“He means Adah.”

“Yes, Adah,” the convict rejoined.  “John Richards fancied Adah Gordon, as she was called, but loved his pride and position more.  I’ll do you justice, though, young man, I believe at one time you really and truly loved my child, and but for your mother’s letters might have married her honorably.  But you were afraid of that mother.  Your pride was stronger than your love; and as I was determined that you should have my daughter, I proposed a mock marriage.”

“Monster!  You, her father, planned that fiendish act!” and Alice’s blue eyes flashed indignantly upon him, while Hugh, forgetting that the idea was not new to him, walked up before the “monster,” as if to lay him at his feet.

“Listen, while I explain, and you will see the monster had an object,” returned the stranger, speaking to Alice, instead of Hugh.  “There were several reasons why I wished Adah to marry Dr. Richards, and as one of them concerns this scar upon my forehead, I will tell you here its history.  You, madam,” addressing himself to Anna, “have probably heard how your greatgrandfather died.”

“It happened almost a century of years ago, when there was not the difference of position between the proud Richards line and the humble Murdocks that there is now.  Your greatgrandfather and mine were friends, boon companions, but one fatal night, when more wine than usual had been drunk, there arose a fearful quarrel between the two, and with a knife snatched from a sideboard standing near, Murdock gave his comrade a blow which resulted in his death.  Sobered at once, and nearly beside himself with terror, he rushed frantically to the chamber of his sleeping wife, and laying his blood-wet hands upon her brow, screamed for her to rise, which she did immediately, nearly fainting, it is said, when by the light of the lamp her husband bore, she saw the bloody print upon her forehead.  Three months afterward my grandfather was born, and over his left temple was the hated mark which has clung to us ever since, and which a noted clairvoyant predicted would never disappear until the feudal parties came together, and a Murdock wedding with a Richards.  The offspring of such union would be without taint or blemish, he said, and I am told, sir, your boy is fair as alabaster.”

Dr. Richards, to whom this appeal was made, only stared blankly at him, like one who hears in a dream, but ’Lina, catching at everything pertaining to the doctor, said, quickly: 

“His boy!  Where is his boy?  Oh, what does it all mean?”

“Poor girl!” and the convict spoke sorrowfully.  “I did not think she would take it so hard, but the worst is not yet told, and I must hasten.  I ingratiated myself at once into John Richards’ good graces and when I knew it would answer, I suggested a mock marriage.  First, however, I would know something definite of his family as they were then, and so, as a Mr. Morris, who wished to purchase a