ument case had contained one of
suitable size and length, must necessarily have admitted a large
additional quantity of air, and so made death certain.

"Indecision in a case like this is fatal. Nothing but the right thing
done with an instant promptness can save the imperiled life. But what
was the right thing? No more air must be permitted to enter, and the
blood must be unloaded as quickly as possible of the air now
obstructing its way to the lungs, so, that the brain might get a fresh
supply before it was too late. We succeeded in the first, but not in
the last. Too much air had entered, and my patient was beyond the reach
of professional aid. She sank rapidly, and in less than an hour from
the time my hand, robbed of its skill by wine, failed in its wonted
cunning, she lay white and still before me."

CHAPTER XIX.

IT was late in the afternoon when Mrs. Voss came out of the deep sleep
into which the quieting draught administered by Doctor Hillhouse had
thrown her. She awoke from a dream so vivid that she believed it real.

"Oh, Archie, my precious boy!" she exclaimed, starting up and reaching
out her hands, a glad light beaming on her countenance.

While her hands were still outstretched the light began to fade, and
then died out as suddenly as when a curtain falls. The boy who stood
before her in such clear presence had vanished. Her eyes swept about
the room, but he was not there. A deadly pallor on her face, a groan on
her lips, she fell back shuddering upon the pillow from which she had
risen.

Mr. Voss, who was sitting at the bedside, put his arm under her, and
lifting her head, drew it against his breast, holding it there tightly,
but not speaking. He had no comfort to give, no assuring word to offer.
Not a ray of light had yet come in through the veil of mystery that
hung so darkly over the fate of their absent boy. Many minutes passed
ere the silence was broken. In that time the mother's heart had grown
calmer. She was turning, in her weakness and despair, with religious
trust, to the only One who was able to sustain her in this great and
crushing sorrow.

"He is in God's hands," she said, in a low voice, lifting her head from
her husband's breast and looking into his face.

"And he will take care of him," replied Mr. Voss, falling in with her
thought.

"Yes, we must trust him. He is present in every place. He knows where
Archie is, and how to shield and succor him. O heavenly Father, pro