"Put that note in an envelope and direct it," he said in a slow, measured way, and mechanically, and as if for the time being his will was again stronger than hers, she obeyed him, dropped the letter on the table, and then stood gazing from it to her brother and back again. "It's hard upon you," he said, with his hand to his head, as if he could think more clearly then, "hard upon the poor old dad. But it seems my only chance, Lou, my girl." Father--brother--what should she do? "I can feel it now," he said drearily. "There, I'm cool now. It's lying in that cold, wet cave, and the horrors I've gone through. I've got something coming on--had touches of it before--in the nights," he went on slowly and heavily, "p'r'aps it'll kill me--better if it does." "No, no, Harry. Stay and let me nurse you here. We could keep it a secret from every one, and--" "Hold your tongue!" he said fiercely. "I might live--if I went away-- where I could feel--I was safe. I can't face the old man again. It would kill me. There, it's too much to ask you--what's that?" Louise started to the door. Harry dashed to the window, and his manner was so wild and excited that she darted after him to draw him away. "Nothing, dear, it is your fancy. There, listen, there is no one coming." He looked at her doubtingly, and listened as she drew him from the window. "I thought I heard them coming," he said. "Some one must have seen me crawl up here. Coming to take me--to gaol." "No, no, dear. You are ill, and fancy all this. Now come and listen to me. It would be so wild, so cruel if I were to leave my home like this. Harry! be reasonable, dear. Your alarm is magnified because you are ill. Let me--no, no, don't be angry with me--let me speak to my father--take him into our confidence, and he will help you." "No," he said sternly. "Let me make him happy by the knowledge that you are alive." "And come upon him like a curse," said Harry, as there was a tap at the door, which neither heard in the excitement of the moment, for, eager to help him, and trembling lest he should, in the excited state he was, go alone, Louise threw herself upon her knees at her brother's feet. "Be guided by me, dearest," she sobbed, in a low, pained voice. "You know how I love you, how I would die if it were necessary to save you from suffering; but don't--pray don't ask me to go away from poor father in such a way as this." As she spoke a burst of hysteric sobbing accompanied her words, and then, as she raised her tear-blinded eyes, she saw that which filled her with horror. Uttering a faint cry, she threw herself before her brother, as if to shield him from arrest. Duncan Leslie was standing in the open doorway, and at her action, he took a stride fiercely into the room. Harry's back was half turned toward him, but he caught a glimpse of the figure in the broad mirror of an old dressoir, and with one sweep of his arm dashed the light over upon the floor.