u, as his counsel, gathered no palliating proof? Nothing to
set against this mass of blighting circumstantial evidence?"

Mr. Wedron leans forward, fastens his eyes upon her face, and says
gravely: "Miss Wardour, all that can be done for Clifford Heath will be
done. But--the case as it stands is against him. For some reason he has
lost courage. He seems to place small value upon his life I believe that
he knows who is the guilty one, and that he is sacrificing himself.
Furthermore, I believe that there are those who can tell, if they will,
far more than has been told concerning this case; those who may withhold
just the evidence that in a lawyer's hands will clear Clifford Heath."

The pallid misery of her face is pitiful, but it does not move Mr.
Wedron.

"Last night," he goes on mercilessly, "Mr. Raymond Vandyck sat where you
sit now, and I said to him what I now say to you. Miss Wardour, Raymond
Vandyck knows more than he has told." His keen eyes search her face, her
own orbs fall before his gaze. Then she lifts them suddenly, and asks
abruptly:

"Who are the other parties who are withholding their testimony?"

Again Mr. Wedron suppresses a smile. "Another who knows more than he
chooses to tell is Mr. Frank Lamotte."

She starts perceptibly.

"And--are there others?"

"Another, Miss Wardour, is--yourself."

[Illustration: "Another, Miss Wardour, is--yourself."]

"Myself!"

She bows her face upon her hands, and convulsive shudders shake her
form. She sits thus so long that O'Meara becomes restless, but Mr.
Wedron sits calm, serene, expectant.

By and by she lifts her head, and her eyes shine with the glint of blue
steel.

"You are right, sir," she says in a low, steady voice. "I _can_ tell
more than is known. It may not benefit Doctor Heath; I do not see how it
can. Nevertheless, all that I can tell you shall hear, and I only ask
that you will respect such portions of my story as are not needed in
evidence. As for Mr. O'Meara, I know I can trust him. And I believe,
sir, that I can rely upon you."

Mr. Wedron bows gravely.

"I will begin by saying that Mr. Vandyck, if he has withheld anything
concerning Doctor Heath, has acted honorably in so doing. He was bound
by a promise, from which I shall at once release him."

In obedience to a sign from Mr. Wedron, O'Meara prepares to write.

"You have said, sir," addressing Mr. Wedron, "that I may be able to say
something which, if withheld, would complic