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Vex-y slowly the "dark eyes open; Irene springs to her feet with a low. terrified cry. Was it some dark, terrible dream that had clutched so heavily at her heart? Her eyes enco utered the vial that had fallen from the actor’s hand to the floor, then wandered to the white face lying against the pillow, and then, Hea- veh help her, Irene remembered all. and the cry that fell from her lips was pitiful to hear. 7 "God be merciful to me,” she moaned, in her terror. "on. it it were to be done over again, Leon Forrester, and I could give my life to save yours. I would do it." she _crie_d. 7 "She sprung to her feet, gazing in terror at that stark, white face, crying out that she had killed him. Irene could hear their low. hushed voic-f as as they entered the door, their ex. pressiox; of hope that they would find the!_ condition of No. 2!: much unproved'; the gowerful inhaling vapor would draw him ack from the gates of death. if unythingl could. She made her way down the cool. Wi a. corridor. past the patients who. in lay-5 gone days had blessed her and kissed the olds of her robes with reverend lips, cal- ing her the Angel of the Helpless. How stealthilv Irene crept past them, her head pent dejectedly on her breast. are t down Into the silence of the garden, 1, rowing. herself upon her knees among the long grasses and lifting her white face to the waning sunlight. She dared not pray, though the white lips moved dumbly. 'é‘here was no pardon for what. she had one. i When the doctors entered. and gathered around his bedside for consultation. what would that ghastly, grayish face tell them, she wondered, vaguely? Would they discover the cause of deathâ€"that the me- dicine had not. been administered? What! could she say in self-defenceâ€"that sleep‘ had overcome her? Sleep! how could she? say that she had dared to sleek) when a} human life was entrusted to 1er care? Kneeling there, beside that couch, Irene! angeredga lifetime of misery. ‘ How the beautiful, hopeless woman cow- ered as she heard the words; how she wished in that moment that God would strike her dead for yielding to the bit- terly-cruel temptation to withhold the life-giving inhalation. Them had been a. time when in this very has ital they had given her the name. “, e Angel of the Helpless,” Oh. it thew but knewâ€"oh, if they but knew Watt she had done! ' ‘ How the terrible moments passed she never knew. She heard the tread of feet, in the corndor without, and she knew that it must be the consulting physici- ans, who made their pours at regular in- tegvalsâ€"thqx gre oqmyng at last: "Doctor," she cned. her low voice quiv- ering with alarm, “this is not life! See the gray pallor round the mouthâ€"the glaze of death is creepmg over these eyes; eat‘h-damp stands out on the high fore- ‘head. The sight of death is not new to metâ€"the {man is ‘dying!’: Very softly they advanced, and stood around the sufferer’s couch. "How is our atienc?" asked one of the docmr‘s, bend- nz his ear down to listen to the faint thgpbbingpf the sqfiferer’s heart. The words were addressed to Irene, but. she dared not. look up or raise, her head from the ooverlet lest they should read the horriblwo guilty fear and despair in the death-white face and tertir-atricken eyes. She neither moved nor spoke; she could not, have replied if her life had de- pended upon the utterance of a. single For a moment. that seemed the length of eternity to the guilty creature crouch- ing there, a death- Ike silence reigned in the room. Were the (loot/01‘s looking at each other with horror in their faces. Irene wondered. vaguely. Would the horn rible stillness be broken by the stern, aw- ful words. “What does this mean? The‘ medicine has not been given the patient!" For, of course, the. wise doctors would; knowâ€"oh, yes, they would know! How] oppressive the silence grew. Were they‘ inting to her with significant faces?l ow she wished she dare raise her i’sce‘j 3.3g see what this s’i‘le‘nce'mtian‘u; see Whig] was passmywugmmflzp n Egaflonm . the matrons “who? and bent fver the}, dark lace lying against the pil- ow W‘iih bated breath; then a. sharp cry broke from her lips. Ah, me!’ how the wind among the trees. ; whose leafy branches fluttered against. the casement, seemed to take up the word with a low, moaning shriek and whisper it to the whole world outside! And it whispered something else, too; something that only Irene, kneeling in such abject terror at, Leon Forrester’s bedside, knew and understood. Irene wondered vaguely? why the doctors did not answer the startâ€" ling. vehement words that. fell from the maggon’s lips. a "It looks strangely, startlingly like it." responded one of the physicians, gravely. "If you ladies will kindly leave the room we will hold a consultation, The case seems to have taken an unusual turn. I am mystified; as you say, my dear mat.