oor, which led to the private stair-way, had
barely closed after him ere the sound of approaching footsteps was
plainly heard hurrying quickly toward the library.

In that instant Hubert Varrick--who had been dazed by his fall, and the
terrible blow on his head caused by striking it against the mantel--was
struggling to a sitting posture. Varrick had scarcely regained his feet
ere the _portieres_ were flung quickly aside, and his mother and half a
dozen servants appeared.

A horrible shriek rent the air as Mrs. Varrick's eyes fell upon her son,
and the figure of a woman but a few feet from him with a knife lying
beside her.

"What does it mean?" cried Mrs. Varrick.

He pointed to the fallen figure.

"Gerelda has come back to torture me, mother!" he cried.

By a terrible effort Gerelda struggled to her knees.

"Hear me, one and all!" she cried. "Listen; while yet the strength is
mine, I will proclaim it! See, I am dying--that man, my husband, is my
murderer! He murdered me to keep me from touching the bell-rope--to tell
you all I was here!"

With this horrible accusation on her lips, Gerelda sunk back
unconscious.

Who shall picture the scene that ensued?

"It is false--all false--so help me Heaven!" Hubert panted. That was all
that he could say.

The sound of the commotion within had reached the street, and had
brought two of the night-watchmen hurrying to the scene. Their loud
peal at the bell brought down a servant, who admitted them at once. In a
trice they had sprung up the broad stair-way to the landing above, from
whence the excited voices proceeded, appearing on the threshold just in
time to hear Gerelda's terrible accusation. Each laid a hand on Hubert
Varrick's shoulder.

"You will have to come with us," they said.

Mrs. Varrick sprung forward and flung herself on her knees before them.

"Oh, you must not, you shall not take him!" she cried; "my darling son
is innocent!"

It was a mercy from Heaven that unconsciousness came upon her in that
moment and the dread happenings of the world were lost to her. There
were the bitterest wailings from the old servants as the men of the law
led Hubert away.

In the excitement no one had remembered Gerelda; now the servants
carried her to a _boudoir_ across the hall, and summoned a doctor.

"If this poor girl recovers it will be little short of a miracle," he
said.

Through all this commotion Jessie Bain slept on, little realizing the
tragic events