ll go away, never again to return, and have nothing to
say--nothing. Your story would ruin me, false though it is."

The captain arched his eyebrows.

"I think I could bring satisfactory proof as to where you passed your
time."

Hubert Varrick, standing behind the foliage, was fairly stricken dumb by
what he heard and saw.

He did not love his bride, but he believed in her implicitly. All the
old doubt which had filled his heart and killed his love for Gerelda
came surging back like a raging torrent, sweeping over his very soul.

In that instant the thought of Jessie Bain came to him--sweet little
Jessie, whose love for him he had read in her every glance, and to whom
he had given all his heart with a deeper, stronger love than he had ever
given to Gerelda, even in those old days. How he longed to break from
the terrible nightmare which seemed to fetter him!

"Your offer of a thousand dollars is a very fair one; but it will take
double that sum to purchase my silence. You are quite right in your
surmise. I am in need of money. With one fell swoop I have lost every
dollar of my fortune, and now that all romance and sentiment are over
between us, I have no compunction in showing you the mercenary side of
my nature. Make it two thousand, and I will consent to hold my peace,
seeing that I can not mend matters by undoing the marriage."

"Come with me. We will settle this now and forever. I have but five
minutes to devote to you. Step this way," said Gerelda.

The next instant they had disappeared, and Hubert Varrick was left
standing there alone.

How long he stood there he never knew. His valet came in search of him.
He found him at the end of the conservatory, standing motionless as a
statue among the shrubbery.

"Master," he said, "your bride bids me say to you that you have barely
time to get into your traveling clothes."

He was shocked at the horrible laugh that broke from Varrick's lips.

Had his master gone mad? he wondered.

He followed the man without a word, and five minutes later, with a firm
step, he was walking down the corridor toward his bride's apartments.

But ere he could knock upon the door, it was opened by Gerelda. He
offered his arm to Gerelda, and walked slowly by her side through the
throng of friends to the carriage in waiting; and, amid showers of rice,
peals of joyous laughter, and a world of good wishes, they were whirled
away.

During the entire ride Varrick spoke no word. Gere