pang within.

"Mabel," said Harrington, catching his breath as the name escaped his
lips, "Mabel, do you understand?--are you better, Mabel?"

The name once spoken it seemed as if he could not repeat it often
enough, it fell so like music upon his soul.

She struggled faintly--a thrill ran through her frame, and both lips and
eyelids began to quiver.

"Who calls me?" she said, in a whisper. "Who calls and where am I?"

Her eyes were open now, and the refulgence falling around her from the
burning cedar, seemed like the glory of heaven. In that light she saw
only James Harrington bending over her. A smile bright and pure, as if
she had been in truth an angel, stole over her face.

"Yes," she whispered with a sigh of ineffable happiness, "he may call me
Mabel here."

He could not distinguish her words, but knew from the light upon her
face, that she was very happy. His own features grew luminous.

"Mabel, have you ceased to suffer?" he said.

Her eyes were closed in gentle weariness now, but the smile came fresh
upon her features, and she murmured dreamily:

"There is no suffering here--nothing but heaven and our two selves."

Oh, James Harrington, be careful now! You have heard those soft
words--you have drank in the glory of that smile. In all your life what
temptation has equalled this?

For one delirious moment the strong man gave himself up to the joy of
those words: for one moment his hands were uplifted in
thanksgiving--then they were clasped and fell heavily to the earth, and
a flood of bitter, bitter self-reproach flowed silently from his heart.
Mabel moved like a child that had been lulled to rest by the music of a
dear voice. She thirsted for the sound again.

"Did not some one call me Mabel?" she asked.

Harrington was firm now, and he answered calmly:

"Yes, Mrs. Harrington, it was I."

"Mrs. Harrington," muttered Mabel in a troubled tone, "how came that
name here? It is of earth, earthy."

"We are all of earth," answered James, strong in self command. "You have
been ill, Mrs. Harrington, drenched through, and almost drowned--but,
thank God, your life is saved."

"My life is saved, and am I yet of earth? Then what is this light so
heavenly, and yet so false!"

"The storm which overwhelmed your boat struck this light. It is from a
tree smitten with fire."

"And you?" questioned Mabel, but very mournfully. "You are General
Harrington's guest, and I am his wife?"

"Even so, dear lady!