THE SOUL STEALER BY C. RANGER-GULL Author of "The Serf," "The Harvest of Love," "The Price of Pity," "A Story of the Stage," etc., etc. LONDON F. V. WHITE & Co., Limited 14, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1906 RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. MR. EUSTACE CHARLIEWOOD, MAN ABOUT TOWN 1 II. UNEXPECTED ENTRANCE OF TWO LADIES 19 III. NEWS OF A REVOLUTION 31 IV. THE SECOND LOVER ARRIVES 50 V. A CONSPIRACY OF SCIENTISTS 60 VI. "WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOUR?" 70 VII. ENGLAND'S GREAT SENSATION 89 VIII. THE CHIVALROUS BARONET 100 IX. GRATITUDE OF MISS MARJORIE POOLE 109 X. A MAN ABOUT TOWN PAYS A DEBT 120 XI. BEEF TEA AND A PHOSPHATE SOLUTION 130 XII. THE TOMB-BOUND MAN 150 XIII. LORD MALVIN 160 XIV. DONALD MEGBIE SEES POSSIBILITIES 171 XV. HAIL TO THE LOVERS! 190 XVI. STRANGE OCCURRENCE IN THE TEMPLE 201 XVII. MARJORIE AND DONALD MEGBIE 211 XVIII. PLANS 222 XIX. A DEATH-WARRANT IS PRESENTED TO A PRISONER 230 XX. THOUGHTS OF ONE IN DURANCE 248 XXI. HOW THEY ALL WENT TO THE HOUSE IN REGENT'S PARK 258 XXII. THE DOOM BEGINS 264 XXIII. THE DOOM CONTINUES 280 XXIV. MR. WILSON GUEST MAKES A MISTAKE 286 XXV. AT LAST! 292 XXVI. TWO FINAL PICTURES 305 THE SOUL STEALER CHAPTER I MR. EUSTACE CHARLIEWOOD, MAN ABOUT TOWN Upon a brilliant morning in the height of the winter, Mr. Eustace Charliewood walked slowly up Bond Street. The sun was shining brightly, and there was a keen, invigorating snap in the air which sent the well-dressed people who were beginning to throng the pavements, walking briskly and cheerily. The great shops of one of the richest thoroughfares in the world were brilliant with luxuries, the tall commissionaires who stood by the heavy glass doors were continually opening them for the entrance of fashionable women.