Love, had I ever felt this holy passion for her, had no longer a place in my breast; but awe, terror and commiseration for her, for him, and also perhaps for myself, were still active passions within me, and at this decided statement of the case, I laughed in the excitement of the moment, and the relief I felt at knowing just what there was to dread in the adventure. “Absurd!” I cried. “With Madame’s address in my mind and the Baltimore police at my command, this man is as safe from assault as you or I are. Give me five minutes’ talk with Chief----” Her hand on my arm stopped me; the look in her eye made me dumb. “What could you do without _me?_” she said; “and my evidence you cannot have. For what would give it weight can never pass my lips. The lives that have fallen with my connivance stand between me and confession. I do not wish to subject myself to the law.” This placed her in another light before me, and I started back. “You have----” I stammered. “Placed that ring three times on the hand in Dr. Merriam’s office.” “And each time?” “A man somewhere in this nation has died suddenly. I do not know by what means or by whose hand, but he died.” This beautiful creature guilty of---- I tried not to show my horror. “It is, then, a question of choice between you and him?” said I. “Either you or he must perish. Both cannot be saved.” She recoiled, turning very pale, and for several minutes stood surveying me with a fixed gaze as if overcome by an idea which threw so immense a responsibility upon her. As she stood thus, I seemed not only to look into her nature, but her life. I saw the fanaticism that that had once held every good impulse in check, the mistaken devotion, the unreasoning hatred, and, underneath all, a spirit of truth and rectitude which brightened and brightened as I watched her, till it dominated every evil passion and made her next words come easily, and with a natural burst of conviction which showed the innate generosity of her soul. “You have shown me my duty, sir. There can be no question as to where the choice should fall, I am not worth one hair of his noble head. Save him, sir; I will help you by every means in my power.” Seizing the opportunity she thus gave me, I asked her the name of the man who was threatened. In a low voice she told me. I was astonished; dumfounded. “Shameful!” I cried. “What motive, what reason can they have for denouncing _him?_” “He is under suspicion--that is enough.” “Great heaven!” I exclaimed. “Have we reached such a pass as that?” “Don’t,” she uttered, hoarsely; “don’t reason; don’t talk; act.” “I will,” I cried, and rushed from the room. She fell back in a chair, almost fainting. I saw her lying quiet, inert and helpless as I rushed by her door on my way to the street, but I did not stop to aid her. I knew she would not suffer it.