ray still lay; Jane McCray having been assisted to her own room.

"But ye no think there was foul play, sir?" whispered McCray to Brace
Norton. And the young man shook his head, as, eagerly watching his
fathers acts, he laid his hand upon the old steward's lips.

For, going down upon one knee, Captain Norton threw more open the
stricken man's neck-band, raised his head slightly, and stayed for a few
moments holding one of Sir Murray's hands in his.

"Brace," he said, in a low tone, as, alone now with the old steward, he
looked up in his son's face--"Brace, McCray, you know all from the
first. Fate dealt hardly with us both; but at any time, I could have
held out my hand to him, and said, you do me wrong. But, Heaven help
him! for he has suffered much. He is more to be pitied than blamed!"

There was the sound of wheels upon the gravel once more, and Captain
Norton rose to his feet, just as the door was hastily opened, and Dr
Challen entered, raising his hands and eyes first to Captain Norton and
then to Brace, as if exclaiming, "Good heavens, what a night!"

"The old seizure," he said, after a few minutes; and then he beckoned to
McCray to help him.

"Gude-sake, sir, it's a sair nicht!" exclaimed the old steward, after a
few minutes. "Ye maun let me go; for at the glint I got just noo
through the open door, there's something wrang wi' my Laird Maudlaine
and Mr Brace; and this is no time for mair troubles."

"Go, in the name of all that's sensible!" said the doctor, "and ask them
if they are mad. Why, they're scuffling already!"

Dr Challen was wrong; for though Lord Maudlaine had followed the young
man and his father to the hall, and had gazed at Brace with a look in
which bitterness, disappointment, and hatred struggled for mastery, he
spoke no word, till suddenly the glass door was opened, and two men
entered, one pressing right to the back, the other stepping in front of
his lordship.

"Our orders were, my lord, to take you as you left the church to-morrow
morning," said the latter; "but as it seems there'll be no church-work,
why, we do it now, unless, of course, your lordship's prepared with the
stiff."

With a fierce oath, Lord Maudlaine started back; but the man was as
active.

"Suit of Lewis Braham, m' lord, as I dare say you know--eight thousand
four hundred and forty-five pounds six and eightpence. Does your
lordship pay?"

"Surely this is not necessary on a night like this!" exclaimed Bra