the wig and glasses which we have discovered that you are
wearing. Your identity is the first step in this matter."

Like a flash Dorothy flung herself at Jack Garner's feet.

Ere he could put out his hand toward her, Doctor Crandall had sprung
forward, and with a quick motion gently but deftly snatched the wig from
her head and the glasses from her eyes, and Dorothy--Dorothy Glenn stood
revealed, in all her terror, before the astonished gaze of Jack Garner
and Nadine Holt.

"You--you!" cried Jack, in horror too great for words.

"Save me--save me!" gasped the girl.

He wondered that he did not go mad, then and there at the sight of her.

"Let me go!" she panted, imploring.

The doctor shook his head.

"You must be held answerable for your crime," he said, sternly. "You
showed no pity to the girl lying here so helpless, and why should it be
shown you? She lies here in a deep sleep, and when she awakens we shall
know whether it is life or death she has to face. We hope it is life,
but we can not be too sure. In the interim, while we decide your fate,
you should thank Heaven that your plans are frustrated. We can not
decide, until the crisis is past, as to what is best to be done."

"Jack," she whispered a