“I’ll get into the safe to-night,” whispered he to himself, “and get even with that cove by lugging away the best of the plates.” Saying this, he subsided like a thief while waiting until the lights were turned out, and then to set about his work. In the meantime Nellie was listening to the murmured conversation in the library. The voice of her cousin came clear to the girl’s ear. “I say we are ruined, and there’s no use sending for her and arguing the matter, and she simply hates me, and you can’t take a girl like her and marry her against her will.” “I will not listen to such a thing as giving her a statement of her account,” said the Jew. “We will have to,” said Benson again. “Another thing,” and by close peeking Nellie could see Nathans lean over toward her cousin to see the effect of his words, “they have gotten onto the fact that there was something crooked about that jewel story which we trumped up against Tom Cooper, and that little minx had all the police force upon the trail. Even Arkwright came to me about it.” “Then she must die,” said Benson, standing up. “That’s what I have said,” repeated the Jew. “But how to manage it,” cried the other; “how to manage it.” “Send for her,” laughed the Jew, “and I will try again to get her life like I did that time fifteen years ago.” “Yes, and now Tom Cooper is in jail that is some consolation, and if we could fix her that is all we would want.” Just then there came a sound, and both men turned. A girl with flashing eyes stood before them. Nellie Standish, too brave for her own good, was ready to make a strike for her lover. “You have confessed your crime, and here goes for calling the police.” She pressed the electric button, but instantly the Jew had her in his arms and had crushed her into the vault and shut the door upon her. Her stifled cry did not reach the ear of anyone. “Now,” said Nathans, “there is but one thing left. Go to the top of the house. Get the girl’s jewels, and then burn the house about her ears, and no one will ever discover her loss, but will think that she perished in the flames.” With trembling steps the men went out together, but they did not see a sly figure watching them. Jim ran into the library and tried to open the vault. He succeeded in pulling the heavy door open and a figure panting for breath dropped out upon the floor. “Oh, somebody give me breath to breathe,” gasped she. “Please, please.” The two men were running down the steps making their way to the street when they heard Helen’s voice. “She is not dead, Benson,” cried Nathans; “come, we will finish her with this,” and he waved a revolver over his head. But when they turned into the library they came face to face with Tom Cooper. He wrenched the revolver from the Jew’s hand, but Benson drew another. “You think that you can save her, fool; you shall both go to the Kingdom Come. Now then----” But Arkwright was there. He put out his hand and drew the weapon from Benson.