On the day that Mr. Lawrence paid the reward of ten thousand dollars to the detective, Lancelot Darling was present. He immediately wrote a check for fifteen thousand dollars and tendered it to Mr. Shelton, saying gracefully: "Allow me also to testify some slight sense of my gratitude, although money alone can never pay the great debt we owe you!" "Our hearty appreciation and faithful friendship shall unfailingly pay the interest, at least," added the banker cordially. Mr. Shelton's fine features beamed with pride and joy. He felt a pardonable elation at the wonders his skill and patience had accomplished. He felt within himself the proud consciousness that his indefatigable perseverance had nobly earned his success. Within a few weeks he had the pleasure of seeing Doctor Pratt and Harold Colville sentenced to the penitentiary for a long term of years, and Doctor Heath also was duly punished for his wickedness. The testimony of Lily Lawrence and Fanny Colville filled the thronged court-room with horror on the day of the trial. Everyone felt that lynching would not be too bad for such villains; but the sentence of the court was duly carried out, and the wretches were incarcerated in the penitentiary. Doctor Pratt served out his sentence faithfully. When it was ended he left the shores of America for a foreign land, not, as some may suppose, to repent of his sins, but solely to hide his dishonored head from the contempt of all who knew him, and begin again under new auspices a second career of vice and crime. Harold Colville's patience could not uphold him, as it did his colleague, the doctor. Solitude and confinement fairly maddened him. Within a few months after the trial he hung himself in his cell, and sent his wicked soul forth into the darkness of eternity. Fanny Colville was thus left a widow, and on producing requisite evidence that she had been the dead man's wife, inherited his handsome property. She took possession of his wealth, feeling herself honestly entitled to it, purchased a handsome house in the city, and brought her old mother from the country to live with her, while the friendly Mrs. Mason was duly installed as her housekeeper. In the meantime Fanny had paid several visits to Lily Lawrence, and the two young creatures had exchanged numberless congratulations with each other on the happy termination of their mutual trials. "I never should have recognized you, my dear," Lily said frankly at their first meeting, "if Mr. Shelton had not informed me who was coming. When I _first_ saw you I could not believe that you were not an old woman. Now you have grown young and pretty." Fanny laughed and blushed at the compliment, and it only made her more attractive. In truth, she deserved Lily's praise. Her clear, dark complexion began to glow with health and strength. Her softly rounded cheeks had a soft tint glowing on them like the heart of a sea-shell.