The voice rang silver-sweet, clear as a bugle-blast, through the room. All sprung to their feet. "Ah-h-h-h-h!" The wordless cry of affright came from Mrs. Carl Walraven. Dr. Oleander stood paralyzed, his eyes starting from their sockets, his face like the face of a dead man. And there in the door-way, like a picture in a frame, like a Saxon pythoness, her golden hair falling theatrically loose, her arm upraised, her face pale, her eyes flashing, stood Mollie. CHAPTER XXIV. MOLLIE'S TRIUMPH. The tableau was magnificent. There was a dead pause of unutterable consternation. All stood rooted to the spot with staring eyes and open mouths. Before the first electric charge had subsided, Mollie Dane advanced and walked straight up to the confounded doctor, confronting him with eyes that literally blazed. "Liar! traitor! coward! Whose turn is it now?" Dr. Oleander fairly gasped for breath. The awful suddenness of the blow stunned him. He could not speak--he made the attempt, but his white lips failed him. "Before all here," cried Mollie Dane, arm and hand still upraised with an action indescribably grand, "I accuse you, Guy Oleander, of high felony! I accuse you of forcibly tearing me from my home, of forcibly holding me a prisoner for nearly two weeks, and of intending to carry me off by force to-morrow to Cuba. And you, madame," turning suddenly as lightning strikes upon Mrs. Carl, "you, madame, I accuse as his aider and abettor." There was another horrible pause. Even Hugh Ingelow thrilled through every vein. Then Carl Walraven found voice: "For God's sake, Mollie, what does this mean?" Mollie turned to him and held out both hands. "It means, guardy, that but for the direct interposition of Providence you never would have seen your poor little Cricket again." And at last Dr. Oleander found his voice. "That infernal nurse!" he cried between his set teeth. Mollie heard the hissing words and turned upon him like a pale little fury. "Yes, Guy Oleander, the nurse played you false--fooled you to your face from the first. Came down from New York for no other purpose than to rescue me. And here I am, safe and sound, in spite of you; and the tables are turned, and you are in my power now. Out of this house you never stir except to go to prison." "Mollie! Mollie! Mollie!" Mr. Carl Walraven cried in desperation, "for the Lord's sake, what do you mean? What has Doctor Oleander done?" "Carried me off, I tell you--forcibly abducted me. Held me a prisoner for the last two weeks in a desolate old farmhouse over on Long Island. Look at him. Was ever guilt more plainly written on human face? Let him deny it if he can--or you, madame, his accomplice, either." "I do deny it," Mme. Blanche exclaimed, boldly. "Mollie Dane, you are mad." "You will find to your cost there is method in my madness, Mrs. Walraven. What say you, Doctor Oleander? Have you the hardihood to face me with a deliberate lie, too?"