"DEAR SISTER:--I have challenged Gerald Huntington, and am gone to fight him this morning. I saw him at the opera night before last, and yesterday I sent him a challenge. I have taken Ronald's quarrel on myself. It would not have been right for Ronald to fight him, because if he had killed Lina's husband it would have been wrong for him to marry Lina. So, without Ronald's knowledge, I have taken up Ronald's quarrel. I hope I shall kill the villain, and then Lina will be free to marry Valchester. I love Lina so dearly I cannot bear to see her unhappy. If I kill Huntington I shall fly to a foreign land. If he kills me I shall have done all I could to help my darling to happiness. In either case, Violet, you must tell her that I did it for her sake." Lina's tears fell quick and fast on those brave, pathetic words. "Oh, poor--poor Walter!" she exclaimed. "And he has asked for me, Violet?" "Yes," Violet replied. "Will you go to him now, Lina?" "Yes," with a slight shudder of dread at what she was about to see. Violet led her up a richly-carpeted stairway into a darkened, luxurious chamber, where the wounded man lay among the snowy pillows, watched by a skillful surgeon and careful nurses. Jaquelina went up to the bed. She did not see Ronald Valchester draw back quickly into the shadow of the bed-curtains in fear that it might pain her to see him there. Walter lay white and still upon the bed, his fair, curling locks brushed back, the long lashes lying on his pale cheeks like one asleep; but at the soft swish of Jaquelina's silken robe he opened his eyes and looked at her. "Oh, Walter, I am so sorry!" she cried. "Oh, why--why did you do it?" "Lina, it was for your sake," he replied. "You should not have done it; it was all wrong," she cried out, quickly. "Lina, do not blame me," he said, weakly; "I could not help it. I am so sorry for you, dear." Jaquelina pressed the hand she held impulsively to her lips. "I remembered what you said," Walter continued, in feeble accents--"that life had given you all save happiness--and I would so gladly have given you that, too, Lina." "Oh, Walter, you have a noble heart!" she cried, and a faint smile curved his lips. "But I have failed," he said, so sadly. "I have utterly failed, and the only pleasant thought I have in dying is that I have given my life in the attempt to make you and Ronald happy." "You will not die, Walter--you must not!" she cried. "I should feel as if I had murdered you! You must try to get well again!" Walter shook his head in silence, and Lina looked around at the surgeon. "Oh, sir, he will get well--will he not?" she exclaimed, pleadingly. "I hope so," he answered, gravely; but her quick ear detected the tone of doubt in his voice. She looked down at the handsome, white face on the pillow. He was so young, and life held so much for him; yet he was dying--dying for her. "Walter, you must not go away from us like this! Live--_for me_!"