ctric
light swept over the jutting bit of mainland. In that instantaneous
white glare Varrick saw a sight that was indelibly engraved upon his
memory while life lasted.

The dock was deserted by all save one person--a young girl, waving her
hand toward the steamer.

She wore a dress of some white, fleecy material, her golden hair flying
in the wind, and flapping against her bare shoulders and half-bared
white arms.

"Great heavens! who is that?" Varrick cried.

But as he strained his eyes eagerly toward the beautiful picture, the
scene was suddenly wrapped in darkness, and the steamer glided on.

"Who was that, and what place was it?" he asked again.

"It was Fisher's Landing, I said," rejoined the other. "The girl is
'Saucy Jessie Bain,' as they call her hereabouts. She's Captain Carr's
niece."

"Has she a lover?" suddenly asked Varrick.

"Lord bless you, sir!" he answered, "there's scarcely a single man for
miles around that isn't in love with Jessie Bain; but she will have none
of them.

"There's a little story about Jessie Bain. I'll tell it to you, since
you admire the girl."

But the story was not destined to become known to Varrick, for his
companion was called away at that moment.

He could think of nothing else, see nothing but the face of the girl he
had seen on the dock at Fisher's Landing.

This was particularly unfortunate, for at that moment Hubert Varrick was
on his way to be married on the morrow to the beautiful heiress, Miss
Northrup.

She was a famous beauty and belle, and Varrick had been madly in love
with her. But since he had seen the face of Jessie Bain he felt a
strange, half-defined regret that he was bound to another. He was not
over-impatient to arrive at his destination, although he knew that
Gerelda Northrup and a bevy of her girl friends would undoubtedly be at
the dock to welcome him.

This proved to be the case, and a moment later he caught sight of the
tall, stately beauty, who swept forward to meet him with outstretched
jeweled hands and a glad welcome on her proud face.

"I am so delighted that you have come at last, Hubert," she murmured.

But she drew back abashed as he attempted to kiss her, and this action
chilled him to the very heart's core.

He was quickly presented to Gerelda's girl friends, and then the party
made their way up to the Crossmon Hotel, which was only a few yards
distant, Varrick and Miss Northrup lagging a little behind the rest.

"I hop