lsely accused and convicted for attempted
murder."

"Who was the real would-be assassin?" asked Madeline, sternly.

"Lucian Davlin," emphatically.

Madeline turns swiftly to Percy. "Mr. Percy, explain, if you wish to
lighten your own burden, by what means did that man persuade you to
let him go free?"

"By--threatening me with an action for--"

"Bigamy!" finished Cora.

The villain, bereft of all hope and courage, stood white and
trembling, under the eyes of his accusers and judges.

"I am letting these people hear you tell these things because I want
that man,"--pointing to John Arthur, who had long since collapsed into
a big chair--"to hear all this from your own lips," says Madeline.

Turning again to Cora, she says:

"Lucian Davlin made use of the papers--the certificates you had stolen
from Edward Percy--to intimidate that gentleman, and secure himself
from danger. Am I correct?"

"Yes," replies Cora, casting a malignant glance from one to the other
of the accused men.

"Very good. Now we will pass on four or more years. You were in some
little trouble last June, Mrs. Arthur. Explain how you came to
Bellair."

"How?"

"Yes, for what purpose. And at whose instigation."

Cora hesitated, and Davlin moved uneasily.

"Don't think that you will damage your cause by making a full
statement," suggested Miss Payne, meaningly. "Answer my questions,
please."

Again Cora glances at Davlin. Then turning toward Madeline she assumes
an air of defiant recklessness, and answers the questions promptly. "I
came at Lucian Davlin's suggestion, and because he had induced me to
think that I could easily become--what I am."

"And that is--"

"Mrs. Arthur, of Oakley!" with a mocking laugh.

The old man in the chair utters a loud groan, but no one heeds him.
All eyes are fixed upon Madeline and Cora.

"You plotted to become John Arthur's wife?" pursues Madeline,
relentlessly.

"Yes."

"And--his widow?"

No reply.

"You planned to keep him a prisoner?"

"Yes."

"And Lucian Davlin, your pretended brother, was your accomplice?"

"Yes."

Madeline turns swiftly toward her step-father, as she does so moving
nearer toward Edward Percy.

"John Arthur, are you satisfied?" she asks, sternly. "Shall the
knowledge of your disgrace go beyond this room? Do you choose to
remain here and be pointed at by every boor in Oakley, as the man who
married an adventuress, a gambler's accomplice? or will you accept my
ter