rough his brain, and at
times it seemed almost on fire. The pain which the constant effort to
turn his head caused, was becoming more acute as each minute passed--he
felt constantly on the point of screaming out in terror--begging for
release--agreeing to do anything they asked of him. Then with a mighty
effort of the will he would calm himself, and closing his eyes tightly
once more, determine to endure until the end.

After an interminable period, the sound of the music once more fell upon
his troubled brain. This time the strains sounded more distinct and
clear. Three times in rapid succession _The Rosary_ was played, then
sudden silence. He waited in vain for more--dreading the recurrence of
the song, yet expecting it, as one expects the continuance of any
oft-repeated sound. There was nothing further, however, and once more
the silence became like the darkness about him, a grim and positive
thing.

Hours later, when his brain reeled endlessly in a blazing redness, and
his tortured eyes seemed bursting from their sockets, the cone of violet
light vanished as though some silent hand had brushed it aside, and in
the reaction he fainted.

He awoke again to find himself lying on the floor, with Hartmann bending
over him, feeling his pulse. In a fit of rage, he struck out with his
clenched hand, and missing, scrambled to his feet. The room was faintly
lit by the single electric globe, and he saw Mayer and Dr. Hartmann
confronting him, the latter with a revolver in his hand. Once more he
realized the futility of resistance, and sank against a packing box, his
hand covering his burning eyes.

The latter appeared to be no longer in his former state of sardonic good
nature. "Are you ready to tell us what you have done with the box?" he
snarled.

Duvall made no reply, and this angered the doctor still further. "I'll
give you an hour to think the matter over," he said, furiously. "And if
you don't come to terms by that time, you shall stay under the influence
of the light until you do." He turned toward the door, followed by
Mayer, and in a moment they had left the room.

Duvall, in his pain and distress, realized that something would have to
be done at once, within the next hour, in fact, or he would be obliged
to give up. Physical torture he could stand, but to lie here silently,
under that cruel radiance, and realize that his brain was slowly giving
way, he felt he could not endure.

Yet what was there that he coul