- ron, the man before us has every ap- peprpncg of death." Only Heaven alone knew of the super- human effort Irene put forth to prevent giving utterance to the shrink: of terror that seemed to rise up in her throat and stifle her. Like one stricken blind, she struggled up from her knees, and groped her way with unsteady steps from the room. No one seemed to notice her. every thgught s_eeu_ned bent ypon the sick map. Glam:ng up toward the windows, saw the doctors move hurriedly to fro with white faces; she knew what Ipeupy 011,7 yes, she knew. It told ineuut, oh, yea, shé knew. It told thro‘bbing heart" that Leon Forrester dead: V'T'Iv‘hrof’étrrafirg’er is dying.” repeated matron. For 26 years we have recommended Bovrll for these reasons and they have now been establlshod by strict physlologlcal tests made by w. H. Thomp- son, M. D., D. 50.. of Trinity College. Dublln. promotes appetite, assists digestion and builds up sound health. CHAPTER XXV.â€"(Cont'd) OR, THE DUEL IN THE GLEN. she and that her was the “He is coming to tell me Leon Forres- ter is dead.” she thmmht. “He knows q‘l He has come to accuse me. Heaven plty apd diI'Cct me! What shall I do?" | The doctor rapidly came nearer. A vague presentiment crossed Irene's mind that he was searching for her. and a wild, mad impulse to fly, to hide herself, anywhereâ€"anywhereâ€"occurred to her. She saw now how imminth was her peril. She had stood quietly by while a life had slowly drifted out, without. lifting her hand to save it. yet she might have saved Leon Forrester if she would. Ah yes. she could have saved him, but she did not. Now they were coming to accuse her of How long Irene knelt in the garish sun- light, among the tall grasses, she never knew; a step aroused her; she looked 1173 i, afi‘rieht and saw one of the doctors apgfoaphing. V With a white, ghastly face, and eyes di- lating with fear. Irene struggled to her feet. and fled swiftly through the green. sunlit grounds that surrounded the hosâ€" pital, rain fleetlyâ€"swiftly. to hide in the thick green ooverts of the park; but the swift footsteps seemed to gain u‘r-(rx hhr. It was no delusion then: they hrd dr's- wvered what she had done, and they were pursuing her. At that mument she wan mad with fear, And of all the pain she had sufiered none was so great as this she suffered hiding among the green trees 91: which the golden sunlight fell. hiding mfli‘ear. audhbjpct terror. No one could deny the swift and sure punishment of sin who could have seen that white terror-distorted face: and the wild. frightened eyes peering out; from the; midst; 9f thy t_hmk,_gre_en leayes: She had hoped that the doctor had not. seen her. that he would pass her by: but when he had reached the lilac bvshea be- hind which she crouched in the long, green grass he paused. With folded arms young Dr. Ross gazed ityingly down on the white face cower- n_er__a_t the (on; of _thg gnag‘letj _beech_treea. it. "Forrester‘s you mean,” he.interrogat- ed. grimly. She nodded her head dumblyâ€" “Frederick does not know one word of the past." she sobbedâ€"J'ncr. need he ever know.’ This man in blind. he could never find me. See how humbly I plead with you on my knees, Victor. to keep my secret. _Â¥o’u loved me onceâ€"by that love ware am now." ' With ééhtlé haTidE’fieHé‘i’éeri Hefygléb‘ifig he_g upon pne_of_ tine gardqn_ chag'rp. He was touched by the sight of her ut- ter terror and abject fear. Alas! how is; tally lovely she was in her helmessness. Even had he come there to condnmn her, he would have found that the words would have died on her lips unuttered. The eyes looking down into her own with such a. strange. light in them, ter- aified her more than words could have one. "It. is right that you shouid fee! re- morse for what you have done: or rather for what you failed to do,” broke in Dr. Boss. sternly, “still. you need not stand 111 such terror of me, althmuzh. I know all. I and I alone am possessed of your secrsg." he saitil, slowly.