exity. Each day she
returned in the same silent, oppressed mood, and avoided everyone in the
house.

A letter in a man's hand-writing came for her one evening, which she
opened in the Whytes' presence, and made no comment. Since the
mysterious change in her behaviour she was in the habit of rising early
and retiring to her room with the morning paper. The morning following
the receipt of the letter she acted as usual, and shortly after, the
Whytes were startled by hearing a loud cry coming from her room,
followed by a heavy thud, as if something had fallen. A vague terror
seized them, and in an instant both rushed to her room and, flinging
open the door, they were horrified to find their darling child stretched
on the floor with the paper clenched in her hand. They gently raised her
and, while Mrs Whyte undressed her and put her to bed, Whyte himself ran
for a doctor.

Reg meanwhile had found his resolve to keep away intolerable, and had,
in a moment of impulse, returned to London in time to meet Whyte
hurriedly entering the house, followed by a young doctor.

"What's the matter, Whyte?" said Reg, running forward.

"Thank God, my boy, you are back again. I feel the change is coming, one
way or another," answered Whyte, solemnly, as he motioned the doctor
upstairs. Then, in answer to Reg's breathless questions, he told him all
that had happened during his absence.

At this juncture the doctor returned. His face was grave and troubled,
and a nameless chill seized the two.

"Well, doctor," cried both together.

"I'm afraid it's for the worst," he answered, sadly. "I would advise you
to send for a specialist's opinion at once. Sir Charles Edward I would
recommend, for there is grave heart trouble."

In all haste the celebrated specialist was summoned, but his examination
was sickening in its brevity, and his verdict held out no hope. "The
nervous system has received some terribly sudden shock," he said; "and
there is a serious rupture of the vessels of the heart. She may recover
consciousness, but it will be only momentary. We see many appalling
sights in my profession, but rarely one so sad as this. A young life so
beautiful, and apparently so strong, to be suddenly cut off; it is
terrible! What can have caused it?"

Whyte hurriedly told him all he knew. Meanwhile Reg, in his
restlessness, had seized the paper left lying on the floor, and began
aimlessly to scan the columns. Suddenly his eyes were arrested by a