n her, you may keep your fortune, and bestow it
upon whom you please."

"'Pshaw!' he said, with an expression of contempt; 'I but waste words
with you. In one week my daughter weds, and to benefit you, and rid her
of an annoyance, I have offered you a position at St. Domingo; will you
accept it or not?'

"'And fall a victim to the yellow fever in a month after my arrival,' I
said, with a taunting smile, for I felt the devil rising within me, and
I did not care to suppress it.

"'Perhaps,' was the laconic answer; and the cold eyes gleamed like those
of a basilisk.

"'Then hear me, and know that I too have firmness. Your daughter and
myself have pledged our mutual faith--we have exchanged vows which soar
above your money bags, and as long as I possess my reason, my liberty,
and health, so long will I endeavor to see the lady, and hold her to her
word.'

"I turned to leave the room, but the banker recalled me with a word.

"'Is that your firm resolution?' he asked, with as much unconcern as he
could assume.

"'It is,' I answered.

"'Then I must try other means,' he said; and as he spoke, he touched a
bell.

"A door leading to the outer office was instantly opened, and a clerk
made his appearance.

"'Is the officer still in attendance?' asked Mr. B----.

"'Yes, sir.'

"'Let him enter.'

"I did not suspect any thing unusual, and was about to pass out of the
room, when I found myself in the embrace of a police officer, and before
my surprise was over, a pair of handcuffs was slipped over my wrists,
and I was a prisoner.

"'What is the meaning of this, sir?' I demanded, indignantly.

"'Be quiet,' the man said; 'it's only for a bit of forgery.'

"'Forgery!' I gasped, astonished beyond belief.

"'Take him away, officer,' the banker said; 'he has confessed every
thing to me, and made restitution of a portion of the money, but an
example must be made. Forgery is too common, nowadays, to go
unpunished.'

"The police officer almost carried me from the room, I was so
overpowered by the unexpected, cruel, and unjust accusation; and as I
staggered from the banker's presence, I saw the smile which I had
remarked more than once upon his features during our interview, change
to one of satisfaction, as though he now saw his way clear, regarding
his daughter's marriage."

The outlaw paused for a few minutes, closed his eyes, and breathed hard,
as though trying to suppress his emotion; but in spite of his firmness,