men."

"You acknowledge, then, the error?"

"I do, I do! I imputed to you the deed which proved to have been
accomplished through the agency of my most confidential clerk. I learned
the truth almost immediately; but too late, alas! to recall you. Then
came the news of your death, and I felt that the injury had been
irreparable. But it was not strange, Philip; you must allow that. Archer
had been in my employment more than twenty years. I believed him
trustworthy."

"No! oh, no!" replied Philip. "It was nothing strange that, a crime
committed, you should have readily ascribed it to me. You thought me
capable only of evil."

"I was unjust, Philip," answered Mr. Graham, with an attempt to rally
his dignity; "but I had some cause."

"Perhaps so," responded Philip; "I am willing to grant that."

"Let us shake hands upon it, then," said Mr. Graham, "and endeavour to
forget the past."

Philip acceded to this request, though there was but little warmth in
the manner of his compliance. Mr. Graham looked relieved from a burden
which had been oppressing his conscience for years, and, subsiding into
his arm-chair, begged the particulars of Philip's experience during the
last twenty years.

The outline of the story was soon told, Mr. Graham listening to it with
attention, and inquiring into its particulars with an interest which
proved that, during a lengthened period of regret and remorse, his
feelings had sensibly softened towards the step-son, with every memory
of whom there had come to his heart a pang of self-reproach.

Mr. Amory was unable to afford any satisfactory explanation of the
report of his own death which had been confidently affirmed by Dr.
Jeremy's correspondent at Rio. Upon a comparison of dates, however, it
seemed probable that the doctor's agent had obtained this information
from Philip's employer, who had every reason to believe that the young
man had perished of the prevailing infection.

To Philip himself it was almost an equal matter of wonder that his
friends should ever have obtained knowledge of his flight and
destination. But this was easily accounted for, since the vessel in
which he had embarked returned directly to Boston, and there were among
her crew and officers those who could reply to the inquiries which the
benevolent doctor had set on foot some months before, accompanied by the
offer of a liberal reward.

Notwithstanding the many romantic incidents which were unfolding
themselves,