of the
unhappy young man, who moaned and tossed, and too often broke into
blasphemous railings at the fate which had overtaken him. He gave
himself up for lost from the first, and having no hope or real
belief as regards the future life, was full of darkness and
bitterness of heart. He would not so much as listen when Gertrude
would have spoken to him of the Saviour's love for sinners, but
answered with mocking and profane words which made her heart die
within her.

Towards morning he fell into a restless sleep, from which he
wakened in a high fever, not knowing any of those about him. The
father coming in, went towards him with a strange look in his eyes,
and after bending over him a few seconds, turned a haggard face
towards his wife and daughter, saying:

"May the Lord have mercy upon us! he has the tokens upon him!"

Instantly the mother uttered a scream of lamentation, and fell half
senseless into her husband's arms; whilst Gertrude stood suddenly
up with a white face and said:

"Let me take word to our neighbours next door. Master Harmer is an
examiner. We must needs report it to him; and they will tell us
what we must do, and give us help if any can."

"Ay, that they will," answered the Master Builder, with some
emotion in his voice. "Go, girl, and report that the distemper has
broken out in the house, and that we submit ourselves to the orders
of the authorities for all such as be infected."

Gertrude sped upstairs. She preferred that method of transit to the
one by the street door. But she had no need to go further than her
attic; for upon opening the door she saw two figures in the room,
and instantly recognized Reuben and his sister Janet. The latter
came forward with outstretched hands, and would have taken Gertrude
into her embrace, but that she drew back and said in a voice of
warning:

"Take heed, Janet; touch me not. I have passed the night by the
bedside of my brother, and he is stricken with the plague!"

"So soon?" quoth Reuben, quickly; whilst Janet would not be denied
her embrace, saying softly:

"I have no longer a fear of that distemper myself, for I have been
with it erstwhile, and my aunt Dinah tells me that I have had a
very mild attack of the same ill, and that I am not like to take it
again."

"If indeed Frederick is smitten, we must take precautions to close
the house," said Reuben. "Is there aught you would wish to do ere
giving the notice to my father?"

"Nay, I was on my