ormer terrors soon overcame her. She would have
given worlds to escape from that room, from that dwelling, and wandered
she cared not how, she knew not wither, so she might be rescued from the
sight of that awful figure, from the sound of that dreaded voice.

The conflict in her mind became at length too strong for endurance;
and suddenly flinging down her work, she threw herself at her husband's
feet, and burying her face in his knees she sobbed aloud; "save me from
myself--save me, save me from _her_!" He raised her gently, and folded
her in his arms. "Save thee from whom, my beloved Helen?"

"Greville, believe me or not as thou wilt, but as the Almighty hears and
judges me, I have beheld the apparition of thy wife. I saw her freely,
distinctly, standing beside thee even where thou sittest; clearly
visible as the form of a living being; and she would have spoken, and
doubtless revealed some dreadful secret, had not the weakness of my
nature refused to support me. Oh! Greville, take me from this room--take
me from this house--I am not able to bear the horrible imaginings
which have filled my mind since that awful hour. My very brain is
maddened--oh! Greville, take me hence."

Even in the agony of her fear, Helen started with delighted surprise to
feel the tears of her husband falling on her hand. Yes! he,--the stern
Greville, the estranged husband, moved by the deep distress manifested
in the appearance of his wife, acknowledged his sympathy by the first
tears shed in her presence.

"This is a mere phantasm of the brain," said he at length, attempting to
regain his composure; "the coinage of a lively imagination which loves
to deceive itself by--but no," continued he, observing her incredulous
and agonized expression of countenance, "no, my Helen, I will not longer
rack thy generous mind by these sufferings, however bitter the truth may
be to utter or to hear. Helen! it was no vision--no idle dream,--Helen,
it was a living form, a breathing curse to thee and me! Thou who hast
accused me of insensibility to thy charms, and to thine endearing
affection, judge of the strength of my love by the labyrinth of sin into
which it hath betrayed me. Helen, my wife still lives, and I am not thy
lawful husband."

It was many hours before the unfortunate Lady Greville sufficiently
recovered her composure to understand and feel the full extent of the
fatal intelligence she had received, and the immediate bearing it must
have upo