To the lady, resting calmly,
Fair as rose on summer’s day,
Turned he next, with madman’s malice,
Keen to snatch her bloom away;
On her face his cold eyes lingered,
Burning with a vicious light,
Travelled to the golden locket
Nestling on her bosom white.

Through his teeth his breath came whistling;
Twitching hands the trinket grasped,
Prised its tiny clasp asunder;
Gazed in horror, groaned and gasped,
Eagerly, with senses reeling,
Stifling sobs of mad despair,
Once again he searched the features
Of the lady; touched her hair.

At his touch—alive, magnetic,
Gently she her eyelids raised,

Looked to eyes that glared above her,
Paled and trembled, sore amazed.

Eyes held eyes in fascination:
Strange disturbing mem’ries ran

From the frenzied man to lady,
From the lady to the man.

Slowly from her bed the lady
Rose, back the intruder stepped;
Saw her lover, seeming lifeless,
On the prostrate body wept.
“He is dead,” she moaned in anguish.
Then upon the floor she sprang,
And her voice with sorrow breaking,
Through the ill-starred chamber rang.

“Is he dead? Ah, tell me! Tell mc!
“Why—we’re only lately wed.”
“Teil me first,” came voice relentless,
“Ts this true, as you have said?

“Is he husband, tried and loyal,
“Or a thief in lover’s guise,

“Stealing love, by Heaven bonded,
“Snatching ruthlessly the prize?”

Pride, resentment, scorn and anger
Flashed o’er her expressive face,
As she drew erect and challenged.
Stately, queenly was her grace.
“Husband mine, and still my lover;
“Jadge at Law, of proven worth,
“Sent to hold the Scales of Justice
“Tn this lawless, frozen North.”

Thus she answered innuendo,
As the deep-set eyes of him,
Who had claimed the right to question,
Softened, and with tears grew-dim.
“Have no fear. Your husband-lover
“Ts not dead or like to die.
“See, he moves, his breath comes fitful.
“Please forgive me—and—good-bye.”

As he turned away to leave her,
To his side the lady drew,

Placed her hands upon his shoulders,
Sought to hold his eyes anew.

Thus she spoke, with tender pleading,
Heeding not Convention’s Bar,

“Grieving man, by sorrow stricken,

“Tell me who and whence you are?

EO a Ole ce.

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FORT ST. JAMES, B. C.

“Tell me, by what strange impelling,
“What implacable decree,

“Both our souls are bared and yearnin
“Mine for you, and yours for me?

“Can it be, by Fate’s disporting,
“Distant kinship we can claim?

“As your soul lies bare, I crave you,
“Bare your thoughts and speak :

name.”

For an agonizing moment,
Indecision gripped the man.

Tempted by her touch, her pleading,
Almost he his strength outran.

But he fought and won the battle;
On the lady sadly smiled.

“Yours is merely foolish fancy;
“But an idle dream, my child.

“Black my heart with hate and anger.
“Blood-stains lie upon my soul.
“Hangman’s rope my nearest kinsman,
“And my home a felon’s goal.
“Murder-lust "twas brought me stealing;
“To your chamber. Yes, ‘tis true!
“I claim neither friend nor kinship
“With an angel such as you.”

Once again a wave of tender
Feeling crossed the furrowed face.
Up he caught her, unresisting,
Crushed her in his strong embrace;
Searched her eyes in anxious longing,
Stroked her wealth of golden hair,
Stooped and kissed her lips with rev’re!
Then with wild and deep despair

Ringing in the cry he uttered,
From her presence rushed away;

Rushed into the blinding blizzard *
Raging there at break of day.

With his arms outstretched to heaven:
Haunted by the ghosts of hell,

Fled from sight of man forever

Doctor Lambert De Rochelle.

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