formulating such a scheme and setting
it in motion, if only for the cruel pleasure of seeing him ensnared in its
toils. Perhaps even Lucy herself was an accomplice in the plot. Who could
tell? To be sure she appeared artless enough; but what Webster was to be
trusted? And were she only the innocent tool of a more designing hand it
redeemed her but little for, blameless or guilty, she was nevertheless a
Webster. No power under heaven could wipe out her inheritance; for the
penalty of her blood she must pay the price.

Ah, how near he had come to playing the fool! Was it not Delilah who had
shorn Samson of his might? He, Martin Howe, to be false to his traditions,
forfeit his pride, and become a spiritless weakling, forgetting his
manhood in the smile of a woman!

"Bah!" He cried the word aloud into the teeth of the gale. To think he had
almost walked blindfolded into the trap Ellen Webster had baited for him!
Ah, she should see he was not to be enticed away from the stronghold of
his principles by any such alluring snare.

What a sly old schemer Ellen was! She would have liked nothing better than
to behold him on his knees at the feet of this niece of hers and then
wreck his hopes by snatching away every possibility of their fulfillment.
Perhaps she expected that with the girl's beauty as a bribe she could make
him forget his dignity to the extent of rebuilding the wall.

She was mistaken! He was not to be thus cajoled. He had already, to some
extent, betrayed his vows that night by befriending Lucy. Bitterly he
repented of his weakness. Doubtless at this very moment Ellen Webster was
exulting that he had so easily been duped and hoodwinked.

Hot anger sent the blood to his cheek. He had been blind to be thus caught
off his guard. Into what madness had this woman beguiled him! Well, in the
future the siren should chant her Lorelei songs to deaf ears. Her spell
would be in vain.

He had found himself now. His wayward feet had recovered their stand upon
the solid rock of principle, from which for the moment they had been
tempted into straying. He would demonstrate to this Lucy Webster that any
friendliness between them was done and over.

What an ass a clever woman could make of a man! That any one could so
circumvent him was unbelievable. Shaking the rain viciously from his
umbrella, he mounted the steps, blew out the lantern, and stalked into the
house.

Mary, Eliza, and Jane looked up expectantly as he entered.