"Now, hark 'ee, girl," said the ruffian, and as he spoke he grasped Emmie's wrist with his left hand to enforce his words, "I have a hold over you besides that of your oath. If you break it--but by a whisper, but by a look--I have the means here of blowing up the house over your head! And I will do it, rather than myself fall into the clutches of the law. Or if you should think to find safety by flight, I would pursue you to the furthest end of the island, ay, or beyond it! In the grave alone should you hide yourself from my vengeance!" Then, turning to his wife, Harper added, "Now, take that girl back to the place from whence you brought her, and tell her that if she flinch from keeping her oath, I shall not flinch from keeping mine!" With that terrible threat still sounding in her ears, Emmie found herself again on the narrow stone staircase, with the cold draught of air from the lower door, which she had left open, rushing up from below. Mrs. Harper was supporting the poor girl, or she must have fallen. "Pluck up a brave heart, Miss Trevor; all is safe as long as you keep silence," said the woman. "Is all safe,--my father, my brothers? Oh, is there no danger for them in this horrible house?" exclaimed Emmie, who had no clear idea as to the nature of the work in which Harper was engaged, save that it assuredly must be evil. "Every one is safe so long as you are silent," answered Jael Harper. "But Bruce--my brother--who sleeps next door to that room,--oh, if he were to discover what is passing in the haunted chamber!" exclaimed Emmie in anguish. "If he were to find out--" "He has never found us out, and he never will!" interrupted Jael, who, having supported Emmie down the stairs, was now emerging with her on the gravel path, where the moon, passing from the shadow of earth, now shed her full radiance around them. "Think you that my husband does not take every precaution to prevent discovery? There is no chance of finding _him_ napping. Master Bruce is regular in his hours as clock-work; we have no difficulty whatever in keeping out of his way."