“It is a woman, young and beautiful. She must be a near relative. Her name is E-l-s-i-e—Elsie.” Alice looked at her mother with awe-shaded eyes. Whence did this man’s knowledge come? It was certainly remarkable. He could not have known Elsie. Further speculation or conversation was arrested by the sound of a horse’s feet outside the door, and in a moment the handsome, smiling face of Mark Cramer appeared. His curling, yellow hair hung in womanish profusion to his powerful shoulders, over which a large soft hat rested becomingly. His hunting costume of gray, with belt and pistols, spoke of his wild, free life; and his clear blue eyes, florid complexion, and Herculean frame made a magnificent picture of manly strength and perfection, as for a brief time he stood framed in the open doorway against the back-ground of the setting sun. A moment later, and Alice, with a little cry of welcome, sprang to greet him. The Professor aroused himself from his semi-trance, and Mrs. Clyne and Lissa were extending their hands and expressing surprise at his coming. “How did you chance to come home so much earlier than you expected?” Alice asked radiantly, when the greetings were over and they were seated. “We did not look for you for a fortnight.” “We lost one of our men, Wish-has-ta, and as he was to marry Enona, daughter of the chief, when he returned, we thought it our first duty to look him up, and so started back to see what had become of him.” “And did you find him?” “Well, yes, in town. He had become separated from us by buffalo. The mad little mustang he rode kept along with the herd, in spite of him, for several miles, or until at last he came to a ravine and managed to fall into it. He narrowly escaped being trampled to death as the herd went over him, but he got out with only a few injuries. He lost his pony, however, and instead of following us, made his way back to camp. He left word at C—— that he was safe, as he knew we’d be looking for him.” “And did you see Nathan,” asked Lissa. “Yes, he’ll be home to-night too. I came into C—— early and called at his place of business. That’s a fine place Nathan has, with the Major. Good pay and light duties. Much better than his position at the post.” “Yes, only it keeps him away from home more. And so you will both be here to-night after all. Professor Russell, you have in this case proven a true prophet.” “I trust I am in every case,” he replied, with an expressive gesture of the hand. “I do not rely upon lying spirits for my information.” “Well,” said Lissa, not perceiving Mark’s frown of disapproval, “if we have a seance here to-night we must get word to our neighbors.” “I will myself go and call Mrs. McCleary and good Auntie Dearborn,” said Russell, “and will get word to the Jenkinsons and Sol Garrett, if you wish.” “Be sure and have Esther McCleary present,” said Mrs. Clyne. “I am greatly interested in that girl.”