a man, much less a lover, if he could answer
that question now. Seizing her by the arm, he looked her wildly in the
face.

"Do you mean to kill yourself?" he demanded.

"I feel I shall not live," she gasped, while her hand went involuntarily
to her heart.

He gazed at her in horror.

"And if he is cleared?" he hoarsely ejaculated.

"I--I shall try to endure my fate."

He gave her another long, long look.

"So this is the alternative you give me?" he bitterly exclaimed. "I must
either save this man or see you perish. Well," he declared, after a few
minutes' further contemplation of her face, "I will save this man--that
is, if he will allow me to do so."

A flash of joy such as he had not perceived on her countenance for weeks
transformed its marble-like severity into something of its pristine
beauty.

"And you will take him my message also?" she cried.

But to this he shook his head.

"If I am to approach him as a lawyer willing to undertake his cause,
don't you see I can give him no such message as that?"

"Ah, yes, yes. But you can tell him Imogene Dare has risked her own life
and happiness to save the innocent."

"I will tell him whatever I can to show your pity and your misery."

And she had to content herself with this. In the light of the new hope
that was thus unexpectedly held out to her, it did not seem so
difficult. Giving Mr. Orcutt her hand, she endeavored to thank him, but
the reaction from her long suspense was too much, and, for the first
time in her brave young life, Imogene lost consciousness and fainted
quite away.

XXV.

AMONG TELESCOPES AND CHARTS.

Tarry a little--there is something else.--MERCHANT OF VENICE.

GOUVERNEUR HILDRETH was discharged and Craik Mansell committed to prison
to await his trial.

Horace Byrd, who no longer had any motive for remaining in Sibley, had
completed all his preparations to return to New York. His valise was
packed, his adieus made, and nothing was left for him to do but to step
around to the station, when he bethought him of a certain question he
had not put to Hickory.

Seeking him out, he propounded it.

"Hickory," said he, "have you ever discovered in the course of your
inquiries where Miss Dare was on the morning of the murder?"

The stalwart detective, who was in a very contented frame of mind,
answered up with great cheeriness:

"Haven't I, though! It was one of the very first things I made sure of.
She was at Pr