As the day wore away, Clara felt in hopes that Sherwood had given up his desire to marry her out of revenge, and that she would be set at liberty. However, in this she was bitterly disappointed. It wanted about an hour of sunset, when the renegade entered her lodge accompanied by a white man, whom he introduced as Father Jules, the missionary. “I have come, Miss Bryant,” the villain said, “to claim a fulfillment of your promise to wed me.” A low sob escaped poor Clara’s lips, and she turned ghastly pale. “Are you not sick, my dear child?” asked Father Jules. “No, sir,” faintly articulated the maiden, whose senses seemed deserting her, and whose heart grew sick and faint. “And you are willing to become the wife of Richard Sherwood, are you?” questioned the missionary. Clara answered in the affirmative, though she was almost totally unconscious of what was passing about her, and but for the support of the renegade she would have fallen. In this state of semi-consciousness the maiden stood by the side of Sherwood, and the marriage ceremony was performed. When the missionary pronounced them man and wife, Clara had wholly fainted. Restoratives, however, were immediately applied, and she was brought back to consciousness. As soon as the ceremony was performed, Father Jules seated himself, and taking from his pocket a strip of paper, wrote thereon the following: “September 20th, 18-- “I, Victor Jules, a regularly ordained minister of the church of the Holy Evangelist, hereby certify that on this day, I joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, Richard Sherwood and Clara Holmes. VICTOR JULES.” This certificate the missionary gave to Sherwood, who read it, smiled, folded it up and put it carefully away in an inner pocket. Victor Jules soon took his departure from the lodge, and when they were alone, Sherwood turned to Clara, and said: “My dear little wife, you have been honest in fulfilling your agreement, now I shall fulfill mine and set you at liberty.” Clara’s eyes brightened, and her heart beat more hopeful to think that she was going to be released. She felt certain that when she was beyond Sherwood’s power, he would have no claim upon her as a husband; for, in her inmost heart she knew the ceremony was all a farce, and she had very grave doubts as to Victor Jules being a missionary. But, why it was that Sherwood had taken this course for revenge upon Town. Farnesworth, was a mystery to her. He surely had sense enough to know that the marriage was not binding upon them. But, alas! Clara did not--could not read the secret intentions of the villain’s heart. “And am I to return to the post alone?” she asked. “No; I will escort you as far as Talbott Taft’s cabin,” he returned; “that is as close to the post as will be safe for my neck.” “And when are we to start?” Clara asked. “At once.”