Presently he got up and crossing to the mantel, looked at the vial.

"Why not?" he asked aloud. He took the vial in his hands. "Three drops!" he said.

"Four would

make sure. It is painless, leaves no traces. Apoplexy the verdict. Why not? It is better than shame, disgrace, dishonor."

He removed the stopper and pondered.
The old servant entered to say:

"Mr. Percy, there's a young man here who says he must see you.'

"Who is it?"

He

"I don't know; he won't give a name. says he's sought you everywhere on a matter of life or death.”

"It must be life then, for death's here.

Bring him in.

glimpse of life.”

There's time for another

A moment later Smith Edgar entered. "Well," said Percy, "so you've turned on me, have you?"

Smith saw Percy's face, heard his voice and looked at the vial. He was horror-stricken, for he comprehended in a glance.

"My God! Mr. Dunbar! What were you about to do?" he exclaimed.

He sprang forward to take the vial from Percy's hand. But Percy resisted.

"Man!" cried Edgar, "I've not turned on you. I have come to save you."

I

"What?" cried Percy in a low voice. "Save me? By testifying against me? have stood much, Edgar, and lived. I couldn't stand a renewed hope, dashed again. I'd go crazy. I don't know but I am now. Better this quick death.'

"For God's sake, put that aside and listen to me."

He had come close to Percy. With a sudden, quick motion he secured Percy's hand and wrenched the vial from him.

"Listen to me," he said sternly. "I stole home three weeks ago and learned that you had persuaded my mother, by giving her so large a sum as would make her independent for years, to forego thoughts of revenge on my father. It was what I have wanted. held that nothing but public disgrace for her would follow what others urged on her. That is another thing you've done for me.”

I

"But my motive, man?" said Percy, bitterly. "It was to aid me in my mad race for wealth over the short road I've been running with ruinous speed."

"I care nothing for your motive. It's what you've done. So I said when I learned of this trial I would save you. I came here this morning and was seized by Henry Morton's

detectives and taken to his place. I could not tell him my purpose. So I told them any old thing-that I would be their witness. I was afraid they'd kidnap me until after the trial, if I told them what I meant to do. I slipped away at adjournment this afternoon before the prosecutor could get at me-will keep away from him until the hour I am to go on the stand. I shall take it all on myself. I shall free you, but to serve you I must make my story accord with the one you have told." "Then they'll lock you up."

"I can stand it. It will not be a new experience. But I don't think they will. If they do, you can make me right afterward. I'll trust you. What story have you told?"

"None as yet. I've made a general denial.” "Then my story will go."

"You have the nerve to do this and take the consequences?" asked Percy.

"I have."

"Then I am saved and your fortune for life is made. We'll non-suit them."

An extraordinary change took place in Percy. Renewed hope worked a revolution. The blood came into his face, light into his eyes, while the haggard lines went out. He was the man of action once more. He went over the matter again and again with Edgar, arranged every detail and ended by saying:

"I am dogged by detectives. We must not go from here together. You must remain here all night. It is the safest place for you.'

He called the servant, told him he must give a bed to Edgar, wrote a note to his uncle

to tell him of the liberty he had taken and went to the consultation at Eldon's office at nine o'clock.

CHAPTER XXX

THE PAYING OF DEBTS

WHEN the court assembled the next morning there was confusion, excitement and apprehension among the District Attorney's assistants. Nor was the prosecutor himself free from the sensations.

His great witness, who, at the last moment, after weeks of search for him, had dropped, as it were, from the clouds, had disappeared in the moment of adjournment. The prosecutor had been pleased with that adjournment, though he had protested against it. It would afford him, he thought, an opportunity to discover exactly to what Smith Edgar would testify. While he stopped to discuss with his assistants the method of taking the statement of the witness, that witness had disappeared. A search for him, continued through the night and up to the very hour of the assembling of the court, had failed to discover even a trace of him.

Now, at the moment the judge was taking