s all in a whirl, as he glanced up at the
grand old mansion whose huge chimneys confronted him from over the tops
of the trees.

"From the very beginning, Varrick has always had the best of me," he
muttered. "I never loved but one thing in all my life," he cried,
hoarsely; "and that was Gerelda Northrup, and he won her from me. From
that moment on I have cursed him with all the passionate hatred of my
nature. Since that time life has held but one aim for me--and that was,
to crush him--and that opportunity will soon be mine--that hour is now
at hand. He will shortly be wedded to another, if Gerelda does not
interfere, and then--ah!--and then--"

His soliloquy was suddenly cut short, for the sound of approaching
footsteps was heard on the snow.

He would have drawn back into the shadow of the interlacing pines, but
that he saw he was observed by a minister who stepped eagerly forward.

"You are a stranger in our midst," he said, holding out his hand to him;
"I do not recollect having seen your face before. I-- I have a favor to
ask of you. Would you mind lending me your assistance as far as the
house yonder--the Varrick mansion--which you can see over the trees? I--
I am not very well--have just recovered from a spell of sickness. I-- I
wish to visit the inmates of the mansion to perfect some arrangements
concerning a happy event that is to take place on the morrow, within
those walls. I find myself overtaken by a sudden faintness. I repeat,
would you object to giving me your arm as far as the entrance gate
yonder?"

Captain Frazier complied, with a profound bow.

"I shall be only too happy to render you any assistance in my power," he
murmured. "I used to know the family at Varrick mansion a few years
ago," he went on. "I am not so well acquainted, however, with the
present heir. Pardon me, but may I ask if the event to which you allude,
that is to take place to-morrow, is a marriage ceremony?"

The minister bowed gravely.

"Between young Mr. Varrick and a Miss Bain?"

Again the reverend gentleman inclined his head in the affirmative,
remarking that the bride-to-be was as sweet and gracious as she was
beautiful.

Captain Frazier looked narrowly at his companion for an instant, then he
asked, quickly:

"Again I ask your pardon for the questions I wish to put to you, but are
you not the same minister who was sent to perform the marriage ceremony
up at the Thousand Islands? and, again, the same minister who,