parture.

"Perhaps you do not know Miss Morton's feelings toward you," he said,
with a smile. "This wonderful night has doubtless made us all
half-mad; but don't forget what it was that caused her illness and, as
we thought, her death."

"I know all," I said, "but I must go."

I placed my hand on the door handle when a thought struck me, and I
turned to him again.

"But remember for all that," I said, "that Miss Morton is not without a
friend. Remember that I know how false have been your dealings with
her, and now, if she be defrauded of one penny in the future, or if you
in any way seek to take advantage of her, you shall be thrown into a
felon's cell. Your past shall only be forgiven on the condition that
your future be blameless."

"Roger Trewinion!" he cried, "I know it may sound cowardly to shift a
sin upon another's shoulders, but your brother is guilty of all the
real wrong. I was only a weak tool in his hands. But for the future,
so help me God, I will serve my mistress faithfully."

"See that you do," I said, and then, leaving him half dazed, I went out
of the house.

Thus I was alone again, alone in the night! My sin had driven me away,
and now I was cast upon the world again, with no one to help me, no one
to love me. For I could not for a minute think that Ruth could love me
now that she knew what I was, and of what I had been guilty.

Down the long avenue I tramped, thinking all the time of what might
have been, and hating myself for what I had done. For a time I went
heedlessly, and then I began to decide which course I should take.

I have heard it said that murderers are always possessed by the ghastly
desire to look on the face of their victim, to visit the scenes which
are associated with the deed that cursed them for ever. Whether this
be true or not I cannot say, but I had not gone far, before I was
filled with the dread longing to go back to the spot where Wilfred and
I had struggled, and yielding to it I started to retrace the weary
steps which I had trodden only a few hours before.

After walking two or three miles in a vague, half conscious sort of
way, I felt a great desire to sleep, and seeing by the light of the
moon a haystack in a field close by, I clambered over the hedge and
walked, towards it. I found it to be only half-built; evidently, there
was a late crop of hay being carried, and most likely the stack would
be finished the next day. A pile of hay was lying on