As their eyes met he smiled — such a smile ! It broke the bonds of terror that had momentarily chained the girl. • A wild ringing shriek left her lips, and a wild impulse to flee started her to the corridor. Hood intercepted her at the first move ment. "Scream if you like!" he said. "It will do me no harm. Except our two selves, every creature under this roof lies in a drugged sleep. Now— wheeb is it ?" He asked the question with a steadying grasp upon her shoulder as she reeled back under his terrible words. "Where- is —what?" faltered Lillis, in shuddering tones, and with terrified eyes. " The secret crypt of Langdon Abbey I - THE PAPER HIDDEN BY THE CURSED OLD earl's hand, and copied by yours ! Where is nr

,'7* Wny } should I deny' t'6 'ydd?* broke in Hbodi'laugKing demdniao^Uy ' in Bis excite ment). < '"Has riot? yotir MotKer .pronounfeed ypu^in'a'dY Ify : pu > liv 6 to see Another day, Will she' believe dughtyoii may ohoose'to tell he* of thi'd night? And if you 'do not live, will she hesitate to say you hkve rough^ a suicide's grave in "your inadhe'ss? See;!" Bn'atchmg a -pretty , jewelled poniard from his' breast 'p^ooket. "It; lay on the' small (Ira^ing-rpotfi table; You wore left alone in that, room. You secreted it about your person; and carried it here. See f" And this time he seized her' shoulder in a ! firm grasp, and held the glittering point of the Wdapon above her heart. " $cc ! I shall clench your hand over these fine jewels, and send the keen point hota'eas you would do. 'You' understand ? There would bo no danger to me in this Buicidal act, and my secret would be everlast ingly safe," ■ " And you would murder me, too ?" Hood released his hold' and gazed at the girl's blanched face with gloating satisfac tion. "That," he answered, "remains to be seen.- I love you, and, therefore, shall spare your life if you prove open to reason." " If I become your confederate ?" '•'If you lead me to the secret crypt and deliver into my hand the cursed -instru ment prepared for my ruin. Those are the term 3 upon which I grant you your life. You "are wise. Then lead on. 