"I know that the proposal is a very extraordinary one," he went on, his voice trembling in deep earnestness, "but I make it to you in desperation. By my own ill-advised action and interference, Beryl, my only child, is dying, and I am determined, if possible, to bring peace to her poor unbalanced mind in these the last hours of her existence. My remorse is bitter, God knows! It is little that I can do in the way of atonement, save to convince her of my forgiveness." His face, as he bent forward to me at that moment, came, for the first time, within the broad bar of sunlight that fell between us, and I saw how white and haggard it was. The countenance was no longer that of a haughty man, but of one rendered desperate. "I fear that in this matter it is beyond my power to assist you," I said, stirring myself at last. Truth to tell, his proposal was so staggering that I inclined to the belief that he himself was not quite right in his mind. The curious light in his eyes strengthened this suspicion. "You will not help me?" he cried starting up. "You will not assist in bringing happiness to my poor girl in her dying hour?" "I will be no party to such a flagrant fraud as you propose," I responded quietly. "The sum insufficient--eh! Well, I'll double it. Let us say twenty thousand." "And the marriage you suggest is, I presume, to be a mock one?" "A mock one? No, a real and binding one--entirely legal," he responded. "A marriage in church." "Would not a mock one be just as effective in the mind of the unfortunate young lady?" I suggested. "No, there are reasons why a legal marriage should take place," he answered distinctly. "And they are?" "Ah! upon that point I regret that I cannot satisfy you," he answered. "Is not twenty thousand pounds sufficient to satisfy you, without asking questions?" "But I cannot see how a legal marriage can take place," I queried. "There are surely formalities to be observed." "Leave them all to me," he answered quickly. "Rest assured that I have overlooked no detail in this affair. A mock marriage would, of course, have been easy enough; but I intend that Beryl shall be legally wedded, and for the service rendered me by becoming her husband I am prepared to pay you twenty thousand pounds the instant the ceremony is concluded." Then, unlocking a drawer in his writing-table, he drew forth a large bundle of notes secured by an elastic band, which he held towards me, saying-- "These are yours if you care to accept my offer." I glanced at the thick square packet of crisp notes, and saw that each was for one hundred pounds. My eyes wandered to the Tempter's face. The look I saw there startled me. Was he actually the devil in human guise? He noticed the quick start I gave, and instantly his features relaxed into a smile.