"Confound you," said the man, angrily, yet with an uneasy look in his eyes; "if you must chatter to me, come into the library." He arose and made a step toward the door. "There is no need," said Hagar, with dignity; "my errand may interest others here besides yourself. I bring a message from the dead." John Arthur turned ashen pale and trembled violently. All eyes were turned upon the speaker, however, and his agitation was unnoticed save by Hagar. "Last night," she continued, "a carriage stopped at my door and a woman came in, bringing that bundle in her hands." She paused and seemed struggling with her feelings. "She said," continued Hagar, "that she was requested to come by a dying girl, else she would have written the message given to her. She belonged to a charitable society, and visited the hospital every week. She brought flowers and fruit to one of the patients--a girl who died asking her to write down what is on this card," holding out a bit of white cardboard, "and not to tell the officers of the hospital her true name. She had entered under the name of Martha Gray, and wished to be buried as such. The lady promised; the girl gave her these articles, and the lady kept her word, and brought the message. There is the bundle," in a choking voice, "and here is the card. That is all. Good-by, John Arthur; be happy, if you can. And may God's curse fall upon all who drove her to her doom!" She gathered her shawl about her shoulders and, casting a meaning glance at Lucian Davlin, passed from the room and the house. John Arthur sat with eyes riveted upon the card before him. After a time he turned, and placing it in Davlin's hand, signed to him to read it, and hurriedly left the room. The hand that had first stricken the young life, placed the evidence that the end had come in the hand that had completed what the first began! Something of this Lucian Davlin felt, hardened as he was, for he knew, without waiting for the proof, that the true name of the girl who died in the hospital was familiar to them all. "Read!" ejaculated Cora, impatiently, "or give it to me." Lucian's eyes had scanned the card, and tossing it across to her, he pushed back his chair and walked to the window. Cora read for the benefit of her bewildered sister-in-law: Madeline Payne, at St. Mary's Hospital, under name of Martha Gray, died--brain fever--no friends but nurse. [Illustration: "May God's curse fall upon all who drove her to her doom."--page 134.] On the opposite side of the card was pencilled the full address of old Hagar, and this was all. Scant information, but it was enough. Cora pounced upon the bundle and opened it. It contained a little purse; a few trinkets, which any of the servants could identify as belonging to Madeline; the cloak she had worn the evening of her flight; and a pocket-handkerchief with her name embroidered in the corner.