ge. But to Andrew Fraser,
I am dead for evermore! My life of the future has no place for a
half-crazed tyrant--the man who tried to bruise the broken heart of an
orphan of his own blood. We are strangers forevermore. And I will leave
old Simpson here as my agent to keep the possession of this place in my
name. I will write Douglas, so that his old father may live out his days
here in peace!"

With a stately tread, the lonely girl descended the stair, when Major
Harry Hardwicke tapped at her door, gently saying: "The carriage waits
below. And--some one waits there to cheer you on your way onward to
Life and Love! Remember, I follow on at once." Nadine Johnstone sprang
lightly into the carriage. With a gentle art, the soldier turned away
his head and quickly cried, "Drive on!" when the door closed. The
orderly at a sign followed the closed vehicle. It was a sweet surprise.
Love's coup de main!

Nadine Johnstone never turned her head toward the dark martello tower,
for a woman's arms were now clasped around her, and loving lips pressed
her own. "Free at last, my own darling! Free!" cried Alixe Delavigne, as
she strained her gentle captive to her bosom. "My own poor darling! Now,
we shall never be parted! My darling! My Valerie's own image!"

"And, my mother?" faltered the lovely girl, the sunrise of hope flooding
her cheek with affection's glow of dawn. "My sister--your mother--looks
down from Heaven upon us, joined after many years!" sobbed Alixe. A
softer pillow never had maiden's head than Alixe Delavigne's throbbing
bosom.

"Did you not feel in your heart that love led me to your side, my
darling? That I crossed the wide world to find you, and to fight my way
to your heart?" murmured Alixe.

"Ah! Justine always said there was a marvelous resemblance!" faltered
Nadine. "She must be sent for now! At once! Poor Justine!"

"She waits for you, even now, at Edgemere! I must save you, now, from
hearing the story of strangers!" said Alixe, taking the girl's trembling
hands. "Major Hardwicke telegraphed to her at Geneva, in your name, to
come on here at once. For, while we have sunshine mantling around us,
she, alone, must follow Alan Hawke's body to an unknown grave."

"Is he--that terrible man--indeed dead?" gasped Nadine.

"You passed his body that night when they led you from the tower,"
gravely said Alixe. "He fell, fighting as a criminal, by the hand of
Captain Murray, who struck only to save your liberty, and hi