Soft and sweet and low, I sing my lullaby, Soothing the tired soul to slumber and repose; And bring to it, ’mid sounds of rarest melody, The peace of mind, the calm, that waking, no one knows. _Susie Cornelia Connolly._ [Illustration: The Shadow of the Attacoa By Thornwell Jacobs] SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS Commenced in the April number. Ervin McArthur, bearing the nickname of “Satan” on account of his ungovernable temper, learns printing at the office of the _Dunvegan_ (N. C.) _Democrat_ and loves Colonel Preston’s daughter. The colonel, objecting to a love affair between his aristocratic daughter and a son of “poor whites,” shifts the youth to a place on the _Charleston Chronicle_. Here, the Civil War coming on, he distinguishes himself by his journalistic ability and by his inventions of war-engines. In these last he is ably assisted by Helen Brooks, a Boston girl visiting Charleston relatives. She learns to love the inventor and his cause, and he struggles between his allegiance to Helen Preston and his newly awakened love. He returns to Dunvegan on furlough and in an altercation with his old time chum, Henry Bailey, the latter meets his death. Ervin escapes, and another friend, Ernest Lavender, is tried and convicted. Ervin confesses and is tried, but cleared on proof discovered by Helen Preston that the crime was committed by Mack Lonovan, who, wishing to marry Helen Brooks, destroys the only living witness to his secret marriage with half-witted Nance West. Ervin returns to Charleston and invents the ironclad torpedo, destined, when copied by the Federals, to destroy the Confederate Navy. He also constructs a submarine torpedo boat, and while preparing for his initial trip has an interview with Helen Brooks. He decides to attack the _Housatonic_ instead of the _New Ironsides_, as Helen has confessed that one whom she loves is on the latter. The _Housatonic_ is sunk, also the torpedo, Ervin alone being rescued and captured. Sent to the stockade on Morris’ Island, he finds Tait Preston, who is about to be exchanged on account of a wound. Ervin determines to escape. After some weeks he does so, being wounded in the flight. At this time his dragoon pigeon being accidentally loosened by Mrs. Adams, returns to Dunvegan and Helen Preston leaves her father, who is at home on sick leave, to nurse her lover. Arriving at Charleston, she learns that his friends there suppose him to have been destroyed in the sinking of the _Housatonic_, but the faithful girl continues her search until she finds him on James’ Island and nurses him back to health. In the meantime Mrs. Corbin and her family have fled to Columbia, on the news of the approach of General Sherman. CHAPTER XLIII