‘ "I know all.” he repeated: "bv chance I offered my services to take the place of another doctor by the bedside of No. 23 As I entered the ward, approaching the cot. I could not help but hear the words that fell from your lips. which fairly paralyzed me with horror. Suffice it to say I administered the inhaling vapor you dashed from you, and which has saved the patient’sjifeAâ€"he willulive." ' ~05, 3113,33 you are stréfié‘. be merci- ful!" she waned: "I was so sorer tempt- ed. 1 did not mean to do wronv. I could have died sooner than harm one hair of hia__headâ€"Iâ€"-oh, be merciful, and spare _‘7if do not want to be anything but mer- ging," gm said, “at the same time} should L us The cry of mortal terror that fell from her lips waspitiful to hear; then she looked up into his face with the calmness of _ut§erudespa_ir._ "I shall not. be harsh and cruel to you," he went on, steadilyzâ€""I would rafher shield you. than betray you. I will tell you why I will keep the knowledge of what you have done from the world.” he went OILâ€"“It is because I once loved you, Irenefangi I loveâ€":you qtill." A thunderbolt falling from a. clear, aun- lit sky at her feet could not have start- led Irene more. This dark, bronzed-faced, bearded doctor whom she never remem- bered having seen before, loved her; Why ~â€"_s_g_re1y_, the_m2_m_w_as mad!’_’ 1IA cry of dismay broke from Irene’s ms.â€" “You are notâ€"Victorâ€"Rossâ€"surely,” she gasped. “Yes. I am he,” he responded. As she looked up into his “ace, she saw it. was as he saidâ€"greatly shared. A sudden inspiration came to her: could khe prevail upon him to keep her secret? He loved her once well enough to shield her from the world’s scorn; surely she might influence him nowâ€"she would yry. She rose from her seat on the garden bench and flung herself on the green grass at his feet, clinging to him with hot. burn- ing hands, so imploringly, so beaeeching- 1y__that 115} was pompelled $0 _lishen_._ "You will not betray me." she Robbed; “by the old love which one filled your heart for me, I pray you to shield me now. Keep my secretâ€"never let the world know and I will atone for it. all the vears of my after life. I was mud to listen to the tempber’s voiceâ€"madder still to [laid $0 _itl_“ _ . ‘ ‘ Victor Ross took her burning ha‘nds in his and raised her to her fesf, 'u‘a pas- sionate eyes devouring her fair lowli- ness. She was more beautiful 10 him. with all her faults. than a saint wnuid have been. .7 A “You say you heard all," she went on, piteously. "I can only add I am marrved to anotherâ€"one whom I loveâ€"«never dream- ing he still livedâ€"andâ€"a‘ndHI have a lit- tle child. Victorâ€"a. lovely little girl. For the sake of my husband and little child, Victor. I pray youâ€"I plead wiih you not to let the world know what you have seen and heardflf ,.... m“...-.. ...._.. v.7“, “Yes,” she moanediiéébly, "madâ€"undâ€" we ’have been so happy ever since, Vic- tor. ’ With arsuberh'mruan 'effort Irene raised her dark dazed eyes to his face. “You have looked into my face and have not recognized me; suns of foreign coun- tries have tanned me; and, together with this dark heavy beard. I am no doubt greatly cha.nged*yet in me, you behold one who_will befriend and protect you, if you so will iyâ€"yictor Bessâ€"you; 01d lover? 7116134316 whitiit is that you want‘me to do." he said. "I am not quite sure that I understand.”_ JWho is 1tâ€" wthat you have married. Irene,” he asked, in a cold, hard voice, and she answered slowlyâ€"jijI-g-zderick'Egmopd.” "ii-is face darkened angrily when he heard her say that. and the hard lines set‘led about, his‘ mputl}. "I {want you to keep my secret. for- ever." she gobbed,-â€"“my husband does not know that I was ever higjhisfwife." ~77E§i3'hHâ€"qn§ttn€al !"~ 7 BE“ ekéla {med 7 â€" "ng marg-ied him phqn.‘gfte§ an?" . CHAPTER XXVI. N. “Do you remember what I told you once, Irene?" he said, “on the day when I part,- ad from you?" " She shook her dark head. and he went on slowly. "I told you then that I should be the bitterest foeâ€"even to the deathâ€" as long as my life lashed, of the man who won you from me; and now. with the weapon, so to speak, in my hand, which will part; you from him, think you I will fail in use it? There is but one way to seal my lips, Irene; but one means of keeping this scandalous story from the world. You must part from Es- mond at once and foreverv‘part. from him and his child. 