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the wants and fears and unbelief of his children。 How should he
that calleth the stars by their names forget his people？
While she read； the cloud melted away from Euphra's face； a sweet
sleep followed； and the paroxysm was over for the time。
Was Euphra insane？ and were these the first accesses of daily fits
of madness； which had been growing and approaching for who could
tell how long？
Even if she were mad； or going mad； was not this the right way to
treat her？ I wonder how often the spiritual cure of faith in the
Son of Man； the Great Healer； has been tried on those possessed with
our modern demons。 Is it proved that insanity has its origin in the
physical disorder which； it is now said； can be shown to accompany
it invariably？ Let it be so： it yet appears to me that if the
physician would； like the Son of Man himself； descend as it were
into the disorganized world in which the consciousness of his
patient exists； and receiving as fact all that he reveals to him of
its conditionfor fact it is； of a very real sortintroduce； by
all the means that sympathy can suggest； the one central cure for
evil； spiritual and material； namely； the truth of the Son of Man；
the vision of the perfect friend and helper； with the revelation of
the promised liberty of obedienceif he did this； it seems to me
that cures might still be wrought as marvellous as those of the
ancient time。
It seems to me； too； that that can be but an imperfect religion； as
it would be a poor salvation； from which one corner of darkness may
hide us； from whose blessed health and freedom a disordered brain
may snatch us； making us hopeless outcasts； till first the
physician； the student of physical laws； shall interfere and restore
us to a sound mind； or the great God's…angel Death crumble the
soul…oppressing brain； with its thousand phantoms of pain and fear
and horror； into a film of dust in the hollow of the deserted skull。
Hugh repaired immediately to Falconer's chambers； where he was more
likely to find him during the day than in the evening。 He was at
home。 He told him of his interview with Euphra； and her feeling
that the count was not far off。
〃Do you think there can be anything in it？〃 asked he； when he had
finished his relation。
〃I think very likely；〃 answered his friend。 〃I will be more on the
outlook than ever。 It may； after all； be through the lady herself
that we shall find the villain。 If she were to fall into one of her
trances； now； I think it almost certain she would go to him。 She
ought to be carefully watched and followed； if that should take
place。 Let me know all that you learn about her。 Go and see her
again to…morrow； that we may be kept informed of her experiences； so
far as she thinks proper to tell them。〃
〃I will；〃 said Hugh； and took his leave。
But Margaret； who knew Euphra's condition； both spiritual and
physical； better than any other； had far different objects for her；
through means of the unholy attraction which the count exercised
over her； than the discovery of the stolen ring。 She was determined
that neither sleeping nor waking should she follow his call； or
dance to his piping。 She should resist to the last； in the name of
God； and so redeem her lost will from the power of this devil； to
whom she had foolishly sold it。
The next day； the struggle evidently continued； and it had such an
effect on Euphra； that Margaret could not help feeling very anxious
about the result as regarded her health； even if she should be
victorious in the contest。 But not for one moment did Margaret
quail； for she felt convinced； come of it what might； that the only
hope for Euphra lay in resistance。 Death； to her mind； was simply
nothing in the balance with slavery of such a sort。
Oncebut evidently in a fit of absenceEuphra rose； went to the
door； and opened it。 But she instantly dashed it to again； and
walking slowly back； resumed her seat on the couch。 Margaret came
to her from the other side of the bed； where she had been working by
the window； for the last quarter of an hour； for the sake of the
waning light。
〃What is it； dear？〃 she said。
〃Oh； Margaret！ are you there？ I did not know you were in the room。
I found myself at the door before I knew what I was doing。〃
〃But you came back of yourself this time。〃
〃Yes I did。 But I still feel inclined to go。〃
〃There is no sin in that； so long as you do not encourage the
feeling； or yield to it。〃
〃I hate it。〃
〃You will soon be free from it。 Keep on courageously； dear sister。
You will be in liberty and joy soon。〃
〃God grant it。〃
〃He will； Euphra。 I am sure he will。〃
〃I am sure you know； or you would not say it。〃
A knock came to the street door。 Euphra started； and sat in the
attitude of a fearful listener。 A message was presently brought
her； that Mr。 Sutherland was in the drawing…room； and wished to see
her。
Euphra rose immediately； and went to him。 Margaret； who did not
quite feel that she could be trusted yet； removed to a room behind
the drawing…room； whence she could see Euphra if she passed to go
down stairs。
Hugh asked her if she could tell him anything more about Count
Halkar。
〃Only；〃 she answered； 〃that I am still surer of his being near me。〃
〃How do you know it？〃
〃I need not mind telling you； for I have told you before that he has
a kind of supernatural power over me。 I know it by his drawing me
towards him。 It is true I might feel it just the same whether he
was in America or in London； but I do not think he would care to do
it； if he were so far off。 I know him well enough to know that he
would not wish for me except for some immediate advantage to
himself。〃
〃But what is the use of his doing so； when you don't know where he
is to be found。〃
〃I should go straight to him； without knowing where I was going。〃
Hugh rose in haste。
〃Put on your bonnet and cloak； and come with me。 I will take care
of you。 Lead me to him； and the ring shall soon be in your hands
again。〃
Euphra hesitated； half rose； but sat down immediately。
〃No； no！ Not for worlds；〃 she said。 〃Do not tempt me。 I must
notI dare notI will not go。〃
〃But I shall be with you。 I will take care of you。 Don't you think
I am able； Euphra？〃
〃Oh； yes！ quite able。 But I must not go anywhere at that man's
bidding。〃
〃But it won't be at his bidding： it will be at mine。〃
〃Ah！ that alters the case rather； does it not？ I wonder what
Margaret would say。〃
〃Margaret！ What Margaret？〃 said Hugh。
〃Oh！ my new maid；〃 answered Euphra； recollecting herself。
〃Not being well at present； she is my nurse。〃
〃We shall take a cab as soon as we get to the corner。〃
〃I don't think the count would be able to guide the horse；〃 said
Euphra； with a smile。 〃I must walk。 But I should like to go。 I
will。 It would be such a victory to catch him in his own toils。〃
She rose and ran up stairs。 In a few minutes she came down again；
cloaked and veiled。 But Margaret met her as she descended； and
leading her into the back drawing…room； said：
〃Are you going； Euphra？〃
〃Yes； but I am going with Mr。 Sutherland；〃 answered Euphra； in a
defensive tone。 〃I