“Are you conscious, Mr. Wilton, that the Honorable Lester Vane is a blackleg, a sharper, with cards and false dice--a debauchee--a scoundrel--who, while he was professing the warmest attachment to Miss Wilton, strove, by the most infamous proposals, to ruin the daughter of the man at whose house he had been received with cordial hospitality--that he is a wretch so contemptible that words fail to express his true character? Are you aware, sir, that such is the man you have honoured with a place beneath your roof, and to whom you are eager to entrust the future happiness of your child?” Mr. Wilton placed his hands to his forehead, bewildered. He turned to Lester, and in a choking, gasping voice, he said-- “What--what have you to answer to these tremendous charges?” “That they are, from first to last, false!” answered Vane, striving by a mighty effort to retain a cool self-possession; “wholly, abominably, maliciously false! The truth of the matter is, Mr. Wilton, some time--long before I saw your sweet daughter--the lady, now the wife of that fellow, betrayed a preference for me, which is the secret of”---- “Scoundrel! dare to breathe one word respecting that lady through your foul lips, and, notwithstanding Mr. Wilton’s presence, I will fling you through yon window down to the place beneath.” “Mere vaunting braggadocio!” returned Vane, with a tremendous effort to appear cool. “Mr. Wilton, I shall commence an action of libel against this infernal slanderer; that will be my best answer to his lying-assertions.” “There--there should be some proofs adduced to support such terrible charges,” observed Mr. Wilton to Hugh Riversdale, who was labouring under the most painful excitement. “I am prepared to substantiate many of them by the very clearest evidence!” exclaimed Hal, producing a small packet of papers. “A disinterested witness, truly!” exclaimed Vane forcing a laugh. “A concocted scheme, as you may perceive, Mr. Wilton; surely you are not prepared to condemn me upon such an infamous machination as this?” The door at this moment opened, and Nathan Gomer entered, followed by a sturdy looking man. He pointed to Lester Vane. “There is your man, officer!” he exclaimed. Lester Vane uttered an exclamation of fright; he darted from his chair and made for the open window. The height was something, but he paused not to think of it, and leaped out to the ground below. “Villain! you shall not thus escape my rightful vengeance!” shouted Hugh Riversdale, and dashed after him. The officer, however, sprang upon him, and seizing him by the collar, detained him. “Hold, sir!” he cried; “there is a man below to prevent his escape. Besides, he must have broken his limbs, if he has not his head.” Gomer stood watching excitedly the movements of Vane and Hugh, at the elbow of Wilton. The latter, with a sudden faintness, clutched at Gomer’s arm. “Support me, or I shall swoon!” he exclaimed. “No!” said Gomer, brusquely.