me. Even now the
tide is turning, and I can realize on some things in a few days. But
if this money is demanded to-morrow--Saturday, too, when nearly all
my friends are out of town--it is very doubtful whether I could raise
it."

"Would it cause your failure?"

"Yes, yes, indeed. A man may be worth a million but if he can't get
hold of ready money at the moment it is needed, everything may be
swept away. Oh, Madge, this is cruel I With just a little more time I
could be safe and rich."

"Why have you not told us this?"

"Because I wouldn't touch your money and Mary's under any
circumstances, and I know that you both would have given me no peace,
through trying to persuade me to borrow from you."

"That's just like you, Henry. How much do you owe Mr. Arnault?"

"Madge, I'm not going to borrow your money."

"Of course not, Henry. Please tell me."

"You will take no action without my consent?"

"Certainly not."

"Well, the paltry sum of thirty thousand, if demanded to-morrow, may
involve the loss of my fortune. Of course if I could not pay this at
once all the rest would be down on me. How in the world did you gain
any knowledge of this affair?"

"Thank God, and take courage. I believe good is going to come out of
this evil, and I believe you will think so too when you have heard my
story;" and she told him everything.

"And Graydon has, to all intents and purposes, engaged himself to
this--speculator," said Mr. Muir, grinding his teeth. "He's no brother
of mine if he does not break with her; and, as it is, I feel as if I
could never trust him with my affairs again."

Henry Muir was a man not easily moved, but now his concentrated
passion was terrible to witness. His hands worked convulsively; his
respiration was quick and irregular. His business and his commercial
standing were his idols, and to think that a selfish, scheming girl
had caused the jeopardy of both to further her own petty ambition,
and that his brother should be one of her tools, enraged him beyond
measure.

"Now," he hissed, "I understand why that plausible scamp offered to
lend me money. He and his confederate Wildmere have been watching
and biding their time. I had to be ruined in order to bring that
speculator's daughter to a decision, and Graydon has been doing his
level best to further these schemes."

"Henry, Henry, do be calm. You are not ruined, and shall not be."

"It's no use, Madge; I'm foully caught in their devilish toils