ready arm.
He caught her just in time, and bore her to a couch, where she lay back
sobbing hysterically for a few moments, but only to master her emotion,
draw her cousin to her breast, and kiss her again and again before
holding out her hand to Guest.

"Forgive me!" she whispered. "These long months of suffering have made
me weak--half-mad. My lips spoke, not my heart. You are both wiser
than I am. Help me, and tell me what to do."

"I will help you, and help him, in every way I can," said Guest gently,
as he held the thin white hand in his. "Now let me talk coolly to you--
let us look the matter plainly in the face, and see how matters stand.
I am speaking now as the lawyer, not as the friend--yes, as the friend,
too; but our feelings must not carry us away."

Myra struggled with her emotion, and pressed the hand which held hers
firmly.

Guest was silent for a few moments and stood as if collecting his
thoughts and reviewing his position.

"There is no need for taking any immediate steps," he said. "The scene
that took place to-night was forced on by my precipitancy, and the
danger to Stratton has passed away. To-morrow I will see him again, and
perhaps he will be more ready to take me into his confidence, for there
is a great deal more to learn, I am sure."

"It is not so bad as you imagined."

"After what took place to-night I can't say that," Guest replied sadly;
"but there are points I have not yet grasped. An accident--a fit of
passion--a great deal more than I have yet learned."

"Then go to him to-night," said Myra eagerly. "I will go with you. He
shall not think that all who love forsake him in the hour of his need."

"Myra!"

"I cannot help it," she cried, springing up. "Did I not go to him when
that suspicion clung to him--that he was treacherous and base? Even
then in my heart I felt it could not be true. Yes, I know what you say;
he has tacitly confessed to this dreadful crime, but we do not know all.
I saw that Malcolm Stratton could not be base. If he has taken
another's life, I know, I feel all the horror; but he has not been false
or treacherous to the woman he loved, and it was on account of this
horror that he shrank back that day. To insult--to treat me with
contempt? No; to spare me, Edie; and my place is at his side."

"No, not now," said Guest firmly. "I will go back to-night. Trust me,
please, and have faith in my trying to do what is for the best."

There was a