lights all out?"

In the corner of the room, on an antique "settle," was stretched the
form of old Colonel Jarvis of Meadow Green.

"It's the end, Warren. I stood off Yankee charges and artillery, but a
sneaking hound from the hills has put the finish on it all--and sent it
in a bullet through my back, without giving me the chance to fight
back, as the Yanks did."

Warren Jarvis dropped to his knees beside his father. His pleasant,
youthful face was drawn to mummy-like wanness. His eyes glowed with
curious intensity, as they devoured the beloved features of the old
man. The rays from the oil lamp cast a melancholy glow over the
furniture of a bygone society, in this characteristic parlor of an old
Southern mansion. But their effect upon the ghastly features of Colonel
Henderson Jarvis presaged only too well the tragedy which was to come.

The aged man raised a weak arm, to encircle the shoulders of his son.
His eyes closed in exhaustion, and for a full moment the lips moved
without the emanation of a word.

Warren Jarvis turned toward the panic-stricken Mandy.

"Quick! What is the trouble? Where is mother? Speak up, Mandy.... I've
come all the way from New York in answer to father's telegram. What's
the trouble?"

Mandy became more disconsolate, and, with the hysterical sorrow of a
Southern family servant, the more incapable of expression.

"Warren ... Warren, my boy!" were the words which at last came from the
white lips of his father. "I am going to leave you soon.... I kept up
until you arrived, for I must give the honor of the family into your
keeping, before it is all over.... Are you prepared to take it up where
I stand now?"

The young man nodded. He beckoned to the servant woman, with an
eloquent pantomimic command, to bring his sire a drink. The girl
silently obeyed, leaving the room for the moment.

"Father, I've come back from the East to do anything, everything. Tell
me--what happened, and where is mother? I am frantic!" His shoulders
shook as though from a chill. His face was close to his father's, as
the colonel's gray eyes opened upon him.

"Your mother passed away last night--it was too much for her poor weak,
aching heart, Warren," and his voice sank again to a whisper, as he
added, "Your first duty will be to lay us away together, and then to
avenge this double murder."

Warren Jarvis lost his worldly-wise self-control, acquired through the
adventurous years since he had journeyed forth