later on,
united Mr. Varrick in marriage to the beautiful Gerelda Northrup?"

The reverend gentleman bowed, wondering vaguely why the stranger should
catechise him after this fashion.

"You seem well acquainted with the family history, my friend," he
remarked, slowly.

"Yes," Frazier answered, shortly, adding, in a low, smooth voice: "It
was a fatal accident which robbed Hubert Varrick, some time since, of
the bride whom he had just wedded. Her death has never been clearly
proven, has it?"

"Oh, yes, it has," returned the minister. "Her body was among the
unfortunates who were afterward recovered."

"Ah!" said Frazier, _sotto voice_, adding: "It is so very strange, my
good sir, that after this thrilling experience, Varrick should take it
upon himself to secure another wife."

The good minister looked at him, quite embarrassed. He did not care to
discuss the subject with one who was an entire stranger to him,
wondering that he should introduce such a personal subject, and at such
a time and place.

"Excuse me, my friend, but I feel a little delicacy in discussing so
personal a matter," he said, gently.

But this did not in the least abash Captain Frazier.

"It seems to me that I should insist upon proof positive--ay, proof
beyond any possibility of doubt--that my first wife was dead ere I
contracted a second alliance," remarked Frazier, quite significantly.

"Mr. Varrick believes that he has this, I understand," said the
minister, gravely.

Frazier shrugged his shoulders, turned and looked at the man from under
his lowering brows--a look which the minister did not relish.

"But, then, Varrick has always believed in second marriages," remarked
Frazier, flippantly.

The minister started, giving an uncomfortable glance at the other.

"I believe the girl to whom he is about to be united is Varrick's first
love?" Frazier went on, nonchalantly.

"Indeed you are mistaken," retorted his companion earnestly. "I have
known Hubert Varrick for long years, and to my certain knowledge he
never had a fancy for any of the fair sex previous to the time he met
beautiful Miss Northrup. She was his first love. Of that I am quite
positive."

By this time they had reached the bend in the road hard by the entrance
gate.

The reverend gentleman could not help but notice that his companion
seemed unduly excited over the questions which he had propounded and the
answers which he had received thereto, and he felt not a littl