The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

K . T i r pi^hi.i.i IISTROr STRONGER THAN DEATH A RANSOMED LIFE f i iIIwPTFK XVIII.â€" (Coiit.) 'I'l.'Vor- waited on tho BtepH till the door closoU ou them. He wa.s (luz- ifli-d to Ivnow why U iikhiiin Imil bct^ii HO ati.\ii>iifl to Walk home with him, ' MiKl li(! Holvi'tl the |iu/.zli< l)y starting KtraiKhl linck through the woods tho wnv thi'v had tome. l\t a turn af the path, a hundred yar<la from tha point where they lind met . he loiiiid t ho Heerei, of \Vii;l»haiii'8 anxiety to cai-ry Vilm homo ngain. With a (iorco vhrohbing of his hrai t he reeognized Luc.y Ray on a low rustic seat, with down- cu.st ryea. and aad pale face, so lost ill thought tlial she did not see or hear hlni. .She started ii[) with a little frigh- tened cry as he touched her shoul- diT; then a faint wan ^jhcst of a Biiiile showed through her tears, a pitiful quivering of her lips, more pitiful than weeping. 'What Is It, Lucy?" ho said; "can I help .you? You proini.sed always to trust iiiff â€" as a friend." "And you will he my friend, Har- ry; always my friend." ' â-  Alwaysâ€" un less ' ' "There i.s no 'unlo.s.«!' now. You roiiBt forget all (hat folly. I have put a barrier hetwoen us you can- not ho|)e to cross. I won't have your youuK life wasted. ITarry. Yon said you would love me while I Was free to lovc^â€" well, I'm no longer free. ' With deadly sinkinc: of his heart he know what was coming. "I have promised Colonel Wickhain to he his Wife. It was the only way out of ull this tangled maze. IIo huggnd me bard. It was no u.se that I told him that I Iiad no lovo to give. Love, he said, would come in time, and if It never camo. liking would content him. Half a life's de- votionâ€" never wavering, never falter- ini;â€" he pleaded, had given him some claim. I could s«'o that he was ter- ribly in earn«Kt, and I had not the heart to rofiiee him tho poor boon he Iiod set his hoart ou having." "It cannat he. You have not counted the cost, Lucyâ€" the long, ch.'orlesH, loveless life at bestâ€" the bitter unavailing .remorae if you find too late your love has been given to another." She â- lulled at his earnestness in Biich curious contra.st with tho smooth boyish face. •'.My poor Harry, how wise in tho world s wa.ys you have grown! I have counted the cost. 1 am not likely to fall in love again at my time of life, unless tho lost Dr. Ardel should revive, and tho hope of that has gone. If I cannot bo happy myself, the next best thing is to make another happy." "Hut you don't know thi.s man, Lucy. If I were to toll .you " .She .stopp«>d hJm by a look and gcHl.ure full of quiet dignity. "Don't. Harry," slio said gently, but flrmly. "It s not like you to Bprak ovil of the absent. Don't let this folly that will pa.ss away tempt you to inju.stice. Don't s|)oil our friendship by hasty words for which you will 1)0 sorry i)rc.sently. Re- member I am Colonel Wickham's proini»»d wife." "And you will keep that promise at all hazards'^' "May (Jod so help uiP, I will keep my pi'oiniss, if ho holds mo to it, though tho whole world slander him." lie turned from her in anger; but half a do/.on yards ofT ho cnino back hastily with lovo and hope ro-kindlcd in hill eyes. Wâ€" ••• W 0»9 W »»»l » 0»» W Oe 3 «tti "Kven yet, Lucy," he said softly, "even yet I will not despair." That was all, and lor her there was no meaning in his words. Hut lh(! courageous conlideiue in his voice cheered her. .She felt the load on her heart lightened, as the leaden day vaguely lightens while the rain pours and tho clouds lower, when the sun, though hidden, makes ihi.o power folt through tho gloom. All through the day and well into the night, Wickham's exultation con- tinued unabated. 'I'he exuberance of his spirits was exhausting to his lis- teners. He seemed intoxicated by joy, as by wino. In the billiard room at night, he chaffed Ardel continuously, with an undertone of scornful triumph in his voice and manner which nettled Tre- vor almost beyond endurance. But Ardel's frank good humor was slow to take olTente. He retorted only by challenging Wickham to billiards, five hundred up; gave him two hun- dred and fifty odds; and then ran the game out triumphantly in a doz- en breaks. "Wonderful! wonderful!" said Wickham in mock admiration; "shows what a man can do when he gives his mindâ€" his whole mind- to a thing." Ardel beamed at tho compliment. He act tho red and white balls clo.so toxether in tho centre of the table; made the spot ball shoot round the