to sail
without her. This decision made Captain Frazier desperate, for he was
now reduced to his last penny.

It was no easy matter to gain an entrance into the Varrick mansion a
second time, and no one but the most desperate man in the world would
have thought of attempting it; but, as on a former occasion, at last
fate aided him.

The drawing-room being considered too warm, one of the servants threw
open a large French window to cool off the apartment. This was Frazier's
chance. Like a shadow he stole into the room.

It was no easy matter to make out in which room he should find Jessie
Bain. At length the sound of light, measured footsteps in a room he was
just passing fell upon his keen ear. He pushed the door cautiously open.
All was darkness within, save a narrow strip of light that came from the
closely drawn _portieres_ of an inner apartment. Applying his eye to a
small slit in the heavy velvet, he saw the object of his search. She was
bending over a woman's form lying on a couch, a form he knew to be
Gerelda's, while standing a little distance from them was a doctor
mixing a potion. He heard him give Jessie Bain strict injunctions
regarding the administration of it; then he saw the physician take his
leave.

For a moment a death-like silence reigned in the room.

"Let me implore you," sobbed Jessie, "to save the man you love from the
terrible fate that awaits him."

"I would not lift my finger or my voice to save him. If I must die, it
is a satisfaction to me to know that he must die too!" whispered
Gerelda.

"Cruel, cruel creature!" cried Jessie. "May Heaven find pardon for you,
for I can not. I will ask no more for mercy at your hands. But hear me!
I will save Hubert Varrick if it lies within human power. I will find a
way; he shall not die, I swear it!"

A gleam crept into Gerelda's eyes.

"He is beyond your aid!" she cried, excitedly, half rising on her
pillow. The effort this cost her proved almost too much for her. A
dangerous whiteness overspread her face, and she fell back fainting, a
small stream of blood trickling from her lips. Jessie sprang quickly to
her feet, and administered a cordial from a small vial.

At that moment the doctor entered. He was alarmed at the expression on
his patient's face.

"There has been a sudden change for the worse," he declared. "Still, I
knew it would come sooner or later. I said from the first, if she lived
the week out I should be surprised. I see now th