I
love that girl with all my heart and soul! How dare they, fiends
incarnate, attack her in my absence? And so you, my fine lady-mother,
have turned her out into the street," he went on, in a rage that nothing
could subdue. "Now listen to what I have to say, and heed it well: The
day that has seen her turned from this roof shall witness my leaving it.
You should have trusted and shielded her, no matter how dark appearances
were against her. I am going to find Jessie Bain, and when I do I shall
ask her to marry me!"

There was a wild shriek from Mrs. Varrick's lips at this, but Hubert did
not heed it.

"I can not live without her! If ill has befallen my darling I will shoot
myself through the heart, and beg with my dying breath that they bury us
both in one grave!"

CHAPTER XIV.

"DO NOT LEAVE ME, FOR YOU ARE THE DELIGHT AND SUNSHINE OF MY LONELY
LIFE!"

The scene was one of such terror for Mrs. Varrick that she never forgot
it.

"I shall leave this house!" he cried again. "I will not remain another
hour beneath this roof. I will find Jessie Bain, though I have to travel
this wide earth over to do it!"

Suddenly he stopped short and looked at his mother; then he cried out
excitedly: "Where is the woman who came here with that embroidery-work?
More likely it was she who took the bracelet."

But Mrs. Varrick shook her head.

"You forget that the bracelet was found in Jessie's trunk," she said,
huskily, "and that she owned up to taking it in a written confession. As
for the strange embroidery woman, Miss Duncan, I paid her off and let
her go. She knows next to nothing of what took place in regard to the
bracelet. You must remember, too, that the girl was glad to get off so
easily."

"Even though I _knew_ she was guilty, I could find forgiveness in my
heart for her, mother," he cried, huskily, "for I love her-- I _love_
her as man can love but once in his life-time. You arrayed yourself as
her enemy, mother, and as such, you must be mine, until I can find
little Jessie and bring her back to you."

"Oh, no, no, Hubert, darling!" cried Mrs. Varrick, striving to throw her
arms about him, but almost before she was aware of his intention, he had
quitted the room, strode down the corridor, and was half-way down the
walk that led to the great entrance gate.

Varrick had walked a considerable distance from the house before his
mind settled down to anything like rational thoughts. Suddenly it
occurred to hi