Mr. Bernard turned pale.

“Elsie,” he said presently, “I do love you, as a sister with sorrows of her own—­as one whom I would save at the risk of my happiness and life.  Give me your hand, dear Elsie, and trust me that I will be as true a friend to you as if we were children of the same mother!”

Elsie gave him her hand mechanically, and he pressed it gently.  They walked almost in silence the rest of the way.

It was all over with poor Elsie.  She went at once to her own room when they reached the mansion-house, and never left it.

They sent for the old doctor, and he ordered some remedies, saying he would call the next day, hoping to find her better.  But the next day came, and the next, and still Elsie was on her bed—­feverish, restless, and silent.

“Send me Helen Darley,” she said at last, on the fourth day.

And Helen came.  Dudley Venner followed her into the room.

“She is your patient,” he said, “except while the doctor is here.”

Helen Darley often tried in those days and nights, when she sat by Elsie’s bed, to enter into the sick girl’s confidence and affections, but there was always something that seemed inexplicable in the changes of mood.  So Helen determined to ask old Sophy some questions.

“How old is Elsie?”

“Eighteen years this las’ September.”

“How long ago did her mother die?”

“Eighteen year ago this October.”

Helen was silent for a moment.  Then she whispered,

“What did her mother die of, Sophy?”

The old woman caught Helen by the hand and clung to it, as if in fear.

“Don’t never speak in this house ’bout what Elsie’s mother died of!” she said.  “God has made Ugly Things wi’ death in their mouths, Miss Darlin’, an’ He knows what they’re for.  But my poor Elsie!  To have her blood changed in her before—­It was in July mistress got her death, but she liv’ till three week after my poor Elsie was born.”

She could speak no more; she had said enough.  Helen remembered the stories she had heard on coming to the village.  Now she knew the secret of the fascination which looked out of the cold, glittering eyes.

A great change came over Elsie in the last few days.  It seemed to her father as if the malign influence which had pervaded her being had been driven forth or exorcised.

“It’s her mother’s look!” said old Sophy.  “It’s her mother’s own face right over again.  She never look’ so before—­the Lord’s hand is on her!  His will be done!”

But Elsie’s heart was beating more feebly every day.  One night, with sudden effort, she threw her arms round her father’s neck, kissed him, and said, “Good-night, my dear father!”

Then her head fell back upon her pillow, and a long sigh breathed through her lips.

Elsie Venner was dead!

* * * * *

In the following summer Mr. Dudley Venner married Miss Helen Darley.  Mr. Bernard Langdon returned to college, resumed his medical studies, took his degree as Doctor of Medicine, and he now also is married.