Almost strangling in the fierce tenacity of her grasp, the wretch released Mr. Leith, and springing upward with a savage bound, threw his frail assailant from him into the middle of the room. The terrible shock hurled her prostrate on the floor. She lay there stunned and bleeding, and the wretch, after one horror-struck glance at her, rushed from the room. "Golden--it is Golden! and he has killed her" wailed her grandfather, falling on his knees beside her; and Richard Leith, where he lay, half dying, comprehended the anguished wail, and crawled on his hands and knees to the side of his hapless daughter. It was little Golden, indeed, but she lay still and silent, with the blood oozing from her nostrils and a slight cut on her temple. As he reached her side, old Dinah rushed into the room. "Little missie, little missie!" she cried; then she stopped short in terror. "Oh, my Hebenly Master, who has done dis t'ing?" "Dinah," her master said quickly, "go and send Fred Glenalvan to me." She hobbled out obediently, and in a moment returned with the handsome young dandy, who glanced at his grandfather with haughty indifference. "Fredrick," the old man said, with strange sternness, "here are two people whom your father has nearly killed. You must go and bring a doctor for them." Frederick started at the sight of the bleeding forms upon the floor, but in an instant his countenance hardened into marble. "If my father has hurt them," he replied, "I doubt not that he had good reason for doing so, and they may die before I will fetch a physician to them." With that insolent reply he turned on his heel and left the room. "Vipers!" muttered the old man, indignantly, then he looked at Dinah sadly. "My faithful old soul," he said, "you must do what you can for them. I must go and seek for help myself." He went feebly from the room and across the lawn. Outside the gates he encountered a carriage waiting. The driver stood on the ground by the horses' heads, and a lady sat on the satin cushions with a troubled look on her lovely, blond face. She sprang out impulsively and came up to him. "Oh, sir," she cried, "I _know_ you are Mr. Glenalvan. Have you seen little Golden? She went into the hall a few minutes ago." "I have seen her, I fear she is dead, and I must bring a doctor," the old man wailed, heart-brokenly. She caught his arm and turned to the driver. "Drive into town at your highest speed and fetch a physician," she said, throwing her purse at his feet, then she took the old man's arm and hurried him in. "I am your little Golden's friend," she explained to him as they went along. "I came here with her and was waiting outside while she paid you a visit." Old Dinah was bathing the wound of her unconscious mistress when they entered, and Richard Leith lay upon the floor watching her with dim, despairing eyes. "Oh, Heaven, who has done this terrible deed?" Mrs. Leith cried wildly, as her eyes took in the dreadful scene.