e that passed over the merchant. He, too,
sprang to his feet, and conscious that his offer of bribery, which he
had humiliated himself to make, had failed, with clenched hand and set
teeth, he fairly hissed out--

"You'll rue this day and hour, Edward Claire--rue it even to the
moment of death! I will never forget nor forgive the wrong and insult.
Don't think to escape me--don't think to foil me. The child is mine by
right, and I will have her, come what will."

Feeling how useless it would be to multiply words, Claire turned away
and left the store. He did not go home immediately, as he had thought
of doing, in order to relieve the suspense of his wife, who was, he
knew, very anxious to learn for what purpose Jasper had sent for him;
but went to his place of business and laid the whole substance of his
interview before his fast friend, Mr. Melleville, whose first response
was one of indignation at the offer made by Jasper to buy him over to
his wishes with money. He then said--

"There is something wrong here, depend upon it. Was there much
property left by the child's parents?"

"Two houses in the city."

"Was that all?"

"All, I believe, of any value. There was a tract of land somewhere in
the State, taken for debt; but it was considered of little account."

"Regard for the child has nothing to do with this movement," remarked
Mr. Melleville. "The character of Jasper precludes the supposition."

"Entirely. What can it mean? The thing comes on me so suddenly that I
am bewildered."

Claire was distressed.

"You are still firm in your purpose to keep Fanny until she is twelve
years old?"

"As firm as ever, Mr. Melleville. I love the child too well to give
her up. If a higher good to her were to be secured, then I might
yield--then it would be my duty to yield. But, now, every just and
humane consideration calls on me to abide by my purpose--and there I
will abide."

"In my mind you are fully justified," was the reply of Mr. Melleville.
"Keep me fully advised of every thing that occurs, and I will aid you
as far as lies in my power. To-day I will call upon Edgar & Co., and
do what I can toward securing for you the place said by Jasper to be
vacant. I presume that I have quite as much influence in this quarter
as he has."

CHAPTER XIII.

Scarcely had Edward Claire left the store of Jasper, ere the latter
went out hurriedly, and took his way to the office of Grind, the
lawyer, to whom he said, a