asthis　boat…building；　the　news　of　his　fortune；　his　love；　and　his　self…sacrifice。
  North；　however；　was　not　returning　to　bring　to　the　prisoner　a　message　of　comfort；　but　he　was　returning　on　purpose　to　see　him；　nevertheless。　The　unhappy　man；　torn　by　remorse　and　passion；　had　resolved　upon　a　course　of　action　which　seemed　to　him　a　penance　for　his　crime　of　deceit。　He　determined　to　confess　to　Dawes　that　the　message　he　had　brought　was　wholly　fictitious；　that　he　himself　loved　the　wife　of　the　Commandant；　and　that　with　her　he　was　about　to　leave　the　island　for　ever。　〃I　am　no　hypocrite；〃　he　thought；　in　his　exaltation。　　〃If　I　choose　to　sin；　I　will　sin　boldly；　and　this　poor　wretch；　who　looks　up　to　me　as　an　angel；　shall　know　me　for　my　true　self。〃
  The　notion　of　thus　destroying　his　own　fame　in　the　eyes　of　the　man　whom　he　had　taught　to　love　him；　was　pleasant　to　his　diseased　imagination。　It　was　the　natural　outcome　of　the　morbid　condition　of　mind　into　which　he　had　drifted；　and　he　provided　for　the　complete　execution　of　his　scheme　with　cunning　born　of　the　mischief　working　in　his　brain。　　It　was　desirable　that　the　fatal　stroke　should　be　dealt　at　the　last　possible　instant；　that　he　should　suddenly　unveil　his　own　infamy；　and　then　depart；　never　to　be　seen　again。　　To　this　end　he　had　invented　an　excuse　for　returning　to　the　shore　at　the　latest　possible　moment。　　He　had　purposely　left　in　his　room　a　dressing…bagthe　sort　of　article　one　is　likely　to　forget　in　the　hurry　of　departure　from　one's　house；　and　so　certain　to　remember　when　the　time　comes　to　finally　prepare　for　settling　in　another。　He　had　ingeniously　extracted　from　Blunt　the　fact　that　〃he　didn't　expect　a　wind　before　dark；　but　wanted　all　ship…shape　and　aboard〃；　and　then；　just　as　darkness　fell；　discovered　that　it　was　imperative　for　him　to　go　ashore。　Blunt　cursed；　but；　if　the　chaplain　insisted　upon　going；　there　was　no　help　for　it。
  〃There'll　be　a　breeze　in　less　than　two　hours；〃　said　he。　　〃You've　plenty　of　time；　but　if　you're　not　back　before　the　first　puff；　I'll　sail　without　you；　as　sure　as　you're　born。〃　North　assured　him　of　his　punctuality。　　〃Don't　wait　for　me；　Captain；　if　I'm　not　here；〃　said　he　with　the　lightness　of　tone　which　men　use　to　mask　anxiety。　　〃I'd　take　him　at　his　word；　Blunt；〃　said　the　Commandant；　who　was　affably　waiting　to　take　final　farewell　of　his　wife。　　〃Give　way　there；　men；〃　he　shouted　to　the　crew；　〃and　wait　at　the　jetty。　　If　Mr。　North　misses　his　ship　through　your　laziness；　you'll　pay　for　it。〃　　So　the　boat　set　off；　North　laughing　uproariously　at　the　thought　of　being　late。　　Frere　observed　with　some　astonishment　that　the　chaplain　wrapped　himself　in　a　boat　cloak　that　lay　in　the　stern　sheets。　〃Does　the　fellow　want　to　smother　himself　in　a　night　like　this！〃　was　his　remark。　　The　truth　was　that；　though　his　hands　and　head　were　burning；　North's　teeth　chattered　with　cold。　　Perhaps　this　was　the　reason　why；　when　landed　and　out　of　eyeshot　of　the　crew；　he　produced　a　pocket…flask　of　rum　and　eagerly　drank。　　The　spirit　gave　him　courage　for　the　ordeal　to　which　he　had　condemned　himself；　and　with　steadied　step；　he　reached　the　door　of　the　old　prison。　　To　his　surprise；　Gimblett　refused　him　admission！
