fter what I have done, can you not trust
me when I say that I will carry all I know to the grave? But, Sir
Murray, you will try--you will make right what you can. Don't break
their hearts. Look at that brave boy. You know how he loves her; you
know how you injured his father. Promise me that you will repent of it
all, and try to make them happy."

"Confound the woman!" cried Sir Murray, angrily--"she is mad! Lord
Maudlaine, this is no place for your betrothed; take her away. Ha! here
is the doctor at last."

As Jane McCray covered her face with her hands, and fell back with a
groan, Lord Maudlaine advanced to where Isa, who had heard all that had
passed, still knelt by Brace Norton's side.

"Miss Gernon--Isa," he said, anxiously; "let me lead you away. Sir
Murray wisely says that this is no place for you."

"No place!" she cried, her soft eyes flashing into light. "Is it not a
woman's place beside the man she loves, when he is stricken down and
helpless? Keep back, sir! I do not require your forced attentions!"

The aspect of Lord Maudlaine's face was a mingling of the ludicrous and
the enraged; but no one seemed to heed it, for, evidently violently
agitated, Sir Murray had left the room, while all eyes were now directed
to the doctor, whose ministrations were rapid, and orders issued
sharply, as if he meant to have them obeyed.

"Gude-sake, sir!" said McCray, at last, unable to restrain his feelings,
for he had read the anxiety in his young lady's countenance--"Gude-sake,
sir, tell's how they all are!"

"Burglar--bad shot through shoulder, but not dangerous; Mr Norton--
serious stab, knife pierced the--"

"Gude-sake, sir, never mind that!" exclaimed McCray. "Tell's the warst
at once: is he likely--"

McCray did not finish his sentence in words, but with his eyes; while,
with an anxious troubled look, the doctor glanced towards the figure of
Isa Gernon, before he replied:

"Well, McCray, I--There, I'll give you my opinion to-morrow."

Book 2, Chapter XXV.

CRUSHED DOWN.

Die? What, with those sweet imploring eyes bidding him live?--with hope
telling him that now one part of the mystery was cleared the other must
soon be swept away?--with his own heart whispering energy, and patience,
and desire for life? No; his spirit had well-nigh been drained away by
that cruel stab, but Brace Norton smiled at the pain he suffered, and
fought back the black shade that bade him succumb.

They bore him f