tion.

The spasms at length subsided, and after several ineffectual efforts,
Algernon at length spoke.

"Mark, I am here, in compliance with your request; I am very sorry to
find you in this sad state; I hope that you may yet recover."

The sick man rose slowly up in his bed, and shading his eyes with his
hand, surveyed his brother with a long and careful gaze, as though he
scarcely recognised in the portly figure before him the elegant
fashionable young man of former days. "Algernon! can that be you?"

"Am I so much altered that you do not know me?"

"Humph! The voice is the voice of Algernon--but as for the rest, time
has paid as little respect to your fine exterior as it has done to mine;
but if it has diminished your graces, it has added greatly to your bulk.
One thing, however, it has not taught you, with all its hard
teachings."

"What is that?" said Algernon, with some curiosity.

"To speak the truth!" muttered the miser, falling back upon his pillow.
"You wish for my recovery!--ha! ha! that is rich--is good. Do you think,
Algernon, I am such a fool as to believe that?"

"Indeed, I was sincere."

"You deceive yourself--the thing is impossible. Human nature is not so
far removed from its original guilt. _You_ wish my life to be prolonged,
when you hope to be a _gainer_ by my death. The thought is really
amusing--so originally philanthropic, but I forgive you, I should do
just the same in your place. Now, sit down if you can find a chair, I
have a few words to say to you--a few painful words."

Algernon took his seat on the bed without speaking. He perceived that
time had only increased the bitterness of his brother's caustic temper.

"Algernon," said the miser, "I will not enter into a detail of the past.
I robbed you of your share of my father's property to gratify my love of
money; and I married your mistress out of revenge. Both of these deeds
have proved a curse to me--I cannot enjoy the one, and I loathe the
other. I am dying; I cannot close my eyes in peace with these crimes
upon my conscience. Give me your hand, brother, and say that you forgive
me; and I will make a just restitution of the money, and leave you in
the undisturbed possession of the wife."

He laughed, that horrid fiendish laugh. Algernon shrunk back with strong
disgust, and relinquished the hand which no longer sought his grasp.

"Well, I see how it is. There are some natures that cannot amalgamate.
You cannot overcome the old