“At last!” “There is danger in you.” “THERE IS!” she exclaimed, starting with wild energy. “HAGAR!” He caught her burning hands and held them with the strength of a vice, trying to catch her fiery and flying glances; at last they fell and struck into his own, quenching their fire in the cold, calm, liquid gaze of his mesmerizing eyes, then— “Hagar!” he said, very softly, “why, what a temperament you have—will _nothing_ quiet you?” She kept her gloomy eyes fixed upon him, and was about to reply, when the door opened softly, and Rosalia re-entered the room. Hagar started violently, and shuddered at her sudden apparition, but Raymond continued to hold one hand to prevent her moving, as Rosalia passed up to the piano, and resuming her seat, with an air of forced calmness, said— “I have come back to sing you the song, as this is the last evening of my stay.” There was an air of effort, of painful effort, about her singing and her deportment generally, very distressing to see, as if the poor girl had forced herself to a measure exceedingly repugnant to herself, for the sake of giving pleasure, or of deprecating blame. Raymond did not approach her while she sang; indeed he dared not yet leave the side of Hagar, who was now looking more like a half mesmerized maniac than anything else. By the time Rosalia had ceased singing, a servant entered with the chamber lamps on a waiter, and accepting that as a signal for breaking up, Raymond handed one to Rose, and bidding her good night, opened the door and dismissed her. Hagar, with wild eyes, sprang suddenly past him, and arresting Rose by grasping her arm, exclaimed, “Rosalia! secure your door on the inside to-night! _do it!_” and letting fall her arm she returned to the room, and sank into her seat. Raymond was standing before her with folded arms and severe brow. “What is the meaning of this new phrensy, Hagar?” She looked up at him with fiery and bloodshot eyes. “Raymond! I am mad! I am terrified! I am in the power of a passion I cannot control! a fiend I cannot resist! All this evening! all this evening! I have been impelled by an almost irresistible impulse! attracted by a terrible fascination! _to a crime!_ _to a_ CRIME! hold me, hold me, Raymond! keep me away from myself—I am going mad! I am! I am!” her eyes were fiercely blazing wide, and every vein and nerve visibly throbbing. He went to the side-board, poured out and handed her a large glass of water, which she immediately drained. Then he leaned his elbow on the table, and bending forward, spoke to her—