tour cushions, and then cannon so softly it hardly .shook tho other two apart. "Have a shy, Harry!" ho said. "I'll play with tho butt end of the cue, if you like." Hut Trevor did not care for billi- ards Just then. Ho had another game to play, and Ardel, with a cheery "Good-night, boys; take care of yourselves," went gaily oft to bed. I "What a big. blundering baby it is!" Wickham said to Trevor as they I were left alone together. He paused for a moment to sip his brandy and soda, and apply a lighted vesta care- fully to one of Ardel's choicest Ha- vannas. "It is hard to believe that man was once reputed tho keenest intellect in Kuropo. What a wonder- ful transformation from that to a big, muddy-patod school-boy! I used to bo horribly afraid of him at one time, I remember." "Afraid of him'?" "Yes. Did you never hear the strange story? I suppose not; it happened when you wore a baby. I Was on trial for murder, your f.ither defended mi;, but it was Ardel--thi! wonderful Ardel if t.ho.ie d.iysâ€" th.it saved my life. 1.'' mesmerized a danmed i)orjurod wilne.ss and tore his vcM-y heart out. Your father used tho confession brilliantly in cros.s-i'xamination, and betwiMjn them they slipped off the noose that was tightening round my neck. I was very grateful to Ardel and all that sort of thinjj, of course; but some- how I used alwa.ys to have a grue- some feeling !e. the presence of a mini who could search your heart like that." "Hut ho may have tho power still?" "Not he. It was d<'pendent on his mind, and went with his mind. In those days a kind of red fire used to light up behind his dark eyes when ho was in earnest. There's no more mesmerism in them now than in a jHiir of big glass beads. I fancy I could mesmcriz.o him if I wanted to." I "You have practised mesmerism, then?" asked Trevor. Sudden Chang:es of Temperature Bring Hosts of Couffhs and Oold« -8*riou8 Rosuits are Prevented by the Use of DR. CHASE'S Sr' LINSEED AND TURPENTINE. ('oiighs and colds usually arise from iuddon changing of temperature. II may be chang« of weather, pass- ing from a warmer to ii colder room or expoBurn to a draught. It is not always possible to prevent oxpoRure in these ways, but it is posHililc to prevent serious results by iialim Dr. (Phase's .Syrup of Lin- seed and TiiriMiitino. This great modicino has navod thouiands of livea by pruvouting uncuinoHia, consumption and other foniiH of lung trouble. It is mother's favorite rem'lllT 'or croup, bronchitis, whooping cough, and the coughs and colds to which children are 8ubje<'.t. Helng pleasant to tho taste, tho llttio ones delight to take it. It is prlzod by tho old people be- lausR of tho prompt and thorough Relief it brings for asthma and other Ihronle •llmenis of thit bronchial tiilieB. 'I'll" ver^ faot I hat t ho gale of Dr. Ohntea Ayrup of t.lnscod luid Tur- •ciitliA 'n more than three times but A* Jmp tflttijar remedy, »id was never so largo as it is to-day, is suf- ficient proof o( its merit. In tho great majority of homes it is kept on hand for cases of emergency. Mrs. J. Provost, Henfrew, Ont., states; â€" "My fourteen-year-old boy hod a very seveio cold in the chest last winter and I really thought ho was going to die. Ho couKbed near- ly all tho time and sornqtimes would spit up blood. We had about given up all hopes of his rocovory when I heard of Dr. Cha.ie's .Syrup of Lin- â- oed and Ttjrpontlne. After using one bottle tliore was a groat change In his condition, and I cun positively say that he was completely cured by two bottles and ho has not boon troubled since. I naver saw modi- cine take such quirk oHect and can sincerely ru«;nflimend it." Dr. ("haao's Syrup of Linseed and Turpentine, 35 ranta a bottle, family sifo (threfl timna as nnueh) 00 Ofpts. at all dealers, or ISdmanaon, nat«a A Co., Torouto. To protect you ngKinat imltativti the portrait and Sfufnatura of ftr. A. W. Chasa, tba famous tvcolpt book author, a>« ou evi'i'^ ' oi t le. He seemed curiously intorcsted and excited. "Oh! just an amateur. It scemud a thiiiK worth knowing. 