is for some good end,
no doubt. Thank God! A felon's death would have been very bitter, and
for my mother's sake I rejoice."

"Not for your own?"

"I have lost all that made life sweet. My wife is in heaven. For me
earth holds nothing but penitence and remorse."

"I am not so sure about that. I have better news for you even than the
news I have told. My dear friend, can you bear a great shock--a shock
of joy?"

He sprung up in bed, electrified.

"Speak!" he gasped. "Oh, for God's sake----"

"Your wife is alive!"

There was a simultaneous cry.

Mr. Bryson hurried on rapidly:

"Sybilla Silver stabbed her, and threw her over upon the shore. Mr.
Parmalee picked her up--not dead, but badly wounded--took her on board
a vessel--took her finally to America. Sybilla Silver deceived your
poor wife as she deceived us all. Lady Kingsland thought it was you,
Sir Everard. But she is alive and well, and in Worrel at this very
moment. Our first business is to cage our bird before she flies. Can
you aid us any, Sir Everard? Where are we most likely to find her?"

"At the Court," the baronet answered. "She left here to go there--to
kill my mother with her horrible news, if she could."

"We will leave you now," Mr. Bryson said, rising. "Come, gentlemen;
Sir Everard wants to be alone. I am off to secure my prisoner."

It was on his way back to his own house that Mr. Bryson lighted on his
ghostly plan for frightening Sybilla. How well it succeeded you know.

She was still insensible when they reached the prison, and was handed
over to the proper authorities. Harriet turned her imploring face
toward the lawyer.

"Let me go to my husband! Oh, dear Mr. Bryson, let me go at once!"

They led her to the door. The jailer admitted her and closed it again.
She was in her husband's prison-cell. Her arms were around his neck,
her tears, her kisses raining on his face.

"Oh, my darling, my darling! my life, my love, my husband!"

"Harriet!"

With a great cry he rose and held her to his heart.

"My wife, my wife!"

And then, weak with long illness and repeated shocks--this last,
greatest shock of all--he sat down, faint unto death.

"Oh, my love, my wife! to think that I should hold you once more in my
arms, look once more into your living face! My wife, my wife! How
cruel, how merciless I have been to you! May God forgive me! I will
forgive myself--never!"

"Not one word! Between us there can be n