00 where you will. Under that condition, and that condition only. I will take a. solemn vow that. your sec« ret_ shall navel: ,pass m_y lips}: “I loved you well. Irene," he said. "qu I love honor more. You are nothing to Frederick Esmond; by vour own confes- sion you are this othep. man’s wife; Es- mond has no claim upon you"â€"-â€"and a strange light flashed-into his eyes as he u‘tered the wordsâ€"«a. fierce lxght that. made her cower audAtremblet He bowed. “I will leave you, Irene," he said; “in an haur from now I will re- turnâ€"you will be here?” She bowed her dark head.. He turned and walked- away. The sound of his footsteps died away on the pebbled walk; then with a cry, so bitter, it.startled gven the singing birds from their nests m the trees. she fell forward. burying her fag? in the_ long. daisy tamdt‘ied~ graft “I cannot give up Fredefick and my Vittle child.” she moaned, "the pangs of death would be easier to bear. 0h, Vic- tor! what would the alterpative beP’fi "1‘15 ‘éiEobefi'33wfi'3nfi'k3bié5eied 'a .few words in her ear; she fell back agamsb thehgafdep _bench, yhite_ as deaph.‘ The sun shone over her as she lay there; the summer winds swept over her, odor- ous with the breath of roses. She. lay there, heedless of whag- wag transpu‘mg atgpgt. he_r-â€"wild_]y praymg_ ‘fpr death: “ “Oh God, be, merciful, I cannot give up Frederick and my little child," she re peated, vehemently, “they are part of my heart, part. of- my soul.” “Then I will go‘to Eamond, the mag you are now duping, and tell him all. cried Dr. Ross, hoarsely. "Think how Es- mond will scorn and abhor you, when he has heard your story. He will mm you from his door," he went'on, vehemently. “Leave him quietly, Irene, and save your reputation before the world; stay, atnd you face the penalty. You must demde here and now.’ Was she. who had always shuddered at the bare mention rf sin; she, who had grieved with all the pitying tenderness of her heart over a busterfly’a broken wing. or a. robin's death. Could it be true that the blackest and most pitiful of all qhnrges1havt ,o'ould' be written against a. human being's name wan en- tered a-gaviret hers? Would the word “R'_u_i1ty” 12‘; written agaiqgt it? "Give "mé"£'1itt1e time to think," she ngled. “one short, hour." . NEW; sâ€"wi-t {-Efeagfi25m amazonâ€"3V " Eight- ma.reâ€"â€"the events of the last. hour," she asked herself. The world is severe in its- censure and condemnation; an eye for an eye, a. tooth for a tooth, and a. life for a. life. are its sentiments. "vihe-triéa to look the zmat sorrow that. he}! fsl_len upon _h§r, f1_flly it} theface. nan 131181] upon uer, Luuy 1" but: 12145:. fihe thought of her luxurious home. of the handsome young hnfiband, awaiting- her return, who was dearer than life it- self to her; of the lovely, Jaughing child, whom she had left, playing on the lawn. round whom her heart was twined so clogely. Then on the other. hand, she could see the black horror "31nd disgrace that would fall upon her flf -they knew all. Wnuid it be best t'o leave quietly, have her husband and little childâ€"letting Frederick think what he would; or. re- “I H'a'nnOt part from them.” aha wailed; "0);. God. I gannoty'. NA-DRU-CO LAXATIVES are best for the children as well as the grownâ€"ups. 25¢. a box at your druggist's. Imam! Drug and Chmicll no. at Ganllelnmg Because they act so gently (no purging or griping) yet so thoroughly “2 in 1” Shoe Polish is the very best thing for their boots as all good Canadians and Americans realize.