1 can man- age pretty well with a good sub- ject. " "1 wish you would try your hand on mo. Mosmeii-sm has always a fascination for me, but I was never mesmerized." "1 d: t mind if I do. Just look mo strui;,'ht in tho e.ves." Wickhiun wheeled round tho great leather-covered chair in which ho sat, and tho two faced each other squarely under the glow of tho oloc- tric li^ht, with only a small inlaid ta!ilo between them. As they sat with their elbows on tho table, tho boy's face and the man's were not a .vurd away, and the blue eyos and the brown stared steadil.y into each otlu^r. Trevor's young face was set stem and hard as a stone. By de- gro s a strange light grew bohind his eyos, steady, inten.se, the strong cb'or pnr|io.se showing through, j Win'- ham f<dt that strength vaguely, land put forth tho utmost power of his will to resist it. It was as if two strong men wrestled â€" all their iniscle.s taut and aching from tho silent strain. Ono agonizing mo- ment, and Wickham knew himself foiled in the deadly struggle. He muttered a fierce curse, but tho words diod in meaningless babble on his liiis. IIo ftlt his consciousness slipping from him. IIo tried to turn his eyes away; but Tievor's steady ga'o h''l(l them mercilessly. Then his eyelids clo.sed softly, will and solf-con.sciousnos3 vanished togetlicr, and he lay back in the chair in a deep sleep at the mercy of his mas- ter. "Do you know me?" Trevor asked. And the sleeping man answered, "I know you, Vivian Ardel." â- Answer truthfully the questions I shall ask of you." 'I must." 'Who murtlei'od liessio Ulythe- wood?" There was a long pause. Some remnant of the man's reason and will was still awako, and in lierco revolt .against self-betrayal, his lips clos'd ticjlit in obstinanco silence. 'Answer!" said Trevor again, more sternly than before. The unconscious body quivered with Ilia intensity of the struggle, but still no word. Trevor pressed his hand upon his forehead. ".Speak!" he cried tlie third time in tones of concentrated command. Like a cry of pain, the words broke from the sleeper's lips "I murder- ed Bessie Ulythowood. ' "Ah, I guessed it," Trevor mutter- ed to him.self with a .iecp indrawing of his breath. Then to the sleeper sternly: "How was tho nmrder done?" "It was so simple," â€" with the first dreadful word.s all his hesitation had disappeared. He spoke quite freely now. with a kind of ghastly pride in bis own cl.:(voriioss. "I was with her by aiipointment in tho morning â€" a full hour beforo tho body was found. .She was like a sentimental tlgro.'iB, fawning one moment, raging the next. .She showed mo a letter she had written, threatening to com- mit suicide If I <lesi>rtod her, and the revolver with which she meant to do it. It was thut put the notion into my head. 1 knew she would be a curse and a plague to me all my life; I knew she would never have the pluck to kill herself; so I saved her the trouble. 1 loft her letter on the table and her revolver on the floor when I made my escape. A \ordict of suit ido was a sure thing but for that devil Weevil. His per- juries canio near hanginjj mo. Hut yoti, ill your wisdom, proved mo in- nocent." I'".ven then there was a note of in- solent mockery in his voice. "Had .you no pity for the girl that loved you â€" no remorse for her mur- der?" Trevor asked. "None â€" till there was danger T might be haajfod for it. When ttio danger passed I was glad that I had got this trouble out of my life cheaply and safely." "Is murder nothing to you?" "Nothing; but hanging is a great deal." "The man that saved you â€" Dr. Ar- del â€" you wore grateful to him?" "Not a bit. You saved my life to please your.solf. If you had known everything, you would have let mo hang." "Why did you try to murder Vivi- an Ardel?" "Why! why because I wonted you out of the way. Lucy Kay loved you, or I boUevod sha did, and I loved Luc.v Kay. Wasn't that rea- aovi enough? Sho was the ono wo- man in the world for mo. Body and soul 1 Was devoured with lovo for her. I was not focd enough to lot any man's life stand in my way. I triad three times. I don't know how tho devil you slipped through each time. Vou have more lives than a cat. Tho trick with the broken foil was a neat thing. I'm Klad it didn't cfline off though." •Why glad?" "It doenn't matter to me now a pin's point whether you live or die. Lticy Ray ha» promised to be my wife. 1 have gained my ond. 1 will marry her in a month. ' â- "And then?" "I will BfU out of the army, take my wife to the New World, and live happy ever jifterwardB." Tr«vor got up aud quietly fetched a bloitin; pad, paper, pens and ink from an adjoining table. I ".Sit up cloae to tbe tabl«." ho â- aid to Wiokbam aharpljr, who obeyed him like a chiTd. He put tho pen between the speak- er s finders. "Look wh.Tt's before you," he said. The eyes slowly unclosed with the vacant look of tho somnambulist. "I see writing materials â€" nothing more." "That is enough. I want you to write." "Write what?" "An account of your murder of Ressie lilythewood as you have just told it to mo â€" an account of your three separate attempts on the life of Dr. Ardel." Without an ins'lant's hesitation, Wickham began writing rapidly and fluently in his own peculiar hand â€" neat ond clear â€" while Trevor looked over his shoulder. "Sign!" he s.aid, when the writing was finishod, and Wickham signed with a flourish. Trevor took the paper, blotted it, folded it, and put it away in the in- ner brea.