sp for breath and turn whiter still.
Accuse her dear Christopher whom she loved and honored above all men of
any wrong or baseness! God in heaven! If she had done this she wanted to
die.

"I--I didn't," she stammered. "I couldn't do such a thing."

But the doctor was relentless. "If what you said to me a few minutes ago
is true," he went on coldly, "it will be my duty, as a major in the
United States Army, to order the arrest of Captain Herrick for treason
against the government."

At this startling assertion Penelope fell back as if struck down by a
mortal wound, and lay still on the couch, a pitiful crumpled figure. The
others gathered around her apprehensively.

"You were very harsh, sir," reproached Herrick.

"It was the best thing for you and for Mrs. Wells," answered Dr. Owen,
bending over his patient, who lay there with dark-circled eyes closed,
oblivious to her surroundings. "At least I have no doubt as to her
sincerity, I mean as to the genuineness of this shock."

The doctor was sorely perplexed as he faced this situation. What was his
duty? Here was a definite charge of extreme gravity made against a young
man of unimpeachable character by the very last person in the world who
would naturally make such an accusation, that is the woman who loved
him. Must he assume that the patient's mind was affected? The idea that
Christopher Herrick could be capable of a treasonable act was altogether
preposterous, a thing that Owen rejected indignantly, yet there was the
evidence of his own senses. Penelope had written those letters that were
not known to anyone except Herrick and himself? And she knew what they
meant. _How did she know?_ Was it possible Chris had told her?

But, even so, why had Penelope betrayed and denounced her lover?

At this moment Seraphine turned to the doctor in gentle appeal.

"Don't you see what the explanation is?" she whispered with eloquent
eyes.

"It seems to be a case of dual personality," he answered.

"It's more than that, doctor."

The scientist moved impatiently, then, remembering what he had seen at
Seraphine's apartment, and the recovery of his wife's jewels, he
softened the skepticism of his tone.

"You think it is one of those cases you told me about of--possession?
That's absurd!"

"Why is it absurd? Doesn't the Bible speak of possession by evil
spirits? Is the Bible absurd? Did not Christ cast out evil spirits?"

"I suppose so, but--times have changed."

"Not i