- We”. President Taft and C 0!. Rooswelt are through with t/zez'r mud slinging, . tkey mus! clean ujfi. ibz main, to disgrace them before the world “and then to be turned from Frederick’s door after all. The picture was maddening! She knew well that. he might have for- given her the bitter deception of keep- mg that horrible past from him. But would he ever forgive her for yielding to the awful black temptation that bed prompted her to see that convict’s llfe drifting from this world. to the un- known. when, by stretchingput. her hand, she could have saved him. 7 No 7 HaiteY'WVthâ€"JE: V3r 7m he was, a huflxpan life_ _w&s_w0rth gavi_ng._ She could picture Frederick’s horror and dismay. Ah, she could never endure to see that look on his face; better exile â€"deathâ€"than that. Ah, yes, surely he would abhor her when he knew all; after all it was showing her mercy, as Victor Ross had said, allowing her to go quiet- ly__away 211151 keeging her pitiful secret. _ "I will goâ€"away. God help me! I will leave Frederick and my childâ€"my dar- ling! If you will pledge yourflelf to keep my bitter secret from the world and from 1.1mm, forever. Butâ€"Iâ€"Iâ€"cannot go and leave themvâ€"I cannot part. from them without looking on their faces just once again!" 'The éound of Tmfsteps -on fiber gravel path warned her of Victor Ross’ return. A mbment later and he stood before her, 77“Y<V)iifihdveflébmié {077a, aéciisiohr. irene?” he said. Shé raised her great. dark. woful eyes to his face. and in a, voice that sounded mtg ngghing human,_ apqwgred:â€"_ Irene turned. and walked slowly away, Victor Ross gazing after her with a. strange light_ in Ens eyes. (1 .,..,n4 "You won her from me. Frederick Es- moud.” he muttered. "and now. I have arbed you two forever. I told you 1 one should take a. bitter vengeance on the man who came between us if it were ever in my power, and I have kept my word." He knew it was an ignoble thing which he had doneâ€"holding his knowledge of her secret as a sword over her head to part her from his rival. but he excused himself by declaring over and over again, as he paced up and down under the trees, that the course he had pointed out to Irene was the only one open to her. Part. from Esmond she mustâ€"there was no question about that; and, keep- ing that which he had discovered from .phe world. was an act of kindness toward her. Each and Every 5â€"Pound Package 0f 'flJgflgf AT ALL DEALERS 10¢. CHAPTER XXVII. Would she ever turn to him in the far‘ 011' future for advice or comfort? he wow dered, vaguely, and wild, exultant day- dreams filled his brain of that future. which was built around Irene. ' Meanwhile, Irene had entered the wide corridor, and had groped her way hke one suddenly stricken blind to the recep- tion-room; there she found her friends waiting for her. “Oh. Irene." cried Miss Reynolds. “we have been looking everywhere for you: where have you_ been? Weâ€"" 7778319 stfififieafiéhofl; 7&3 she caught, sight of Irene’a face. "‘Oh. Irene," exclaimed her companion! m a breath, "are you ill? Your face In as white as death. and you are trembling violently,” and 'they crowded about her with great aolicitude. "I felt a little faint.” she said, "and I went out into the grounds and sat down under the trees. Iâ€"Iâ€"am better. now. pray you do not give yourselves any un- easiness on my account; do not let um“ spoil your pleasure." During the drive: homeward. she talked, laughed, and jean- ed; no one would have thought to have seen her, that her heart; was breaking. She was crying out to Heaven, that this ride would never and. “Send Ruby to me. here. at once,” she ordered. and to the maid’s astonishment she added,â€"â€"“Ruby will dine with us to- day." The girl soon returned with the inteb ligence the child was out with Nanetto; her nurse. ’ Extra Granulated Sugar contains 5 pounds full weight of Canada’s finest sugar, at its best. Ask ybur grocer fortth 5-â€"P o 11 nd lg! Package. By a great effort, Irene rallied; she forced a smile to her lips. They did not see how tightly the white, ringed hands were clutched together over her heart. They were to dine with her. She must sit through torturesome hours and en- tertain them. When they drove through the high arched gateway, Irene looked eagerly around for her child. Little Ruby was not in sight. As soon as they reached the'ddrawing-room. Irene rang for her ma.) . Irene never knew how the rest of the afternoon were away. She did her best to keep the thread of her guest’s convero sation, to reply to their small talk; and it was the greatest effort of her life. All. Heaven, wgulq they never go! They took their departurq at last. just as the gregt law 5 were bemg lighted in the parks, and t 6 stars were com-meno- ing to come out in the evening sky. (To be continued.) Best by test. Will not soil the dainticst gar- ments. Quick brilliant, lasting. No other even half as good. 30' CANADA SUGAR REFI’NING co., Limited, Montreal. 11