I. MERLWOOD II. HESTER MAULE III. KASHGATE--A RETROSPECT IV. PLAYING WITH FIRE V. THE COUSINS VI. ANNOT DRUMMOND VII. 'IS SHE NOT PASSING FAIR?' VIII. 'IT WAS NO DREAM' IX. THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW X. ROLAND'S HOME-COMING XI. A COLD RECEPTION XII. MAUDE XIII. ROLAND'S VEXATION XIV. MAUDE'S SECRET XV. MR. HAWKEY SHARPE SEEKS COUNSEL XVI. FOOL'S PARADISE XVII. AT EARLSHAUGH XVIII. 'MY LOVE SHE'S BUT A LASSIE YET' XIX. HESTER RECEIVES A PROPOSAL XX. MR. SHARPE MAKES A MISTAKE XXI. MALCOLM SKENE XXII. A FATAL SHOT XXIII. THE CITY OF THE CALIPHS--OCTOBER IN THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS! XXIV. JACK ELLIOT'S PERIL XXV. THE WILL XXVI. MOLOCH XXVII. ANNOT'S MISGIVINGS XXVIII. THE FIRST OF OCTOBER XXIX. ALARM AND ANXIETY XXX. THE KELPIE'S CLEUGH XXXI. 'ALL OVER NOW!' XXXII. PELION ON OSSA XXXIII. A TANGLED SKEIN XXXIV. THE PRESENTIMENT XXXV. LOST IN THE DESERT XXXVI. ALONE! XXXVII. THE FIRST QUARREL XXXVIII. THE CRISIS XXXIX. TURNING THE TABLES XL. THE NEW POSITION XLI. THE CAPTIVE XLII. THE ZEREBA OF SHEIKH MOUSSA XLIII. A MARRIAGE XLIV. THE TROOPSHIP XLV. THE DEATH WRESTLE XLVI. MAUDE'S VISITOR XLVII. THE RESULT XLVIII. 'INFIRM OF PURPOSE!' XLIX. CHRISTMAS DAY IN CAMP AT KORTI L. THE START FOR KHARTOUM LI. THE MARCH IN THE DESERT LII. THE PRESENTIMENT FULFILLED LIII. A HOMEWARD GLANCE LIV. THE LONG-SUSPENDED SWORD LV. WITH GENERAL EARLE's COLUMN LVI. THE BATTLE OF KIRBEKAN LVII. THE SICK CONVOY LVIII. IN THE SHOUBRAH GARDENS LIX. CONCLUSION PLAYING WITH FIRE. CHAPTER I. MERLWOOD. ''Pon my word, cousin, I think I should actually fall in love with you, but that--that----' 'What?' asked the girl, with a curious smile. 'One so seldom falls in love with one they have known for a life long.' The girl sighed softly, and said, still smiling sweetly: 'Looking upon her as almost a sister, you mean, Roland.' 'Or almost as a brother, as the case may be.' 'Then how about Paul and Virginia? They knew each other all their lives, and yet loved each other tenderly.' 'Or desperately, rather, Hester; but that was in an old story book greatly appreciated by our grandmothers.' 'Instead of talking nonsense here, I really think you should go home, Roland,' said the girl, with a tone of pain and pique at his nonchalant manner; 'home for a time, at least.' 'To Earlshaugh?' 'Yes.' 'Are you tired of me already, Hester?' 'Tired of you, Roland?--oh, no,' replied the girl softly, while playing with the petals of a flower.