g himself back to the tones and bearing of his
earlier and more civilised years. "You do not remember me, sir; no
wonder. But my name is Jasper Losely."

Darrell halted; then, as if spellbound, looked fixedly at the
broad-shouldered burly frame before him, cased in its coarse pea-jacket,
and in that rude form, and that defeatured, bloated face, detected,
though with strong effort, the wrecks of the masculine beauty which had
ensnared his deceitful daughter. Jasper could not have selected a more
unpropitious moment for his cause. Darrell was still too much under the
influence of recent excitement and immense sorrow for that supremacy of
prudence over passion which could alone have made him a willing listener
to overtures from Jasper Losely. And about the man whose connection
with himself was a thought of such bitter shame, there was now so
unmistakably the air of settled degradation, that all Darrell's
instincts of gentleman were revolted--just at the very time, too, when
his pride had been most chafed and assailed by the obtrusion of all that
rendered most galling to him the very name of Jasper Losely. What!
Was it that man's asserted child whom Lionel Haughton desired as
a wife?--was the alliance with that man to be thus renewed and
strengthened?--that man have another claim to him and his in right of
parentage to the bride of his nearest kinsman? What! was it that man's
child whom he was asked to recognise as of his own flesh and blood?--the
last representative of his line? That man!--that! A flash shot from
his bright eye, deepening its grey into dark; and, turning on his heel,
Darrell said, through his compressed lips--

"You have heard, sir, I believe, through Colonel Morley, that only on
condition of your permanent settlement in one of our distant colonies,
or America if you prefer it, would I consent to assist you. I am of the
same mind still. I can not parley with you myself. Colonel Morley is
abroad, I believe. I refer you to my solicitor; you have seen him years
ago; you know his address. No more, sir."

"This will not do, Mr. Darrell," said Losely, doggedly; and, planting
himself right before Darrell's way, "I have come here on purpose to have
all differences out with you, face to face--and I will--"

"You will!" said Darrell, pale with haughty anger, and with the impulse
of his passion, his hand clenched. In the bravery of his nature, and
the warmth of a temper constitutionally quick, he thought nothing o