"I leaped from the train; but they were watching me, and they followed down the embankment and into a maze of little streets in North London yonder, where the fog and snow bewildered me; but I kept on all the evening, fearing to ask help of the police, dreading to go to an hotel for dinner. The dread, the want of sleep, have made me nearly mad. I did not know where to go, and at last, after struggling wildly to escape, I knew that my brain was going, that before long the dogs would drag me down. Then in my despair I thought of you." "And came here?" "Yes, for sanctuary, doctor. Save me from these devils--save me from myself. Doctor, is this to be the end of it all? I am alone--helpless: they may be listening even now. Doctor, for God's sake save me; I can do no more!" Trembling in every limb, wildly excited, and with his despair written in every lineament of his face, Mark Heath dropped from his chair, and crept upon his knees before the doctor, holding up his clasped hands, and evidently so completely exhausted that he might have been mastered by a child. "Yes, yes; of course, of course I will," said the doctor kindly. "There, come and lie down here on this couch." "Lie down?" said the young man, with a suspicious look. "To be sure; it will rest you. You are quite safe here." "Safe? Am I safe?" "Of course," said the doctor, spreading the fallen ulster over the young man's shivering form, as he slowly lay down. "Stop! where are you going?" "Only into the next room--the surgery," said the doctor, turning to face his visitor's fierce eyes as he started up from the couch. "What for? Is it to admit those devils." Mark Heath, in a fit of impotent rage, made a dash to reach the fireplace, but his feet were hampered by the ulster, and he would have fallen heavily had not the doctor caught him in his arms. "Why, man," he said, "I was going to get you something to take-- something to calm you. It is impossible for you to go on like this." The young man looked at him wildly. "I can't help it," he said, calming down. "I have been hunted till I am afraid of everybody. Save me, doctor, for you can." "Lie down, then; there: that's better." "Yes. I am so helpless and so weak," the poor fellow moaned. "The brandy kept me up, but it makes me wild." "Then you shall have something that will calm you, and not make you wild," said the doctor; and he went out of the room, leaving his visitor lying down with his eyes closed. But the moment he was alone, Mark Heath started up on one arm, listening, and thrust his hand into his breast. He was listening for the unlocking of a door; but he heard the chink of a glass and the faint gurgle of some fluid, and he sank back with a sigh of relief. "Rich--my darling," he said softly; "it is for you, sweet--for you!" "There," said the doctor, re-entering with a glass; "drink that, and you must have some sleep. We shall soon get you right."