“Maud, Maud, what have you done?” asked Charles, leaning over her.

“The barb was poisoned, it—­it—­was meant for you!” she half shrieked.  “I—­I—­am dying, dying unrevenged—­O, this scorching, burning pain!”

“What ails you, Maud—­what can we do for you?” asked Charles, kindly.

“I—­I am poisoned,” groaned the Quadroon, holding up her lacerated hand which she had carelessly wounded with one of the barbs intended to have killed him.

The barb she had wounded and killed Robert with, was blown through a long, hollow reed, a weapon much used in Africa, and the barb had been dipped in poison so subtle, rapid and sure in its effect, that the wound the girl had received accidentally in her hand, was fast proving fatal to her.  In Robert Bramble’s case, it had reached a vital part at once, and had been almost instantly fatal in its effect.  But Maud was dying!

“Poor, poor girl, what shall we say to your father?” asked Charles, for he knew full well the fatal poisons in which the negroes dip their tiny barbs; and he realized that the Quadroon, who was a victim to her own scheme of destruction, could not live but a few moments.

She seemed too far gone to speak now, and turned and writhed in an agony of pain upon the ground, while Helen strove to raise her head and to comfort her.  The poison seemed to act upon her by spasms, and she would have a moment now and then, when she was comparatively at ease.  The lowering darkness of her face was gone now, a serenity seemed to be gathering there, and leaning forward between the paroxysms, she held forth the hand which was not wounded towards Charles Bramble who stood tenderly over her, and said in a low, gentle voice: 

“Forgive—­forgive me! will you—­will you not forgive me?”

“With all my heart, poor girl, I do sincerely forgive you,” said Charles, earnestly.

All was not black in that human heart, the half effaced image of its Maker was there still; and Maud looked tenderly and penitently upon Helen and Charles.  The former knelt by her side, and drawing the poor girl’s hands together across her breast as she lay upon the ground, lifted her own hands heavenward, moving her lips in prayer as she bent over the sufferer.  What little Maud knew of religious instruction, had been taught her in the form of the Episcopal church, and she now listened to the formal prayer from the litany appropriate to her situation.  A sweet smile gathered over her face as Helen proceeded, and prayed for forgiveness for all sins committed; and as she paused at the close, three voices repeated the word Amen.

Charles and Helen rose to their feet, but the spirit of the Quadroon had fled!

CHAPTER XVIII.

The denouement.