atients, and the peril of contagion in
their touch. To attempt to loosen that bearlike clasp might be
death to any who attempted it.

Reuben looked about him, still holding his sister in his arms as
though to keep her away from the peril; and Dan, who had taken one
step forward towards the sheeted spectre, paused and muttered
between his teeth:

"The hound! he has but got his deserts!"

"True," said Reuben, for he was certain now that it had been
Frederick who was Dorcas's pursuer; "yet we must not leave him
thus. He will be strangled or choked by the pestilential smell if
we cannot get him away. Take Dorcas, Dan. Let me see if I can do
aught with him."

But even as Reuben spoke, and Dorcas clung closer than ever to him
in fear that he was about to adventure himself into greater peril,
the delirious man suddenly flung Frederick from him, so that he
fell upon the pavement almost as one dead; and then, with a hideous
shriek that rang in their ears for long, fled back to the house as
rapidly as he had left it, and fell down dead a few moments later
upon the bed from which he had so lately risen.

That fact they learned only the next day. For the moment it was
enough that the patient was safely within doors again, and that the
watchman could make fast the door. The roisterers had fled at the
first sight of the plague-stricken man with their hapless leader in
his embrace, and now the darkening street contained only the
prostrate figure on the pavement, the two brothers, and the
white-faced Dorcas, who felt like to die of fear and horror.

As chance or Providence would have it, up at that very moment came
the Master Builder himself, and seeing his son in such a plight,
shook his head gravely, thinking him drunk in the gutter. But
Reuben went up and told all the tale, as far as he knew or guessed
it, and Dorcas having confirmed the same more by gestures than
words, the unhappy father smote his brow, and cried in a voice of
lamentation:

"Alas that I should have such a son! O unhappy, miserable youth!
what will be thy doom now?"

At this cry Frederick moved, and got slowly upon his feet. He had
been stunned by the violence of his fall, and for the first moment
believed himself drunk, and caught at his father's arm for support.

"Have a care, sir," said Reuben, in a low voice; "he may be
infected already by the contact."

But the Master Builder only uttered a deep sigh like a groan, as he
answered, "I fear me he i