hen his enemy was in
his power, and he could throw up his visor and show his real face! Now
was the time to crown his revenge, before the object of it passed
entirely out of his reach forever.

Jonathan glanced hastily around the quiet darkened chamber, to convince
himself that they were alone. He saw no one; the faint light showed
only the pale features of the dying one pressed against the pillow. It
was not possible that any one could be there! Old Ursula, the only
other occupant of the house, had retired to the kitchen to weep and
lament; and having passed directly up from the front door to the
sick-room, he was ignorant of the presence of others in the dwelling.

Then Jonathan gave free play to his wild rage. "Murderer of your
wife?" he said scornfully. "Fool! if it had been only the drops you
gave her, she would be alive now; but nothing could have saved her. In
the hurry of that night, Thomas, being just roused from sleep, gave you
the other man's medicine, and handed yours to him. What you had was
only good for infants; and Sister Julie might have drunk the whole
bottleful without injury."

Mauer's gaze wandered uncertainly towards the speaker; a shudder passed
over his dying form, and his brain made a powerful effort to penetrate
the mists gathering over it.

"I did not kill Julie, and you knew it and never told me?" he
stammered, with fast-failing voice.

"Certainly I knew it; but did you ever ask me about it? The other man
had more forethought than you, and read the label before administering
the dose to his child; and when he saw the name, he brought it back at
once. It was two hours before he could get to my house again, and then
Thomas had to prepare fresh medicine. Then I took the opium-drops
intended for Sister Julie, and jumped on my horse; for although I knew
she never could recover, I wanted to fulfil my duty as a physician, and
do all I could to correct my servant's mistake. But I found her
already dead; yes, from all appearances she must have been dead several
hours. When I asked how that could have resulted from the drops, and
saw your disturbed countenance, and how you became pale and faint, I
thought you must have meditated the death of your wife, and with such
design had given her a double dose which you intended should be fatal.
I put the vial in my pocket, so that my servant's blunder might not be
brought up against him or me. But Mauer," cried Jonathan, in a voice
of frenzy