es, it was like it in smell and color, but she nearly
killed poor Christopher with it."

"She said it cured him completely," commented Helen, hoping to effect a
diversion; but Mrs. Savine would not be put off.

"We won't argue about that, though there'll be a coroner called in the
next time she makes a foolish experiment. Now I'm going to give my
husband's confidences away. Hardly fair to Tom, but I'll do it,
because it seems necessary, and the last time I didn't go quite far
enough. To begin with. Did you know the opposition wanted to buy
Geoffrey over, paying him two dollars for every one he could have made
out of your father?"

"No," answered Helen, starting. "It was very loyal of him to refuse.
Why did he do so?"

Mrs. Savine smiled good-humoredly. "I guess you think that's due to
your dignity, but you don't fool me. Look into your mirror, Helen, if
you really want to know. Did you hear that he put every dollar he'd
made in Canada into the scheme? Of course you didn't; he made Tom
promise he would never tell you. Besides--but I forgot, I must not
mention that."

"Please spare me any more, auntie," pleaded Helen, who was overcome by
a sudden realization of her own injustice and absolute selfishness.

"No mercy this time," was the answer, given almost genially. "Like the
elixir which doesn't taste pleasant, it's good for you. You didn't
know, either, for the same reason, that not long ago Tom was badly
scared for fear he'd have to let the whole thing go for lack of money.
It would have been the end of Julius Savine if he had been forced to
give up this great enterprise."

"I never thought things were so bad, but how does it concern Mr.
Thurston?" Helen questioned her aunt in a voice that was trembling.

"Geoffrey straightened out all the financial affairs in just this way.
A relative in England left an estate to be divided between him and Mrs.
Leslie. There was enough to keep him safe for life, if he'd let it lie
just where it was, but he didn't. No, he sold out all that would have
earned him a life income for any price he could, and turned over every
cent of it to help your father. Now I've about got through, but I've
one question to ask you. Would the man who did all that--you can see
why--be likely to fool with another man's wife, even if it was the
handsome Mrs. Leslie?"

"No," said Helen, whose cheeks, which had grown pallid, flushed like a
blush rose. "I am glad you told me, auntie, b