«!t pocket of his coat, that already bulged a little from a small revolver, for he knew ho had to deal with a desperate man, and had tak- en his precautions accordingly. Then ho turned again to tho sleep- ing man: "Awako," ho said sharp- ly to Wickham, who awoke with a start to full, clear consciousness. But his memory went back no further than the silent wrestling of their wills before h« dropped off to sleep. He was vaguely troubled to find Trevor standing before him pale and stern. "What monkey tricks have you been playing?" he asked sharply. "I remember I tried to mesmerize you. Did you by any chance mesmerize me instead?" "I did; and questioned you of your life." The man's face whitened with a sudden fear. "And I told you?" "You laid bare your heart to me. You told me of murder three times attempted and once accomplished." "A pack of lies â€" mere fraud and trickery. I know how the thing is done as well as you. I wan com- pelled to say just what you wanted mo to say." "I wanted tho truth, and you told it to me." "Suppose I did, my dear young friend," he broke out in angry de- fiance. "Suppofie I did, you damned youns devil; what are you going to do about it? ^Vho will believe the outlandish story of a jealous school- boy? Yes â€" jealous, you silly young fool. I guessed your secret, of course, but I knew that Lucy laugh- ed at you. Go to her now, if you dare, and toll her that her intended hu.sband, Colonel Wickham, is a mur- derer. I defy you oven to got thick- witted Ardel to believe you." Trevor drew the pai'or from his pocket and held It up in his left hand, out of reach of the other's grasp. Tho electric light glinted from the barrel of a small revolver held in his right hand. "You soe tVint?" ho said quietly. "Yes. I soe that. What is that- a big sheet of paper, scribbled on How docs It concern me?" "It is the detailed confession of your crimes, written with your own hand, signed with your own name â€" unmistakably yours." iHI.A.«. CHASrSOR CATAiiRHCHRE... ZU( UNFIT FOR WORK. TBX RESULT OF SEVEf.K Xr^ VEY AND BLADDEE THOUBLE. After Years ot Much Distress Ut. W. F. Kennedy Has Been BB" stored to a Life of Activity, Tl-.ere is i)robably no man in tha town.shi(i of I'elnam, Wcllaiid County, belter known ihau Mr. V,iib-.'r V. Kennedy. He is a prosperous farmei and the owner of a large cooperage, and is held in the highest ooteeia by all who have his acquaintance. Mr. Keuiietly is now seventy-two yoart of age, and is as active and ruggec as many a man years yo'.Jr.ser. Foi yeais, however, he was a great But- ferer from kidney trouble and h« cht^erfully gives credit for his ,'.resent good health to the use of Ilr. Wil- liams Pink i'ilis. Mr. Kennedy sayi "Ten years ago, as the result of ex- posure, I thiiii, I was stricken with kidney and bladder trouble in a severe form. The complaint at times caused me most intenie suffer ing and great personal discomfort ai I would often have to arise a dozei times in the niijht. I tiled nianj j kinds of treatment and some of thi 'host physicians, but their skilled ef- I forts were unavailing, and as a re- Isult I lost In fiesh, grew very weai, I and was troubled also with insomnia I grew despondent and felt that 1 was doomed to a lil» cf b'iffe. log, ii not an early death. At this stag* I was prevailed upon to give Dr Willi.^msâ-  I'ink Pills a trial. Aftei using four boxes I could see a ii» tinct improvement in my condition and I gladly continued the use of thi pi Is until all the symptoms of thi trouble had passed away, and I wsu again strong and healthy. It is m exaggeration to sa.v that at the tirai I began the use of Dr. Williams rial Pills I was so weak that I coult not lift twenty-live pounds, whik now I atu quite sure 1 can lift a- much as any man of my age. I be lieve the pills not ot ly released mi of the misery I suffered, but ba.y added years to my liie." Anaemia rheumatism kidney trou ble, hoart ailments, partial naraly sis, St. Vitus dance, and tho man; allinents [Peculiar to women an speedily cured by Dr. Williams' Pin] Pills, simply becauro thcfe pills mtki new, rich red blood, and thus reaci the very root of the trouble. Then are pink colored Imitations of thi great medicine but the buyer cat I protect himself against these imposi I tions by seeing that the full nam I "Dr. Williams' Pir-k Pills for Pal Ipeoplo" is printed on the wrappe I around everj' box. Sold by all deal jers in medicine or direct by mal ifrom The Dr. Willijims Medicine Co. Brockvillc, Ont., at 50 cents a box or six boxes tor $2.50. la Kal dlnet (o tt. disa«M4 »«n« by ih. ImproTTd BIowct, Heals Ibe uk«fc dam tti. i]f PMM4M, jicps dropirtuM In the tsrcM and petmuuaiJy ciir«» ij!5 J^ "j!