surveyed the young girl with a sudden, swift joyousness, but the fear
and distrust written on her features dissipated his concern for her;
his best impulses were smothered by harsher feelings.

"Unfortunately, the door is locked," he said, ironically. "Meanwhile,
as this spot has no strategic advantages, suppose we change our base
of defense?"

Realizing how futile would be resistance, she accompanied him once
more to the chamber in the wing, where he had determined to make his
last defense. After closing and locking the door, he lighted one of
many candles on the mantel. The uncertain glow from the great
candelabra, covered with dust, like the white marble itself, and
evidently placed there many years before, revealed faded decorations
and a ceiling, water-stained as from a defective roof. Between the
windows, with flowery gilt details, an ancient mirror extended from
floor to ceiling. A musty smell pervaded the apartment, for Mynheer,
the Patroon, had lived so closely to himself that he had shut out both
air and sunlight from his rooms.

The flickering glare fell upon the young actress standing, hand upon
her heart, listening with bated breath, and Mauville, with ominous
expression, brooding over that chance which sent the lease-holders to
the manor on that night of nights. It was intolerable that no sooner
had she crossed his threshold than they should appear, ripe for any
mischief, not only seeking his life, but wresting happiness from his
very lips. For, of the outcome he could have little doubt, although
determined to sell dearly that which they sought.

The violent crash of a heavy body at the front of the house and a
tumult of voices on the porch, succeeded by a din in the hall, announced
that the first barrier had been overcome and the anti-renters were in
possession of the lower floor of the manor. Mauville had started toward
the door, when the anticipation in the young girl's eyes held him to
the spot. Inaccessible, she was the more desired; her reserve was
fuel to his flame, and, at that moment, while his life hung in the
balance, he forgot the rebuff he had received and how she had nearly
played upon him.

Words fell from his lips, unpremeditated, eloquent, voicing those
desires which had grown in the solitude of the manor. Passionately he
addressed her, knowing the climax to his difficulties was at hand.
Once near her, he could not be at peace without her, he vowed, and
this outcome had been inevita