“Yes, though he is with his sister a great deal, and she is—Forgive me, dear, I was about to say she was one of those dreadful spiritists. But really she is fanatical in her beliefs and goes to such lengths in it. That is the one regret I have for being away. I don’t like her influence over Horace. But forgive me, Alice, I beg of you. Though I hope now you feel the same as I do about it, I know I should not have introduced the subject.” “On the contrary, I am very glad you have done so. I want to tell you that since Professor Russell went away I have seen fewer visions and thought less upon the subject. I am really much less nervous than when you came, and yet I cannot entirely rid myself of those—spirit presences. If the evil ones have been driven away, there are kind ones who come to me in my dreams. I believe Tibby exorcised the evil ones who made life such a torture to me, and I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you came here this summer and brought me deliverance. But for this I should have been lying there with my baby, or been in the mad-house. I am sure of it. But I see Mark coming. I must run and see if tea is made for him.” “Well, sister mine,” Mark said, springing from his horse and throwing the reins over its neck. “When do you expect to hear from Horace?” “To-day, now! Give me the letter quick!” she cried, holding out her hands to him. “Ah, a telegram. He must have started, then.” And she hastily tore open the envelope. “Yes, it is from Johnson, his partner, and says, ‘Wylie started on No. 5, to-night, for the East.’ Oh, isn’t that grand! He will be here in a few days.” “You have been somewhat lonely here in the wilds, I suspect, little sister; but we shall regret your going.” “And I shall miss you all very much, wherever I am; but I suppose Horace will be willing to stop only a very short time, so we can be here but a few days longer. Let me see, this is the eighth. He should be here by the twelfth, should he not? Robbie, come here, dear. Papa is coming. Do you hear?” And Nellie Wylie caught up the little fellow and kissed him in the exuberance of her delight. “I am glad you will leave Alice in so much better health, mentally and physically, than she was when you came,” Mark said. “Yes, and better than all, with that man banished from this place.” CHAPTER XXVII A LEGAL DOCUMENT IS RECEIVED “He will be here to-day! Surely, Horace will be here to-day,” Nellie Wylie repeated to herself as the hours crept slowly on and the time arrived when, by her reckoning, her husband should have reached C——.