mething of his courage,
frivolous as people think me. Persecute her or provoke me too far and I
will tell him all."

"Indeed you would not," answered North, quietly.

"What should prevent me?"

"She will. You dare not break a solemn promise to her."

"I dare!" she almost shrieked, clenching her little hand in a paroxysm
of rage. "I will, if ever you come here again."

"No; I think not. Women are weak creatures, but they generally find
strength to keep secrets that bring ruin in the telling. You cannot be
over anxious to see this proud brother of yours commit murder on----"

"On a villain--a household traitor--a--a----"

Elsie stopped for want of breath.

"Be quiet," said North, rising sternly and towering over her. "I have no
dealings with you. One might as well reason with a handful of silkweed
thrown upon the wind."

"But I will have something to say--everything to say. You have pursued
her, plundered her, tortured her long enough. More than once she has
been on the brink of discovery by your persistence in prowling over the
grounds and from her attempts to conceal your rapacious extortions. All
this must end."

"With all my heart; let the lady accede to my terms and I disappear."

"What are those terms?"

"I will write them, and your own fair hands shall give her the note."

Elsie did not answer, but her white lips closed firmly, and her blue
eyes glittered like steel in the glow of a hot fire, as he dipped his
pen deliberately in the bronze inkstand and began to write.

"There," he said, folding the note and presenting it to her with a
princely air, as if her courage had impressed him with respect; "place
this in her hands and she will know how to carry it out."

Elsie took the note and hid it away in the folds of her dress.

"Do not fail," he said, before taking his hat from the table.

"I will not," answered Elsie. "But these cruel visits must cease now and
for ever. I will give the note only on this condition."

"Her answer will decide that. Now, good-bye."

He reached forth his hand, smiling pleasantly upon her; but she clenched
hers, as if tempted to strike him for the insolent offer, and turned
away biting her pale lips.

The hand, rejected with such disdain, fell towards the hat which North
placed lightly on his head, casting one glance in the opposite mirror as
he did so. Then, with the elastic step of a man retiring from a
festival, he left the chamber, while Elsie looked after him w