from the dock down, down into the dark waves. In an instant only
a few white bubbles remained to mark the spot where horses, vehicle, and
the unfortunate man had gone down.

The butler, who had witnessed all the terrible catastrophe, turned his
immediate attention to the poor creature whom he believed must be dead,
she lay so white and still, face downward, in the snow-drift.

"Great God! It is Jessie Bain!"

He gathered her up quickly in his arms, together with a few papers that
lay under his feet, and carried her to his own lodgings, which were but
a few yards distant. He meant to convey her, as soon as it was fairly
light, back to the Varrick Mansion.

In the meantime, he would do his best toward restoring her. After
pouring a glass of brandy down her throat, he sought to bring back
warmth to the ice-cold hands by rubbing them vigorously; but it seemed
all useless, useless. Wrapping her in warm blankets, he drew the settle
upon which he had placed her, closer to the coal fire and waited to see
if the warmth would not soon revive her.

Then his eyes fell upon the papers he had picked up. One of them lay
slightly open, and by chance his eyes lighted upon the contents. What
was there about it that caught and held his gaze spell-bound? The second
and third he scanned. Then, clutching it closely, his hands trembling
like aspen leaves, he read on and on until the last word was reached.

"Great God!" he muttered, half dazed and crazed, "it is the confession
of Hubert Varrick's wife that he did not do the deed of which she
accused him. No one must ever see this!" he cried. "I will burn this
confession, and no one will ever know of it."

Cautiously he made his way to the glowing fire. What was that strange,
sharp, rustling sound? He glanced fearfully over his shoulder. Jessie
Bain was sitting upon the settle, gazing at him with terror-distended
eyes. For an instant the girl was bewildered at her strange
surroundings, then she recognized the butler who had left the Varrick
mansion a few days before. What was she doing here in his presence?

The last thing she remembered was standing over unconscious Gerelda, and
guiding her hand to write the words that would save Hubert Varrick's
life. As she looked she saw that same confession in the butler's hands.
What was he doing with it? Great Gad! how came he by it? As she gazed
she saw him carefully approach the grate, and hold the paper over the
flames.

With one bound Jess