as all over--henceforth he would be alone.

She was leaving him after all, and he could not even feel that her
love would abide with him when she had gone; oh, the unspeakable agony
of knowing that she welcomed death as a release from him!

Never now could he hope to regain the heart he had lost, she despised
him--and she was dying.

No, she must not die, he cried wildly in his extremity, how could he
live without her? Oh, that she might be given back to him, even though
he could never make the dead love live in her heart again! Had he not
suffered enough--was not this a punishment beyond his sin?

And yet, as he looked back, he knew that he himself had brought about
this punishment, that it was but the stern and logical sequence of his
fraud.

There was a low tap at the door, and he started to his feet--the
summons had come; no need to question the messenger who brought it, he
heard the first words and passed her hastily.

He entered the room where Mabel was lying, and fell on his knees by
her bedside, bowing his head upon the quilt in agonised despair, after
one glance at her pale sweet face.

'My darling--my darling!' he cried, 'don't leave me ... you
promised--oh, remember ... this is not--not _good-bye_!'

She laid a weak and slender hand on his dark hair in a caress that was
more in pity than in love. 'They have not told you?' she said; 'I
asked nurse to prepare you. I knew you would be so anxious. No, dear,
it is not good-bye. I feel much better, I am quite sure now that I am
going to get well. I wanted to tell you so myself. I must live for
baby's sake--I can't die and leave him alone!'

And even in the ecstasy of relief which Mark felt at her words there
was a spasm of sobering jealousy; she only cared to live for the
child's sake--not for his.

CONCLUSION.

Those who know Mark now are inclined to envy his good fortune. His
literary mistakes are already beginning to be forgotten; the last
breath of scandal was extinguished when it became known that Vincent
Holroyd had dedicated his posthumous work to his college friend, to
whom he also confided the duties of editor--duties which Mark
accepted humbly, and discharged faithfully.

His name is becoming known in legal circles--not as a profound lawyer,
which he will never be to the end of his career, but as a brilliant
advocate, with a plausibility that is effective with the average
juryman, and an acquaintance with legal principles which is n