e his way through the dimly lighted corridors, dodging into the
first door that presented itself when he heard the sound of voices
approaching.

He found himself in the library, and had just time to dodge behind a
_jardiniere_ on a heavy, square pedestal, which was placed in a recess
in the wall, when Hubert Varrick entered. He was followed a moment later
by his mother. He heard him talk over his future plans for the coming
marriage on the morrow, and a great wonder filled his mind. Had not
Gerelda seen him yet?

It had been many hours since he himself had seen her enter those very
gates. While he was thinking over the matter, Hubert's mother left the
room. Much to the watcher's discomfiture, Hubert Varrick did not follow,
but instead, threw himself down in an easy-chair before the glowing
grate-fire, and lighted a cigar.

Scarcely a moment had elapsed ere he heard the sound of cautious
footsteps. Peering again out of the foliage which concealed him so well,
he saw Gerelda cautiously approach through the open door-way, and again
he was compelled to be a listener to all that transpired.

Then, like a flash, came the terrible _denouement_, and Frazier,
crouching behind the huge pillar, distinctly saw the butler enter and he
witnessed the crime. He tried to prevent it by springing forward in time
to save the hapless girl, but he seemed powerless to move either hand or
foot. He could not have taken one step had his very life depended on it.
And when the terrible crime had been committed, and people flocked to
the room, he dared not come forward, lest he should be accused of the
horrible crime himself. In the great excitement he soon made his escape,
though it was not until he found himself several blocks from the scene
of the catastrophe that he dared stop to take breath.

The next day the captain made another visit to the little stone house,
assuring his friends that this would make no difference in their plans,
that, as soon as the excitement subsided, he would carry out his
original scheme.

A week passed by, and during that time Captain Frazier, prowling
incessantly about the neighborhood, watched carefully his opportunity to
meet Jessie Bain.

The owner of a little sloop lying under cover down the bay was greatly
annoyed at the loss of time; he was waiting too long, he told Frazier
repeatedly, declaring at length that unless Frazier could manage to gain
possession of the girl that very night that he would have