E-text prepared by MRK THE SURVIVOR by E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM CONTENTS I. THE SERMON THAT WAS NEVER PREACHED II. A STRANGE BETROTHAL III. THE MAN WHO WAS IN A HURRY IV. EXIT MR. DOUGLAS GUEST V. HOW THE ADDRESS WAS LOST VI. THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE COUNTRY HEARS SOME VII. A NIGHT IN HELL--AND NEXT DAY VIII. THE AUTHOR OF "NO MAN'S LAND" IX. THE EDITOR OF THE "IBEX" RECEIVES A STRANGE LETTER X. A WOMAN OF WHIMS XI. DOUGLAS GUEST GETS HIS "CHANCE" XII. THE MAN WHO NEARLY WENT UNDER XIII. THE FIRST TASTE OF FAME XIV. A VISITOR FROM SCOTLAND YARD XV. EMILY DE REUSS TELLS A LIE XVI. JOAN STRONG, AVENGER XVII. A PLAIN QUESTION AND A WARNING XVIII. THE TASTE OF THE LOTUS XIX. A MAN WITHOUT A PAST XX. CICELY ASKS A QUESTION XXI. THE REBELLION OF DREXLEY XXII. DREXLEY SPEAKS OUT XXIII. CICELY S SECRET XXIV. THE COUNTESS, THE COUSIN, AND THE CRITIC XXV. A TRAGIC INTERRUPTION XXVI. A VISITOR FOR DOUGLAS JESSON XXVII. FELLOW-CRIMINALS XXVIII. THE LITTLE FIGURE IN BLACK XXIX. JOAN STRONG FINDS HER BROTHER XXX. DAVID AND JOAN XXXI. DREXLEY FORESEES DANGER XXXII. A SUPPER AT THE "MILAN," AND A MEETING XXXIII. A MISUNDERSTANDING XXXIV. THE WOOING OF CICELY XXXV. THE NET OF JOAN'S VENGEANCE XXXVI. A SCENE AT THE CLUB XXXVII. CICELY MAKES HER CHOICE XXXVIII. "SHE WAS A WOMAN: I WAS A COWARD" XXXIX. A JOURNEY AND A WEDDING XL. A CALL BEFORE THE CURTAIN THE SURVIVOR CHAPTER I THE SERMON THAT WAS NEVER PREACHED A little party of men and women on bicycles were pushing their machines up the steep ascent which formed the one street of Feldwick village. It was a Sunday morning, and the place was curiously empty. Their little scraps of gay conversation and laughter--they were men and women of the smart world--seemed to strike almost a pagan note in a deep Sabbatical stillness. They passed the wide open doors of a red brick chapel, and several of the worshippers within turned their heads. As the last two of the party went by, the wheezings of a harmonium ceased, and a man's voice came travelling out to them. The lady rested her hand upon her host's arm. "Listen," she whispered. Her host, Lord of the Manor, Lord Lieutenant of the County, and tenth Earl of Cumberland, paused readily enough and leaned his machine against a kerbstone. Bicycling was by no means a favourite pursuit of his, and the morning for the time of year was warm. "Dear lady," he murmured, "shall we go a little nearer and listen to the words of grace? Anything for a short rest." She leaned her own bicycle against the wall. From where she was she could catch a sideway glimpse of a tall, slight figure standing up before the handful of people.