Evangeline uttered a faint scream, and instinctively drew close to Charles for protection. The stranger observed the surprise of one, and the affright of the other. “Be not alarmed,” he cried, in a low, hurried tone; “I have no sinister motive, I swear before Heaven, though I appear thus strangely before you. Miss Gra-hame, I would have one word with you--for mercy sake do not deny me.” Evangeline shrank still closer to Charles, in evident alarm. The latter instantly said, sharply-- “Explain, sir, who you are, and why you appear here in this abrupt and strange manner.” The stranger made him no reply, but, clasping his hands, he stretched them towards Evangeline, and said, in tones of suffering and anxiety-- “Where is Helen--tell me only where is Helen? I have heard that she is gone--fled hence in secret. Oh! tell me only whither she has gone, that I may but see her once again! You are young and child-like--your heart cannot be made of adamant. Tell me, in pity tell me, where is Helen!” A thousand thoughts careered wildly through the brain of Evangeline. Who was this man?--what had he to do with Helen’s flight?--was he the cause? She turned deathly white and faint. She burst into tears. The stranger, still with clasped hands, sank upon his knees before her, murmuring with intense excitement. “Is it true that she is gone?” Evangeline wrung her hands, and could not speak. “She has fled from home,” said Charles. “She fled alone?” cried the stranger to him, eagerly. “She did,” replied Charles. “Where--where?--in mercy tell me that!” “We have yet to learn. It is my purpose to search for, and, if possible, to find her.” “Is she in London--think you she is in London?” “I believe--nay, I am convinced of that,” replied Charles, emphatically. “God bless you!” cried the stranger, wildly. “Once more I shall see her, for London has no secret spot I will not narrowly examine, until I have found her--the whole world shall not keep her from me.” With these words he rushed from the room by the way he had entered, with, if possible, increased wildness of manner, leaving Charles astounded, and Evangeline yet frightened and weeping. Charles endeavoured to restore Eva to a degree of composure by suggesting that the remarkable event which had just happened might, perhaps, afford a clue to the sudden flight from home of her sister; but before he could finish his sentence a tremendous knock at the hall-door resounded through the building. “My father,” faintly cried Evangeline, and like a startled fawn ran from Charles to her own room. He advanced to the door, feeling his cheek burn fiercely, and wholly at a loss what to say to the haughty owner of the mansion. The hall-door was flung back wide; he heard the shuffling of feet, a rapid step ascend the stairs, and then a door banged loudly. The next instant Whelks stood by his side. “Mr. Grahame” he said in a whisper, and added, with a grin--“Would you like to see ‘im? he’s in the libree.”