"Why do ye seek me, Annie? I am but a puir wretched mon; ye canna' want sic a brother." "Ye are sair distraught, Stephen; I cam to tak' ye hame, that ye may get yer ain, my brother." "Nane wad want to see a mon that had forsaken wife an' bairns as I hae done, Annie." "Just consent to gang wi' me, Stephen." But no words could change the determination of Stephen Bruce; he listened moodily to all his sister's arguments; but all was in vain. She took her departure, and her heart sank within her when she heard the bolts slide, fastening doors and windows against another entrance. She sent each day to inquire; he was getting better; but no inducements could persuade him to open his door to the family at Mrs. Antrim's, not even to little George. In a few days, the cottage was forsaken; and Stephen had vanished from the neighborhood. Thus the link so lately found was lost once more. In vain Mrs. Douglass sought for tidings; there was no clue whatever to his movements. "I hae no hope but in Elsie Gibson, Mrs. Antrim; I think that I shall see her soon." Advertisements were again inserted in the newspaper; but still no news. At length Elsie made her appearance. "I hae found my brother, Elsie, an' lost him again; can ye tell me where he is?" "I need na' be so secret noo, as ye ken that he lives; he has a strange dislike towards his kin, but I hope that we may ow'rcome it, for he is na sae bad as he was." "Where is he, Elsie?" asked Mrs. Douglass. "He is aboot tharty miles frae here, wi' an auld woman, who is kind to him." "What led ye to this country, Elsie?"