XVII. "IF LOVE YOU CHOOSE, THEN LOVE SHALL BE YOUR RUIN" 159

XVIII. "SOFTLY GLIMMERING THROUGH THE LAURELS AT THE QUIET
EVENFALL" 166

XIX. "BLOOD CALLS ALOUD FOR BLOOD AND NOT FOR HANDS ENTWINED" 174

XX. "THE NEW, STRONG WINE OF LOVE" 180

XXI. "ADREA'S DIARY" 185

XXII. "OH! HEART OF STONE, YET FLESH TO ALL SAVE ME" 195

XXIII. "MY LIPS ARE CHARGED WITH TRUTH, AND JUSTICE BIDS ME SPEAK" 206

XXIV. "THE SHATTERED VASE OF LOVE'S MOST HOLY VOWS" 218

XXV. "A BECKONING VOICE FROM OUT A SHADOWY LAND" 224

XXVI. "LATE THOU COMEST, CRUEL THOU HAST BEEN" 232

XXVII. "GRIM FIGURES TRACED BY SORROW'S FIERY HAND" 241

XXVIII. "ADREA'S DIARY" 249

XXIX. "ADREA'S DIARY" 263

XXX. "ADREA'S DIARY" 275

XXXI. "ADREA'S DIARY" 280

XXXII. "THE LORD OF CRUTA" 291

XXXIII. "THE DAWN OF A SHORT, SWEET LIFE" 298

XXXIV. "A VOICE AND FIGURE FROM THE DISTANT PAST" 308

XXXV. "FROM OUT LIFE'S THUNDERS TO A STRANGE, SWEET WORLD" 322

XXXVI. "LOVE THAN DEATH ITSELF MORE STRONG" 329

A MONK OF CRUTA.

CHAPTER I

"THE BLACK-ROBED PHANTOM 'DEATH'"

"Father Adrian!"

"I am here!"

"I saw the doctor talking with you aside! How long have I to live? He
told you the truth! Repeat his words to me!"

The tall, gaunt young priest drew nearer to the bedside, and shook his
head with a slow, pitying gesture.

"The time was short--short indeed. Yet, why should you fear? Your
confession has been made! I myself have pronounced your absolution;
the holy Church has granted to you her most holy sacrament."

"Fear! Bah! I have no fear! It is a matter of calculation. Shall I see
morning break?"

"You may; but you will never see the mid-day sun."

The dying man raised himself with a slow, painful movement, and
pointed to the window.

"Throw up the window."

He was obeyed. A servant who had been sittin