nge
insensibility which was every moment showing itself more and more to be
the precursor of death.

The sight seemed to rob Mr. Ferris of his last grain of self-command.
Rising, he confronted the dazed faces of those about him with a severe
look.

"This charge," said he, "is akin to that which Miss Dare made against
herself in the court yesterday morning. When a woman has become crazed
she no longer knows what she says."

But Imogene, strong in the belief that the hand of Heaven had pointed
out the culprit for whom they had so long been searching, shook her head
in quiet denial, and simply saying, "None of you know this man as I do,"
moved quietly aside to a dim corner, where she sat down in calm
expectation of another awakening on the part of the dying lawyer.

It came soon--came before Mr. Ferris had recovered himself, or Dr.
Tredwell had had a chance to give any utterance to the emotions which
this scene was calculated to awaken.

Rousing as the widow had done, but seeming to see no one, not even the
physician who bent close at his side, Mr. Orcutt lifted his voice again,
this time in the old stentorian tones which he used in court, and
clearly, firmly exclaimed:

"Blood will have blood!" Then in lower and more familiar accents, cried:
"Ah, Imogene, Imogene, it was all for you!" And with her name on his
lips, the great lawyer closed his eyes again, and sank for the last time
into a state of insensibility.

Imogene at once rose.

"I must go," she murmured; "my duty in this place is done." And she
attempted to cross the floor.

But the purpose which had sustained her being at an end, she felt the
full weight of her misery, and looking in the faces about her, and
seeing nothing there but reprobation, she tottered and would have fallen
had not a certain portly gentleman who stood near by put forth his arm
to sustain her. Accepting the support with gratitude, but scarcely
pausing to note from what source it came, she turned for an instant to
Mr. Ferris.

"I realize," said she, "with what surprise you must have heard the
revelation which has just come from Mr. Orcutt's lips. So unexpected is
it that you cannot yet believe it, but the time will come when, of all
the words I have spoken, these alone will be found worthy your full
credit: that not Craik Mansell, not Gouverneur Hildreth, not even
unhappy Imogene Dare herself, could tell you so much of the real cause
and manner of Mrs. Clemmens' death as this man