Sunk in weary slumber, he heeded nothing; lying back in his chair with shut eyes and pallid face, his curling locks damp with the night dews. The door opened violently; Mrs. Ritchie rushed in and shook him with fierce hands. “Wake up, wake up, Laurie Willoughby!” she cried, between anger and entreaty--then, as he opened his dark, dazed eyes, “How can you slumber here and let my poor Lelia die?” He only stared at her stupidly, but half-awake. She shook him again wildly, impatiently: “Will you never wake up? Will you sleep on here and let my poor child die?” He struggled to his feet, pushing her off, coldly. “Why are you so rude? What is the matter?” “Listen, Laurie, you must come with me to Lelia! She has taken poison to kill herself!” sobbing wildly, and wringing her hands. He was on the alert in a minute. “Have you called a doctor to the foolish girl?” “Yes, yes--he is here! But he cannot do any good. Lelia refuses to take an antidote!” “But why?” “Don’t you understand, you foolish boy? She has poisoned herself for love of you, Laurie! She will not live without your love!” she screamed. “She did not prize it when she had it!” he bitterly retorted. “But that is all altered now. She knows its worth too late!” She flung herself wildly on her knees: “Oh, Laurie, has your heart turned to stone? Pity a mother’s despair and save my child! On but one condition will Lelia take the antidote--from your hand, and on the renewal of your promise of marriage. She swears it! And she is suffering all the agonies of the deadly poison. Come, come, if you are not a fiend at heart; save my darling’s life.” CHAPTER XXII. HOUNDED TO HIS FATE. The words rang out in bitter reproach and pleading: “Save my darling’s life!” Half-dazed by the suddenness of it all, Laurie gazed at his relative in consternation, and, seizing his hand, she dragged him passively in her wake, a silent victim, from the room. As she went she was weeping wildly, and adjuring him: “Only promise her what she asks, Laurie, even if you break the vow afterward! I know you are the soul of honor, but I will forgive you a little deceit if you will but humor her now, and induce her to take the antidote that is to save her life!” She was clever and cunning, this woman; she had never known Laurie, or any other Willoughby, to break a promise once given. They clung close to the motto: “Noblesse oblige.” She knew if she could entrap him into another promise of marriage, he would not break it any more than the stars would fall from the blue heavens. And there was really no honorable retreat for him now. He could not let Lelia die for want of his love. Every one would brand him as a monster if he refused to save her life.