ions with him be
verbal ones, sent through me. And I, on my part, my child, promise to
fulfill my duties to you both faithfully and loyally," said Mr. Lyle.

"I must comply," answered Emma, in a low, restrained voice, that would
have faltered and broken had she not possessed and exercised such great
power of self-control. "I must comply, although this is the very hardest
requisition that my dear husband could make of me--to abandon him in
this hour of his greatest need. I must comply, because I know that it is
right. Our mutual honor demands this temporary separation--for of course
it will be but temporary."

"Very temporary, and lightened by frequent news of each other through
me," replied Mr. Lyle.

"But that woman, Mary Grey! The amazing wickedness of that woman!" said
Emma, with a shudder, and almost under her breath.

"My dear," said the minister, gravely, "you knew Mrs. Grey intimately
for several years. Had you really confidence in her during all that
time?"

"N-no. I often doubted and suspected her. And I blamed myself for such
doubts and suspicions, and compelled myself to think the best of her and
do the best for her, for my father's sake--because he loved her. Oh, the
astounding wickedness of that woman, as it has developed itself in this
conspiracy against us! But she must have had confederates. The minister
who professes to have married her to Mr. Lytton, and who gave her a
marriage certificate to that effect, may he not have been a confederate
of hers? May he not have taken a false oath--made a false statement and
given a false certificate?"

"Oh, no, no, no, my child--a thousand times no! The character of the
Reverend Mr. Borden is far above any such suspicion," answered Mr. Lyle.

"Then he must himself have been deceived. Some one must have personated
Mr. Lytton at that ceremony--some one who has some resemblance to
him--and utterly deceived the minister," said Emma. And she paused for a
few moments, with her head upon her hand, as in hard, deep thought; and
then a sudden flash of intelligence, like lightning, lit up her face,
as she exclaimed: "I know who it was! I know all about it now! Oh, Mr.
Lyle, I shall save my dear husband's honor from a breath of reproach,
because I have found out all about it now!"

"My dear child--" began the good minister, who thought that she looked a
little wild.

But Emma vehemently interrupted him.

"It was Craven Kyte who personated Mr. Lytton at that marriag