Leigh turned to look at Hendle, who stood beside Dorinda silently amazed at all this strange talk. "My friend," he said, wincing at having to lower himself in the young man's eyes, "I was tempted by Satan and I fell. In the muniment chest I found a bundle of letters written by John Hendle, which showed that he wished to disinherit his son Frederick, whom he hated, in favor of Eunice, the infant daughter of his eldest son, Walter, whom he loved. He declared in the last letter of the bundle--which you will find in the chest where I left it--that he would make a will, leaving the estates to Eunice, who married Filbert when she grew up. But John Hendle died of heart disease, as other family documents show, before he could execute his intention. He made no will in favor of Eunice, and Frederick lawfully inherited the property." Mallien turned a greenish color and pulled out the will from the pocket--the will which had caused so many disasters. "John Hendle made this----" "He did not," interrupted the vicar in a strong and triumphant voice. "I made that will. It is forged." "Forged!" Rupert, Dorinda and Mallien all echoed the word. "Yes," Leigh went on, speaking swiftly as if fearful that his strength would not hold out to the end. "I wanted money to go to Yucatan, and hoped to get it from Hendle. He was not inclined to fit out an expedition, so I hoped to force him. Satan entered into me, and, taking advantage of what was in those letters of John Hendle, I prepared the will in favor of Eunice. I bought the parchment and wrote out what was wanted to give me a hold over Hendle. When Carrington saw me holding the will over the candle, I was doing so to change the color of the ink and make the parchment appear black and a little contracted. I did not give the forged will to Hendle when I spoke about it, as it was not quite ready. Next day I proposed to give it to him and to offer to allow him to burn it on condition that he gave me enough money to go to Yucatan with an expedition. Failing Rupert, I should have gone to you, Mr. Mallien." "And you would have gone!" gasped Rupert, amazed by this recital. "I would never have agreed to suppress that will had I believed it--as I did--to be genuine." "I see that now," said Leigh, whose voice was becoming fainter. "You were too honorable for Mallien and Carrington, and you would have been too honorable for me. My forgery was vain. But God intervened and prevented me from carrying out my wicked plot. Carrington came and--and--you--you--know the--rest. I acted wickedly--and--I--I----" He stopped and fell back on his pillows with a ghastly look on his face. "He is dying," cried Dorinda, running to the bedside. "Call the nurse." Rupert opened the door, but Mallien looking like a fiend rushed to the dying man and shook him roughly. "You are a liar! you are a liar!" he screamed, white with thwarted ambition. "This will is not forged; this will is----"