venge. But I will see her. She must listen to common sense. What can have enlisted her in Mary Wilcox's favor? Nine o'clock!" Mordaunt arose.

"Good bye, my dear aunt; I must out to-night." "Not to-morrow night again, sir. We go to Mrs. McDonough's party, you will remember."

66

Certainly," said Mordaunt, as he left his aunt's residence. He took his way to a small but handsome house in Twenty-third street. Having arrived, he rang the bell. There was no response. He pulled again. Still no response.

"The lady who lives there, shure," said a servant girl, standing at the gate of the next house, "left this afthernoon, and ain't in at all."

"Why did you notice her so particularly?" asked Mordaunt.

"Bekase, sure, she tuk away sax thrunks, and a sight o' boxes and band-boxes. She's gone to some o' the watherin' places, they said.”

"Who said, my good woman?" asked Mordaunt.

Biddy Burns, her girl, that wint with her, shure."

"Did she say when her mistress would return?" asked Mordaunt.

"Yes, sir. Biddy Burns said they was goin' to be afther livin' in another place, and wasn't comin' back at all."

He walked

Mordaunt waited to hear no more. away from the house. In about an hour he returned. This time his approach was made with care, lest he should be observed. Having gained the front entrance, he took a key from his pocket, and opened the door. Striking a light, he looked into the par

lors. Everything was as usual. He then ascended to the second story. Entering the front apartment, he lighted a gas-burner. The room was in perfect order, and most elegantly furnished. James Mordaunt was troubled. For the first time in his life, he began to regret. His reflections were not the offspring of repentance. As he looked into his soul, he acknowledged to himself that in Sarah Graham he had one to deal with who knew him thoroughly; and he knew she could ruin him. Fear, then, caused his regret. "Who has prompted Sarah Graham to this course?" he said aloud.

The question was answered, but not then; the rich furniture and pictured walls which heard it, but a few hours before had listened to the bitter anguish of Sarah Graham, gazing upon the hideous visions of her wickedness, with sight rendered keen by the angel of repentance. As yet that beautiful angel had only hovered in her presence, whispering with the "still small voice," "Daughter, there is peace even for thee."

As Mordaunt went towards a dressing-bureau, for the purpose of examining to see if Sarah had taken her wardrobe, his eye fell upon a small note, bearing his name on the outside in her hand-writing.

Hastily breaking the seal, he read the following:

JAMES:

No.

- TWENTY-THIRD STREET, NEW YORK,

21st, 18-.

Doubtless you will seek for me some evening, as usual. You will find an empty house. Love's dalliance is at an end. When you have concluded to do justice to Mary Mordaunt and your beautiful little daughter, write me a note to that effect, and leave it with J. S. Taylor, Esq., No. Wall street. You shall have ample time to accomplish this. I shall make no haste. Be warned!

SARAH E. GRAHAM.

A deep oath was the first effect which the perusal of Sarah Graham's note produced. The second was to fill Mordaunt's mind with terrible forebodings, and his frame with the tremor of ungovernable fear. He threw himself upon the bed, and devoted himself to the solution of that problem ever most difficult to the villain: How shall I cut the meshes of Heaven? It has never been solved, "but for a season."

XXVIII.

George Melville under a Cloud.

"GOOD morning, Squire Brownson. I hope you are not very busy this morning."

"Good morning, Mr. Fellows," said the police justice of the city of U-, in the State of New York, who was thus addressed by the cashier of the O- Bank, as Squire Brownson.

"I have called to get some of your assistance. A young man, who has been stopping for a fortnight at B's Hotel, presented a check, day before yesterday, which was paid at our bank. It purports to be drawn by Sherman, Hollett & Davis.' They have pronounced it a forgery. The young man is a graduate of Hamilton College. He left by the afternoon run for the West, day before yesterday."

"We shall have to take your affidavit in the matter, Mr. Fellows," said the justice.

"Please draw it, sir," replied Mr. Fellows.

In a few moments Justice Brownson prepared the following affidavit, which was duly subscribed and sworn to. We give it verbatim.

Jonathan B. Fellows, of the city of U, in said County and

State, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a banker, doing business as a cashier of the O Bank in said city; that on the day of 18-, one George Melville, to this deponent personally known, between the hours of two and three o'clock, P. M., presented at the counter of the said O— Bank, a check, of which the following is a true copy: 18-, $625. Cashier of the O— Bank: Pay George Melville or bearer Six Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars. SHERMAN, HOLLETT & DAVIS ;" that the said check was duly honored and paid by one James B. Norris, the paying teller of said O—— Bank; that the said check is pronounced by each and every of the partners of the said firm of Sherman, Hollett & Davis to be a forgery; and this deponent, upon information and belief, pronounces the same to be a forgery. And further this deponent says not.

J. B. BROWNSON, Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of O

Upon this affidavit, Justice Brownson issued his warrant against the body of George Melville. It was given to an officer, with directions to arrest Melville wherever he might be found.

"The young rascal has about forty hours the start of you," said the justice to the constable; "but with due diligence you can overtake him. Telegraph dispatches have been sent to every city on the line. Don't show him any favor because he has played up 'big gentleman.""

With these instructions the officer started. At the village of Cayuga, he obtained the first clue of Melville. He there learned that a person answering the officer's description had taken the steamboat the day before. His informant was so certain in the matter that the officer determined to follow. On board the steamboat his information was confirmed, and he