*''* " ^'- ^- W. Chji. •UffMiu (A* Tocvaca tail BulU« Tho light fell clear on the paper. Instinctively Wickham knew he spoka tho truth. All the bravado died out of him in a moment. He dropped back, huddled up in his chair in complete colla[>se. His voice came in broken gasps. "Why do you tor- ture mo like this? What do you hope for? What do you want me to do? It there is anything- " Then with a sudden burst of uncontrollable rage as he realized the trap iu which ho Was caught and crushed. "Oh! you damned, devilish young cub! I wish I had put a knife or a bullet tlirough you long ago." Tho next moment fear inn.Mtored his rage and his voice again took a whining tono. "I hard- ly know what I'm saying. Trevor, but words don't matter, you know. You hftvo me down and can make your own terms. What's the price of .vour silence â€" if it has a price?" "I don't want to hang you," said Trevor slowly â€" and the abject wretch shivered at the wordâ€" "if T can help it. I don't want even your doath on my conscience." "Don't beat about the hush then. What must 1 do for my lite?" "Vou said just now you were go- ing to America. You must go â€" alone." "I'll start in a week." and ho moved towards the door. "Stop! there's ono thing more." "Well?" facing him doggedly. "A letter to Mlas Ray." "You torturing young devil. You don't want :ne to confess myself to Lucy!" "No. I would spar« hor, not .vou, that pain. Loss will aerve. Sit down agktn at that tablo and take the pen In your hand. Now write; and ho wrote] "Mian ttay,â€" - I horo.b.v relea.^e you from your engagement. I do so to avoid div served public disgrace and exposure for myf-elf. (Signed) Edgnr Wickham.* He blotted the note, mechanicall; folded it in an envelope, and direct cd it. "Miss Lucy Ray." "Now." he said to Trevor, "let ui swop papers." Trevor smiled, "I mean to hav both." "YotJ shan't have both." "Yes. 1 think T will. I camiof trust you, Wickham. You will read ily understand that. I hold thii paper as a life assurance. I will st arrange that at m.v death it will b< read, with a short, explanatory uoti by Miss Lucy Ray." "Then I rofu.se." "And hang?" "But it I give the letter, what se curity have I?" "My pledged word; while you kee| faith. I'll keep it. You must not sei Miss Ray again. You leave here to morrow, and leave Kngland within i week. These are my terms to taki or leave." Without a word Wickham handoj him the note. With his hand stil ready on the trigger, Harry Trevoi watched him slink from the room and so pass for ever out of his life fTo be continued.) THE SENSIBLE MOTHER. When littlo ones are ill the sensi- ble mother no longer doses thoa with nauseous, griping purgatives, nor puts them to sloop with the so- called "soothing" preparations whlcb always contain harmful opiates Baby's Own Tablets have bi^en use<i by thousands of mothers who cheen fully toatlty that they are gentle it their action, absolutely safe, ano make littlo ones .ileep soundly an< naturallj', because thoy remt>ve th« trouble that made baby irritable an< wakeful. On this point Mrs. T Watson, Sarsficld, Ont., soys : â€" "1 have U9i>d Baby's t>wn Tablets aiM And them a very valual>le medlclro tor young children. When baby ii cross or fretful I give her a Table! and it soon puts her right." These Tablets cure nil tho niinoi ailments of little ones. They an good lor all children from birth oi» ward. Sold by medicine dealers oi sent by mail at 25 cents a box bj writing Tho Dr. Wl!llams McdiciiK Co., Brockvl le. Out. ♦ OLDBST TRADi-^ SrCRF.TS. The two oldest to.rot trade prt> cc»'-K»os now in exirteiue aie couslApp ed to be tic nxnni.faiture « f t'Kiiieai red. or ^^vnl.il^Oll. and the method ot inlawing the harrtt^st steel with goH and silver, Mhich s-eems to liave Ijeoi pra':tl-ed ot I'auMv.cuit ages ogu and ia known only t# t*4e Siyn«4 .Diihs ar.d tbci^ i>u|ils •^•in to t]aJ I day.