"You must live for your parents' sake, if for nothing else. They have
been heart-broken over you."

"I know it, I know it," and Jean placed her hands to her face as if to
hide a vision which rose suddenly before her. "But you do not know my
past life. You have little idea how I have suffered, both mentally and
bodily."

"Perhaps I understand more than you imagine. Anyway, I know how you
looked the night I dragged you out of the water at Long Wharf."

Douglas never forgot the expression which, overspread Jean's face as he
uttered these words. Her large dark eyes grew wide with amazement and
a nameless terror. She clutched the bed-clothes with her tense hands,
and made a motion as if to rise.

"Please do not get excited, Miss Benton," he urged. "I would not
mention this now, only there is much at stake, and I want your
assistance."

"And it was you who saved me?" she gasped.

"Yes, with the help of an old tug-boatman. I saw Ben Stubbles push you
off the wharf into the harbour and then leave you to your fate."

"Oh!" It was all that Jean could say, as the terrible memory of that
night swept over her.

"Have you seen Ben lately?" Douglas asked.

"Not since the night of the dance at the hall."

"There is good reason why he doesn't come to see you, is there not?"

"Indeed there is," and Jean's eyes flashed with a sudden light of
anger. "Nell Strong has taken him from me; that's what she has done.
Oh, I'll get even with her yet."

"You are altogether mistaken. Ben is the one to blame. Miss Strong
has not wronged you. She dislikes the man, and has refused to have
anything more to do with him."

"But why did she meet him night after night by that old tree in front
of her home, tell me that?"

"She was afraid of the Stubbles, both father and son. Simon Stubbles
has a mortgage on the Strong place, and if she turned Ben away and
would not meet him, the little home would have been taken. Miss Strong
has done it now, however, and so I suppose the home will go."

"Are you sure of what you say?" Jean asked in a low voice.

"Yes, I am certain. Ben has been using every effort to win Miss
Strong, and he is very angry at me because he imagines that I have
turned her against him. The professor and his daughters have been very
kind to me, and on several occasions I have been at their house. Once,
on my way home, Ben had two men lying in wait for me with clubs.
Fortunately, I was able to defend myself,