XV. Sudden Flight 182 XVI. A Man and Two Women 190 XVII. A Man, a Woman, and Spirits 208 XVIII. Apples of Sodom 220 XIX. A Story and a Revelation 231 XX. The Harvest of Tares 245 XXI. A Strange Marriage 259 XXII. Dead in her Bed 274 XXIII. Bitter Sweet 287 MAL MOULÉE. CHAPTER I. TWO GIRLS. Helena Maxon stood at the window which looked out on the tennis court, weeping softly, when her mother's arm encircled her, and her mother's voice, tremulous with tears unshed, addressed her. "Lena, darling," she said, "you must control yourself. Madame Scranton will return in a moment, with the young lady who is to be your roommate and companion, during the next year. She is a lovely and charming girl; and I do not want my own sweet darling's face to be utterly disfigured by weeping when her new friend first beholds it. I am certain, my dear daughter, that you will be very happy here, and perfectly content after the first loneliness wears away." "I can never be happy and contented away from you and Papa!" cried the young lady passionately. "I should feel like a wicked, cruel hearted creature, if I became contented and happy when separated from you. I know I shall die of home-sickness before I have been here one term," and her tears dripped anew. Mrs. Maxon choked down a lump in her own throat, and forced a smile to her lips. "You will, I know, try to be happy dear," she continued, "when you realize that the happiness of your parents depends upon your own. We have selected this academy as the most desirable institution in which to place you, and Madame Scranton is a lady in every way suited to guide and direct a young girl's mind. It will be very hard for us to live without you, but we know it is for your good, and you will one day thank us for it. Here comes Madame, and the young lady; dry your eyes, dear child, and greet her pleasantly." And while Lena was bravely striving to stem the upward-welling tide of tears with a very moist bit of cambric, she heard Madame's deep contralto voice following her mother's tremulous soprano tones: "Miss Maxon, let me present your future companion and I trust, friend. Miss Dolores King--Miss Helena Maxon." As the two girls looked in each other's eyes and clasped hands, no faintest premonition came to either young heart of the strange and tragic destiny which was to link their future lives. Helena's first thought was, "What a beautiful creature--a perfect Aphrodite." While Miss King was saying to herself, "Rather a nice little body--and almost pretty if she had not disfigured herself by crying."