time, and I have not forgotten them. People who deal with the devil
usually have the devil to pay; and your case, it seems, is not to be an
exception."

Mrs. Bray had assumed an air of entire equality with her visitor.

A long silence followed, during which Mrs. Dinneford walked the floor
with the quick, restless motions of a caged animal.

"How long do you think two hundred dollars will satisfy her?" she asked,
at length, pausing and turning to her companion.

"It is impossible for me to say," was answered; "not long, unless you
can manage to frighten her off; you must threaten hard."

Another silence followed.

"I did not expect to be called on for so large a sum," Mrs. Dinneford
said at length, in a husky voice, taking out her pocket-book as she
spoke. "I have only a hundred dollars with me. Give her that, and put
her off until to-morrow."

"I will do the best I can with her," replied Mrs. Bray, reaching out her
hand for the money, "but I think it will be safer for you to let me have
the balance to-day. She will, most likely, take it into her head that
I have received the whole sum from you, and think I am trying to cheat
her. In that case she will be as good as her word, and come down on
you."

"Mrs. Bray!" exclaimed Mrs. Dinneford, suspicion blazing from her eyes.
"Mrs. Bray!"--and she turned upon her and caught her by the arms with
a fierce grip--"as I live, you are deceiving me. There is no woman but
yourself. You are the vampire!"

She held the unresisting little woman in her vigorous grasp for some
moments, gazing at her in stern and angry accusation.

Mrs. Bray stood very quit and with scarcely a change of countenance
until this outburst of passion had subsided. She was still holding the
money she had taken from Mrs. Dinneford. As the latter released her she
extended her hand, saying, in a low resolute voice, in which not the
faintest thrill of anger could be detected,

"Take your money." She waited for a moment, and then let the little roll
of bank-bills fall at Mrs. Dinneford's feet and turned away.

Mrs. Dinneford had made a mistake, and she saw it--saw that she was
now more than ever in the power of this woman, whether she was true or
false. If false, more fatally in her power.

At this dead-lock in the interview between these women there came a
diversion. The sound of feet was heard on the stairs, then a hurrying
along the narrow passage; a hand was on the door, but the key had been
prud