XXXVII. EVARNE FIGHTS FOR MORE THAN LIFE 297 XXXVIII. CONFIDENCES 318 XXXIX. EVIL, THAT GOOD MAY COME 326 XL. A FRESH COMPLICATION 338 XLI. HOW "LA BELLE DAME" LED JACK ASTRAY 347 XLII. THE COUP DE GRÂCE 357 SEKHET DRAMATIS PERSONÆ SEKHET: _The Goddess of Ancient Egypt, who presided over Love and its Cruelty._ HER TOOLS AND HER VICTIMS. Morris Kenyon. Leopold Stornway (_his college friend_). Evarne (_Stornway's daughter_). Tony Belmont. Lucinda "Belmont." Geoffrey Danvers (_a young artist_). Jack Hardy } Frank Pallister } (_Geoff's studio friends_). Philadelphia Harbert (_an artist's model_). Maudie Meridith and her Auntie. Alexander Punter (_manager of the "Scotia's Bard" Touring Co_.) Mrs. Punter (_authoress of the play_). John Montgomery (_a printer_). } Joe Harold (_a commercial traveller_). } Archie (_a horsey youth_). } (_Members of the_ Harry Douglas (_an ex-prize fighter_). } _"Scotia's Bard"_ Charles Stuart (_a scene-painter_). } _Co._) Jessie Kennedy (_a little pianist_). } Madame Cheape (an "actress"). } Mr. Heathmore (a real actor). } Mrs. Burling } Mrs. Sargeant } (_Landladies_). Miss Brodie } Mrs. Shiells } Jean Brodie (_a seamstress_). _Many minor characters_. SCENES. The depth of the country, London, Italy, Paris, Egypt. SEKHET CHAPTER I BORN TO BEAUTY Evarne Stornway hurried across the fields towards Heatherington at a speed that deprived her gait of much of that graceful yet somewhat insolent sway that caused it to be alike the butt and the envy of the other youthful females of the neighbourhood. Not an hour since she had first heard beyond a doubt the gentle rustling of the wings of the Angel of Death within the sick-room of her father, and, goaded by cruel anxiety, she was--even against the invalid's will--seeking medical aid.