  〃But　I　have　come　direct　from　the　Commandant；〃　said　North。
  〃Got　any　order；　sir？〃
  〃Order！　　No。〃
  〃I　can't　let　you　in；　your　reverence；〃　said　Gimblett。
  〃I　want　to　see　the　prisoner　Dawes。　　I　have　a　special　message　for　him。　I　have　come　ashore　on　purpose。〃
  〃I　am　very　sorry；　sir〃
  〃The　ship　will　sail　in　two　hours；　man；　and　I　shall　miss　her；〃　said　North；　indignant　at　being　frustrated　in　his　design。　　〃Let　me　pass。〃
  〃Upon　my　honour；　sir；　I　daren't；〃　said　Gimblett；　who　was　not　without　his　good　points。　　〃You　know　what　authority　is；　sir。〃
  North　was　in　despair；　but　a　bright　thought　struck　hima　thought　that；　in　his　soberer　moments；　would　never　have　entered　his　headhe　would　buy　admission。　　He　produced　the　rum　flask　from　beneath　the　sheltering　cloak。　〃Come；　don't　talk　nonsense　to　me；　Gimblett。　　You　don't　suppose　I　would　come　here　without　authority。　　Here；　take　a　pull　at　this；　and　let　me　through。〃　Gimblett's　features　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃Well；　sir；　I　suppose　it's　all　right；　if　you　say　so；〃　said　he。　　And　clutching　the　rum　bottle　with　one　hand；　he　opened　the　door　of　Dawes's　cell　with　the　other。
  North　entered；　and　as　the　door　closed　behind　him；　the　prisoner；　who　had　been　lying　apparently　asleep　upon　his　bed；　leapt　up；　and　made　as　though　to　catch　him　by　the　throat。
  Rufus　Dawes　had　dreamt　a　dream。　　Alone；　amid　the　gathering　glooms；　his　fancy　had　recalled　the　past；　and　had　peopled　it　with　memories。　He　thought　that　he　was　once　more　upon　the　barren　strand　where　he　had　first　met　with　the　sweet　child　he　loved。　　He　lived　again　his　life　of　usefulness　and　honour。　　He　saw　himself　working　at　the　boat；　embarking；　and　putting　out　to　sea。　　The　fair　head　of　the　innocent　girl　was　again　pillowed　on　his　breast；　her　young　lips　again　murmured　words　of　affection　in　his　greedy　ear。　　Frere　was　beside　him；　watching　him；　as　he　had　watched　before。　　Once　again　the　grey　sea　spread　around　him；　barren　of　succour。　Once　again；　in　the　wild；　wet　morning；　he　beheld　the　American　brig　bearing　down　upon　them；　and　saw　the　bearded　faces　of　the　astonished　crew。　　He　saw　Frere　take　the　child　in　his　arms　and　mount　upon　the　deck；　he　heard　the　shout　of　delight　　that　went　up；　and　pressed　again　the　welcoming　hands　which　greeted　the　rescued　castaways。　　The　deck　was　crowded。　　All　the　folk　he　had　ever　known　were　there。　　He　saw　the　white　hair　and　stern　features　of　Sir　Richard　Devine；　and　beside　him　stood；　wringing　her　thin　hands；　his　weeping　mother。　Then　Frere　strode　forward；　and　after　him　John　Rex；　the　convict；　who；　roughly　elbowing　through　the　crowd　of　prisoners　and　gaolers；　would　have　reached　the　spot　where　stood　Sir　Richard　Devine；　but　that　the　corpse　of　the　murdered　Lord　Bellasis　arose　and　thrust　him　back。　　How　the　hammers　clattered　in　the　shipbuilder's　yard！　Was　it　a　coffin　they　were　making？　Not　for　Sylviasurely　not　for　her！　　The　air　grows　heavy；　lurid　with　flame；　and　black　with　smoke。　　The　Hydaspes　is　on　fire！　　Sylvia　clings　to　her　husband。　Base　wretch；　would　you　shake　her　off！　　Look　up；　the　midnight　heaven　is　glittering　with　stars；　above　the　smoke　the　air　breathes　delicately！　One　stepanother！　　Fix　your　eyes　on　minesoto　my　heart！　　Alas！　she　turns；　he　catches　at　her　dress。　　What！　　It　is　a　priesta　priestwho；　smiling　with　infernal　joy；　would　drag　her　to　the　flaming　gulf　that　yawns　for　him。　　The　dreamer　leaps　at　the　wretch's　throat；　and　crying；　〃Villain；　was　it　for　this　fate　I　saved　her？〃and　awakes　to　find　himself　struggling　with　the　monster　of　his　dream；　the　idol　of　his　waking　senses〃Mr。　North。〃
