found the door open, and, after vainly waiting for
any response to his knocking, entered.

The furnishings were mostly hand-made, but fashioned with considerable
artistic skill, and contributed to give the interior a most attractive
appearance, while etchings, books and papers, pages of written
manuscript, and a violin indicated its occupants to be a man of refined
tastes and studious habits. The dog had accompanied him, sometimes
following closely, sometimes going on in advance as though to lead the
way. Once within the cabin he led him to the store-room in the rock
where was an abundance of food, which the latter proceeded to divide
between himself and his dumb guide.

Having satisfied his hunger, the young man took a newspaper from the
table, and, going outside the cabin, seated himself to await the return
of his unknown host. Sitting there, he discovered for the first time the
railway winding around the sides of the lofty mountain opposite. The
sight filled him with delight, for those slender rails, gleaming in the
morning sunlight, seemed to connect him with the world which he
remembered, but from which he appeared so strangely isolated.

Unfolding the newspaper his attention was attracted by the date, at
which he gazed in consternation, his eyes riveted to the page. For a
moment his head swam, he was unable to believe his own senses. Dropping
the sheet and bowing his head upon his hands he went carefully over the
past as he now remembered it,--the business on which he had been
commissioned to come west; his journey westward; the tragedy in the
sleeping-car--he shuddered as the memory of the murderer's face flashed
before him with terrible distinctness; his reception at The Pines,--all
was as clear as though it had happened but yesterday; it was in August,
and this was August, but two years later! Great God! had two years
dropped out of his life? Again he recalled his illness, the long agony,
the final sinking into oblivion, the strange awakening in perfect
health; yes, surely there must be a missing link; but how? where?

He rose to re-enter the cabin, and, passing the window, caught a glimpse
of his face reflected there; a face like, and yet unlike, his own, and
crowned with snow-white hair! In doubt and bewilderment he paced up and
down within the cabin, vainly striving to connect these fragmentary
parts, to reconcile the present with the past. As he passed and repassed
the table covered with manuscript his