pass, for she not only breathed, but lived and fed on poisons! She was dying slowly and gradually. This did not serve my purpose. She was valuable to me, and I resolved that she should live. I have not studied the secrets of life and death in vain, and I had not long to seek before I met the man who could save my daughter’s life, by taking upon himself half of her poisonous existence. The instant that I met with you, I fully comprehended your real nature and temperament, and knew that I could completely control your mental and physical powers. The only real difficulty that I had, was in getting the entire possession of your mind and reason. It was necessary that all remembrance and all thought of other subjects should be banished from your mind, and then I knew that I could infuse that deadly poison into your blood and breath. You may well shudder,—but you know, only too well, how completely my scheme succeeded. You know how thoroughly you emptied your mind of every other idea, and how absolutely you gave yourself over to myself and my daughter, and the subjects which we discussed. But, this is wearisome. Last night, my work was accomplished. When, under the influence of that potent perfume you filled Minna Walstein’s goblet and met the glance of her eyes you completed my design—my daughter’s life was saved, and I have now two living poisons to assist me in, what you may call, my ambitious aims. Look calmly, if you can, at your fate—you will poison and kill every living creature you come in contact with, except my daughter Minna. Her you cannot hurt, and there can be no affinity between you and anyone else in the world. I quote your own theory. As she is of my own flesh and blood, I soon discovered a mode by which I could approach her with impunity, but you are different. I feel that it might be fatal to me if I came near you. But it is still possible that you do not believe me. I am unable to approach nearer to you than where I stand, but I break off this rose from the trellis, and fling it to you. If you wish proof of what I say raise it to your lips and watch the result.”
I heard the flower fall on the carpet beside the couch, but I did not move, I scarcely breathed. The terrible words that he had just uttered confirmed the vague apprehension that I had formed, and I felt more dead than alive. Still through all I had an overpowering belief that my only chance of safety depended upon my silence, and upon guarding my eyes from his basilisk gaze.
The doctor seemed to wait for a movement on my part for some time, but, seeing that I made no sign, he again spoke:
“I have tried to show you your utter powerlessness, and have pointed out your only hope. I now appeal to other feelings. I fear that your obstinacy and indifference may seriously affect my daughter. Her life now depends upon yours, and I know not how your present disposition may affect her being. At this very moment—”
While he spoke I heard a voice far down in the garden, calling to the doctor to come at once, for the love of Heaven. I recognised the voice of Cosmo, the servant. Doctor Walstein muttered an oath, and called out from the window that he could not come.
“But, master, master, you must come!” said Cosmo, as he came up to the house; the young lady—Miss Minna—is dying down yonder amongst the rocks by the sea-shore.”
“Dying, do you say?”
“Yes; she is weaker and more prostrate than she was even yesterday. When I approached her where she lay, amongst the wet shingle and sea-weed of the rocks, she waved me back, saying, ‘Do not come near me, but tell my father to come to me at once. I am dying. Tell him also that he is deceived in young Haughton, he only thinks of me with loathing—the thoughts of his heart are elsewhere.’ Then she turned paler than before, and fell back fainting. I was afraid to go nearer, master, for you told me—”
“Silence, Cosmo! Return at once to your mistress, and keep watch until I come. I will be with you immediately.”
I heard the sound of Cosmo’s footsteps, as he ran through the garden towards the cliffs, and then Doctor Walstein’s voice:
“We have had enough of this trifling, youngster. Your fate is in your own hands, and I am the only person who can save your life. It seems that I have miscalculated, and that you have not given your mind and reason so completely into my power as I had supposed. It would appear that, through the rapport which exists between my daughter and yourself, you are able to weaken the power of life in her. If this is the case, I warn you not to try that power too far, or it will be a fatal day for you. Will you answer me?”
I was silent; but through the still air, far away, could be heard the voice of Cosmo, calling for help piteously.
The Doctor remained irresolute for a moment, and then hastened away in the direction of Cosmo’s voice. I lay for some time without venturing to unclose my eyes; at length feeling assured that I was alone, I looked around. Was it all a dream? Were those cruel words, which I had heard, lies? The last remarks of the old man I cared nothing for,—what were he and his daughter to me? But there on the floor beside me lay the rose that Doctor Walstein had thrown to me, and it was within reach. I picked it up languidly and carried it with difficulty to my mouth, and breathed upon it. Merciful heaven? It seemed as if I had held the flower over some corrosive acid. The petals shrank up—brown and black, and in a few seconds I held in my hand only a few twigs and withered leaves.
It was true. I was the hateful, poisonous wretch that the old man had depicted. I buried my face in my hands, and bitter, scalding tears filled my eyes. I thought of the dismal time that had passed, and my mad infatuation for the doctor and his daughter. How truly, as he said,; I had emptied my mind of every other thought except of him and her. How I cursed my madness and folly. Then, as I lay there despairing, there came shining into the blackness of my thoughts the image of a sweet pale face that I loved, and the tender glance of soft dark forgiving
