"'And the murderer! Ha! It comes from there. See, it is looking at us from those trees. It is all arms and legs; it has no human face. It will drop to the earth, and then we shall see what happens.' "Tap, tap, tap--the steps grew louder--nearer and nearer they came. The great shadows stole down, one by one, to meet them. I looked at Leethwaite. He was fearfully expectant; so was I. "A woman came tripping along the path. I knew her in an instant--there was the shabby shawl, the basket on her arm--it was the same. She approached the wicket. "I looked at Leethwaite. He was spellbound with fear. I touched his arm. I dragged him with me. 'Come,' I whispered, 'we shall see which of us is right. You think the ghostly murderer will resemble us--will resemble men. It will not. Come.' "I dragged him forward. He would have fled, but I was firm. We passed through the gate--we followed the figure as it silently glided on. We turned to the left. The place grew very dark as the trees met overhead. I heard the trickling of water and knew we were close to the ditch. "I gazed intently at the pines. When would the horror drop from them? A sickly terror laid hold of me. I turned to fly. "To my surprise Leethwaite stopped me. He was all excitement. 'Wait,' he hissed. 'Wait. It is you who are afraid. Hark! It is twelve o'clock.' And as he spoke, the clock of the parish church slowly tolled midnight. Then the end came. An awful scream rang out; so piercing and so full of terror that I felt the blood in my heart stand still. But no figure dropped from the pines. Not from the pines, but from behind the woman a form darted forward and seized her by the neck. It tore at her throat with its hands, it dragged and hurried her into the moonlight; and then, oh damning horror, I saw its face!--it was my own." PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY MORRISON AND GIBB LIMITED, EDINBURGH SOME RECENT BOOKS PUBLISHED BY SANDS & CO. FICTION. GOD'S FAIRY TALES. Stories of the Supernatural in Everyday Life. By ENID DINNIS. Cr. 8vo. Price =4s.= net. MYSTICS ALL. By ENID DINNIS. Cr. 8vo. Price =4s.= net. THE CALL OF THE PAST. By FLORENCE ROCH. Cr. 8vo. Price =3s. 6d.= net. THE ONION PEELERS. A Novel. By R. P. GARROLD. Cr. 8vo. Price =6s.= A MORE EXCELLENT WAY. A Novel. By FELICIA CURTIS. Cr. 8vo. Price =6s.= O'LOGHLIN OF CLARE. A Novel. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. Cr. 8vo. Price =3s. 6d.= net. THE TRAGEDY OF CHRIS. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. Cr. 8vo. Price =3s. 6d.= net. THE RETURN OF MARY O'MURROUGH. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. Illustrated. Cr. 8vo. Price =4s.= net. MOLLY'S FORTUNES. By M. E. FRANCIS. Cr. 8vo. Price =3s. 6d.= net. THE MOTHER, AND OTHER STORIES. By P. H. PEARSE. Cr. 8vo. Price =2s. 6d.= net. WITH THE FRENCH RED CROSS. Tales Founded on Fact. By ALICE DEASE. Cr. 8vo. Price =2s.= net. MY MAN SANDY. By J. B. SALMOND. Price =2s.= net. POETRY. DREAMS AND REALITIES. Poems. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. Cr. 8vo. Price =5s.= net.