“Prove it! what do you mean, sir!” Ralph was beginning to be frightened at the other’s manner and words. The squire looked almost fiendish, as his face glowed with a sudden thought and determination. He leaned toward the youth, speaking in a low tone, as if fearful of being overheard. “I mean,” he said, “that you are not my nephew!” “You lie!” gasped the thunder-struck boy, with a white face. “Then why am I here?” “Yes,” coolly replied Squire Moulton, “I have lied. My whole life for the last few years has been a lie. You are here simply because I brought you here. You are a part of my plan of revenge!” The old man’s face grew ghastly at this statement. Ah! what a double lie was on his soul! “You old schemer, this is too much! If I am not your nephew, who am I then?” He sprang to his feet, and stood with one clenched hand raised as if he would strike the evil man before him dead. “Oh, you begin to be interested, do you?” was the taunting reply. “You are ready enough to look after your own interests, but won’t risk anything to help another.” “Who am I? I ask you,” fairly hissed the boy, the perspiration starting from every pore of his white, convulsed face. “Will you promise——” “I promise nothing; but I’ll choke you if you don’t tell me quick,” and he glared savagely at his uncle. The wicked squire looked uneasy. He sat in deep thought for a moment, while Ralph watched him in stern and breathless silence. He was about to venture a great stake, and if he failed it might prove the worse for him. At last he heaved a deep sigh, and with sudden determination in his voice, said: “Put your ear down here, Ralph, for I would not have a breath of this heard.” Ralph bent close to the old man, his white face growing whiter with the intense excitement he felt. “You are——” The rest was in a swift, hissing whisper, but the boy heard it, for his eyes instantly blazed with a lightning passion, while the rage and hate shown in every feature, and he shook as with an ague fit. “Curse him! Ten thousand maledictions on him! I will do it!” he wildly exclaimed, striding up and down the room in a towering fury. “Ha, ha!” laughed the other. “I thought you’d come to your senses, my fine fellow. Now you can work for two fortunes instead of one.” He laughed wickedly, and looked so evil that his cloven-footed master must have been proud of such an ally. “I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it,” said Ralph, stopping suddenly, as if in doubt. “I don’t see how it can be possible.” “Very well,” answered Squire Moulton, with an ugly sneer. “Sit down again and be calm, and I will tell you how it happens to be so. I will give you the whole history.” Ralph Moulton (for we who are not in the secret must still call him so) went to the sideboard and poured out a glass of wine, which he instantly drained, and then resumed his seat. “Draw nearer,” said the squire, “for should a breath of this be heard it would spoil all our plans.”