hall I had not heard anything.

"I instantly thought of danger to those up-stairs, and crept up as
quickly as I could without making any sound. I found the door of Mr.
Gaviller's room closed. I knew Miss Colina had left it open. I opened
it softly, and saw Doane on the bed with his hands at Mr. Gaviller's
throat."

A shuddering breath escaped from Colina. The little parson moaned.

"He sprang at me," Strange went on. "We rolled on the ground. I
called for help, and you all came. That is all."

Ambrose was staggered by the breed's satanic cleverness. After this
his own story must sound like a pitiful imitation. He could never tell
it now with the same assurance.

"Surely, surely they must know that a true man couldn't take it so
coolly," he thought. But they were convinced; he could see it in their
faces.

He felt as powerless as a dreamer in the grip of a nightmare.

CHAPTER XXVI.

CONVICTED.

When Strange finished there was a significant silence. They were
waiting for Ambrose to speak. Stiffening himself he told his story as
manfully as he could. Conscious of its weakness he wore a hang-dog air
which contrasted unfavorably with Strange's seeming candor.

No comment was made upon it. Ambrose could feel their unexpressed
sneers like goads in the raw flesh. Only Colina gave no sign.
Macfarlane turned to her for instructions.

She contrived to maintain her proud and stony air up to the moment she
was obliged to speak. But her self-command went out with her
shuddering voice. "I--I don't know what to say," she whispered
tremblingly.

"Surely there can be no question here!" cried Strange with a voice full
of reproachful indignation. "I have served Mr. Gaviller faithfully for
nearly thirty years. This man's whole aim has been to ruin him!"

"This is the tone I should be taking instead of letting him run me
out," Ambrose thought dispassionately, as if it were somebody else.
But he remained dumb.

"What earthly reason could I have for trying to injure my benefactor?"
cried Strange. His voice broke artistically on the final word. "You
all know what I think of him. Your suspicions hurt me!"

Macfarlane crossed over and clapped him on the shoulder. Colina kept
her eyes down. She was very pale; her lips were compressed and her
hands clenched at her sides.

Ambrose bestirred himself to his own defense. "Let me ask a question,"
he said quietly to Strange. "You say when you opened t