you really have charges to make against Craik Mansell; that
this evidence you propose to give is real, and not manufactured for the
purpose of leading suspicion aside from Hildreth?"

It was an insinuation against her veracity he never could have made, or
she have listened to, a few weeks before; but the shield of her pride
was broken between them, and neither he nor she seemed to give any
thought to the reproach conveyed in these words.

"What I have to say is the truth," she murmured. "I have not
manufactured any thing."

With an astonishment he took no pains to conceal, Mr. Orcutt anxiously
surveyed her. He could not believe this was so, yet how could he convict
her of falsehood in face of that suffering expression of resolve which
she wore. His methods as a lawyer came to his relief.

"Imogene," he slowly responded, "if, as you say, you are in possession
of positive evidence against this Mansell, how comes it that you
jeopardized the interests of the man you loved by so long withholding
your testimony?"

But instead of the flush of confusion which he expected, she flashed
upon him with a sudden revelation of feeling that made him involuntarily
start.

"Shall I tell you?" she replied. "You will have to know some time, and
why not now? I kept back the truth," she replied, advancing a step, but
without raising her eyes to his, "because it is not the aspersed
Hildreth that I love, but----"

Why did she pause? What was it she found so hard to speak? Mr. Orcutt's
expression became terrible.

"But the other," she murmured at last.

"The other!"

It was now her turn to start and look at him in surprise, if not in some
fear.

"What other?" he cried, seizing her by the hand. "Name him. I will have
no further misunderstanding between us."

"Is it necessary?" she asked, with bitterness. "Will Heaven spare me
nothing?" Then, as she saw no relenting in the fixed gaze that held her
own, whispered, in a hollow tone: "You have just spoken the name
yourself--Craik Mansell."

"Ah!"

Incredulity, anger, perplexity, all the emotions that were seething in
this man's troubled soul, spoke in that simple exclamation. Then silence
settled upon the room, during which she gained control over herself,
and he the semblance of it if no more. She was the first to speak.

"I know," said she, "that this avowal on my part seems almost incredible
to you; but it is no more so than that which you so readily received
from me the oth