The rays of the moon dimly illumined the room and lighted up the picture. The boy sat for nearly half an hour staring absently at the portrait, thinking nothing about it, but trying to plan his work for the next day or two. But soon he began to realize that he was very tired. He found himself yawning, and his eyelids drooped in spite of himself. "It's no use," he said to himself, "I'll have to leave business until to-morrow. I'll go to bed." But just as he rose from his chair--could he believe the evidence of his senses?--the figure of the man stepped from the canvas and approached him. It was no dream, for in an instant the boy was as wide awake as he had ever been. Apparently the picture had come to life! CHAPTER XV. SAVED BY A SHADOW. In a few seconds Al perceived that the picture had not been endowed with life; the painted figure remained in its place; it was a being of flesh and blood that was approaching him. The intruder had been standing in front of the picture; the dim light and Al's preoccupation had conspired to render the boy unconscious of his presence. "Who are you?" our hero exclaimed, as the man approached him. The next moment he recognized the fellow, and added in a startled voice: "Farley!" "Yes," said the ex-advance agent, "it's Farley, the man you knocked out. You're a little surprised to see me, aren't you?" "What do you want?" demanded the boy. "I'll show you what I want." And he darted between Al and the door. "Get out of my way!" the lad exclaimed, attempting to push him aside. But Farley seized him by the throat and forced him to the floor. "You won't escape me this time," he hissed. Al struggled to release himself, but the grasp of the drink-maddened brute was not to be shaken off. "No, you don't!" he said, in a fierce whisper. "I warned you that you had not heard the last of me." Al tried to cry for help, but could only make an inarticulate sound. Farley dragged him in the direction of the window, saying: "You got away from me last night, but you won't this time." "So," Al managed to gasp, "you were the masked man who accused me of being a horse thief?" "I was the man. You nearly turned the tables on me that time, but you won't have the same luck twice in succession." As he spoke Farley relaxed his grasp on the boy's throat. "Youngster," he went on, "if it hadn't been for you I shouldn't have lost my job with Gus Wattles. Its loss, under the circumstances, means ruin for me. I can't catch up again, unless----" "Is that my fault?" interrupted Al, seeing that the man was crazed with drink, and that the wisest policy was to attempt to conciliate him. "I didn't take the position until Mr. Wattles had decided to discharge you." "It's a lie!" "It's the truth." "If you had not been available he would have taken me back."