  North；　paralysed　no　less　by　the　suddenness　of　the　attack　than　by　the　words　with　which　it　was　accompanied；　let　fall　his　cloak；　and　stood　trembling　before　the　prophetic　accusation　of　the　man　whose　curses　he　had　come　to　earn。
  〃I　was　dreaming；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes。　　〃A　terrible　dream！　　But　it　has　passed　now。　The　messageyou　have　brought　me　a　message；　have　you　not？　　Whywhat　ails　you？　You　are　paleyour　knees　tremble。　　Did　my　violence？〃
  North　recovered　himself　with　a　great　effort。　　〃It　is　nothing。　　Let　us　talk；　for　my　time　is　short。　　You　have　thought　me　a　good　manone　blessed　of　God；　one　consecrated　to　a　holy　service；　a　man　honest；　pure；　and　truthful。　I　have　returned　to　tell　you　the　truth。　　I　am　none　of　these　things。〃　Rufus　Dawes　sat　staring；　unable　to　comprehend　this　madness。　　〃I　told　you　that　the　woman　you　lovedfor　you　do　love　hersent　you　a　message　of　forgiveness。　　I　lied。〃
  〃What！〃
  〃I　never　told　her　of　your　confession。　　I　never　mentioned　your　name　to　her。〃
  〃And　she　will　go　without　knowingOh；　Mr。　North；　what　have　you　done？〃
  〃Wrecked　my　own　soul！〃　cried　North；　wildly；　stung　by　the　reproachful　agony　of　the　tone。　　〃Do　not　cling　to　me。　　My　task　is　done。　　You　will　hate　me　now。　That　is　my　wishI　merit　it。　　Let　me　go；　I　say。　　I　shall　be　too　late。〃
  〃Too　late！　　For　what？〃　He　looked　at　the　cloakthrough　the　open　window　came　the　voices　of　the　men　in　the　boatthe　memory　of　the　rose；　of　the　scene　in　the　prison；　flashed　across　him；　and　he　understood　it　all。
  〃Great　Heaven；　you　go　together！〃
  〃Let　me　go；〃　repeated　North；　in　a　hoarse　voice。
  Rufus　Dawes　stepped　between　him　and　the　door。　　〃No；　madman；　I　will　not　let　you　go；　to　do　this　great　wrong；　to　kill　this　innocent　young　soul；　whoGod　help　herloves　you！〃　　North；　confounded　at　this　sudden　reversal　of　their　position　towards　each　other；　crouched　bewildered　against　the　wall。　〃I　say　you　shall　not　go！　　You　shall　not　destroy　your　own　soul　and　hers！　You　love　her！　　So　do　I！　and　my　love　is　mightier　than　yours；　for　it　shall　save　her！〃
  〃In　God's　name〃　cried　the　unhappy　priest；　striving　to　stop　his　ears。
  〃Ay；　in　God's　name！　　In　the　name　of　that　God　whom　in　my　torments　I　had　forgotten！　　In　the　name　of　that　God　whom　you　taught　me　to　remember！　That　God　who　sent　you　to　save　me　from　despair；　gives　me　strength　to　save　you　in　my　turn！　　Oh；　Mr。　Northmy　teachermy　friendmy　brotherby　the　sweet　hope　of　mercy　which　you　preached　to　me；　be　merciful　to　this　erring　woman！〃
  North　lifted　agonized　eyes。　　〃But　I　love　her！　　Love　her；　do　you　hear？　What　do　you　know　of　love？〃
  〃Love！〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes；　his　pale　face　radiant。　　〃Love！　Oh；