for the first time.

"This stick--this blackthorn stick--accursed! How came it here? I
thought it had been burned. It was left years ago in my front hall
by--Richard's father. I condemned it to be burned."

"Peter Junior was using that in place of his crutch, no doubt because
of its strength. He had it at my house, and I recognize it now as one
Larry brought over with him--"

"Peter was using it! My God! My God! The blow was struck with this. It
is my son who is the murderer, and I have called down the curse of God
on him? It falls--it falls on me!" He sank in his chair--the same in
which he had sat when he talked with Peter Junior--and bowed his head
in his arms. "It is enough, Mr. Ballard. Will you leave me?"

"I can't leave you, sir: there is more to be said. We must not be
hasty in forming conclusions. If any one was thrown over the bluff, it
must have been your son, for he was lame and could not have saved
himself. If he struck any one, he could not have killed him; for
evidently he got away, unless he also went over the brink. If he got
away, he must be found. There is something for you to do, Elder
Craigmile."

The old man lifted his head and looked in Bertrand's face, pitifully
seeking there for help. "You are a good man, Mr. Ballard. I need your
counsel and help."

"First, we will go below the rapids and search; the sooner the better,
for in the strong current there is no telling how far--"

"Yes, we will search." The Elder lifted himself to his full height,
inspired by the thought of action. "We'll go now." He looked down on
his shorter friend, and Bertrand looked up to him, his genial face
saddened with sympathy, yet glowing with kindliness.

"Wait a little, Elder; let us consider further. Mr. Walters--sit down,
Elder Craigmile, for a moment--Mr. Walters is capable, and he can
organize the search; for if you keep this from your wife, you must be
discreet. Here is something I haven't shown you before. It is the
charm from Richard's watch. It was almost covered with earth where
they had been struggling, and Mary found it. You see there is a
mystery--and let us hope whatever happened was an accident. The
evidences are so--so--mingled, that no one may know whom to blame."

The Elder looked down on the charm without touching it, as it lay on
Bertrand's palm. "That belonged--" his lips twitched--"that belonged
to the man who took from me my twin sister. The shadow--forever the
shadow of Larry Kildene han