“Well, Mr. Legg, I fear your opinion is about to be sustained in the fate of the young people. They are both about to come to grief; and I am glad for the girl’s sake that you are here to-night, for I am sure you would stand by your daughter in her trouble,” said Ran. The old man stared at the earnest young speaker and then said: “So it was for this, Mr. Hay, that you made old Andrew Quin bring me here by telegraph.” “No! Heaven knows I had nothing whatever to do with bringing you to Haymore. That was entirely Mr. Quin’s own idea.” “Then it was old Andrew that worked to bring about my visit here in the interest of my undutiful daughter.” “No! Again you are wrong. Andrew Quin knew nothing whatever of your chance of meeting your son or daughter at Haymore.” “Then the present crisis is accidental.” “Providential, rather.” “I stand corrected. Where are these people now?” “They are on their way to this house. They will be here in one hour from this time.” “My wretched son and daughter?” “Yes, Mr. Legg. Your son and daughter, and the man that she believes to be her husband.” “The man that she believes to be her husband! Believes only! Heaven and earth! has she fallen as low as that?” groaned the father. “Not knowingly. Not guiltily. Neither state, church nor society will hold her guilty of a deep wrong that she has suffered, not committed. Hers was not an elopement. Not a clandestine marriage. Her courtship was open. Her engagements approved by all her friends. Her wedding was public, and the reception that followed was the social event of the season.” “Yet the man is not her husband?” “No.” “How so?” “Because he was and had been a married man for two years previous to his meeting with your daughter. Because he was and is a bigamist. More than that, he is a forger, a perjurer, a swindler, a highway robber and a midnight assassin!” “Great Heaven! Great Heaven!” groaned the wretched father, covering his face with his hands. “In a word, this man may be called the champion criminal of his age,” continued Ran, unmercifully “piling up the agonies.” “And how is it that he is at large?” “Because his crimes have only recently been brought to light.” “And this man has betrayed my poor girl!” “It was not her fault.” “Yes—ah, me!—it was. Her pride, beauty and ambition have brought her to ruin.” “No! You may still help and save her.” “I doubt it. But tell me all about it,” said poor John Legg, sinking back in his chair and covering his working features with his open palms. Ran began and told the whole story of the connection of Gentleman Geff, Lamia Leegh, Jennie Campbell and himself, comprised within the last year.