For a moment Harold Colville quailed before her with something like fear of that dread tribunal with whose vengeance she threatened him. His heart sank strangely within him, while hers, for the moment, thrilled with a presentiment of coming deliverance. Surely if "coming events cast their shadows before," both the guilty Harold Colville and the wronged Lily Lawrence were gifted with a momentary prescience of that which was hastening to them in the near future. Doctor Pratt saw the subtle shadow settling over Colville's pale features, and arose hastily. "Come, come, Miss Lawrence," he said harshly. "These tragedy airs would be very fine on the stage, but they are out of place here. Spare yourself so much unnecessary exertion; you will most certainly become Mr. Colville's wife to-morrow. Instead of this useless defiance let me advise you to cultivate a spirit of meekness and submission. It is useless to threaten us with the punishment of God. We do not believe in Him!" She was walking restlessly up and down the floor, and made him no answer, save one scathing flash from her brilliant eyes. He turned away with a laugh of derision. "Come, Colville, let us go," he said. "Other matters demand our attention now. We must arrange matters with Dr. Heath before we go." Colville paused at the door and looked at the young girl restlessly pacing the floor. "To-morrow, then, my fair and obdurate love," said he. "To-morrow! Until then, adieu!" No word or motion betrayed that she heard him. He closed and locked the door, going away with the exultant thought that this was his last parting from his beautiful captive. She heard the sound of the receding footsteps, and fell on her knees, lifting up her convulsed face in a passionate appeal to God that He would deliver her from the snares of these wicked men. They went down-stairs and were closeted some time with Doctor Heath. When they went away a large roll of bills was passed from the purse of Harold Colville to the pocket of the complacent little insane-doctor. Then resuming their disguises they took leave. "To-morrow, then," said Colville, as they descended the steps, speaking thoughtlessly aloud. "To-morrow we shall return, and with the worthy priest's assistance, I shall bear away my unwilling bride." "Hush! do not speak so loud," said Doctor Pratt, cautiously. "The very stones have ears." They sprang into their carriage and drove rapidly away. Then a dark form that had been crouching beneath the steps came out and straightened its cramped limbs. "To-morrow," he repeated, with a low, exultant laugh. "To-morrow! Ah! what a happy day to-morrow will be to some sorrowing hearts that I know of. Take courage, sweet Lily Lawrence! To-morrow shall see you restored to the arms of your father and your lover! Let me see--to-morrow is the twenty-fourth of December. What a triumphant Christmas eve it will be for me!"