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night； hastened toward the door。
While I was fumbling on the dark； crazy landing for the staircase；
I felt a hand laid on my arm。
〃Doctor；〃 whispered a voice that I recognized as Marion
Blakelock's； 〃Doctor； have you any compassion in your heart？〃
〃I hope so；〃 I answered shortly； shaking off her hand； her touch
filled me with loathing。
〃Hush！ don't talk so loud。 If you have any pity in your nature；
give me back； I entreat of you； that gold ingot which my father
gave you this evening。〃
〃Great heaven！〃 said I； 〃can it be possible that so fair a woman
can be such a mercenary； shameless wretch？〃
〃Ah！ you know notI cannot tell you！ Do not judge me harshly。 I
call God to witness that I am not what you deem me。 Some day or
other you will know。 But；〃 she added； interrupting herself； 〃the
ingotwhere is it？ I must have it。 My life depends on your
giving it to me。〃
〃Take it； impostor！〃 I cried； placing it in her hand； that closed
on it with a horrible eagerness。 〃I never intended to keep it。
Gold made under the same roof that covers such as you must be
accursed。〃
So saying； heedless of the nervous effort she made to detain me； I
stumbled down the stairs and walked hastily home。
The next morning； while I was in my office； smoking my matutinal
cigar； and speculating over the singular character of my
acquaintances of last night； the door opened； and Marion Blakelock
entered。 She had the same look of terror that I had observed the
evening before； and she panted as if she had been running fast。
〃Father has got out of bed；〃 she gasped out； 〃and insists on going
on with his alchemy。 Will it kill him？〃
〃Not exactly；〃 I answered coldly。 〃It were better that he kept
quiet； so as to avoid the chance of inflammation。 However； you
need not be alarmed； his burns are not at all dangerous； although
painful。〃
〃Thank God！ thank God！〃 she cried； in the most impassioned accents；
and； before I was aware of what she was doing； she seized my hand
and kissed it。
〃There； that will do；〃 I said； withdrawing my hand； 〃you are under
no obligations to me。 You had better go back to your father。〃
〃I can't go；〃 she answered。 〃You despise meis it not so？〃
I made no reply。
〃You think me a monstera criminal。 When you went home last
night； you were wonderstruck that so vile a creature as I should
have so fair a face。〃
〃You embarrass me； madam；〃 I said； in a most chilling tone。 〃Pray
relieve me from this unpleasant position。〃
〃Wait。 I cannot bear that you should think ill of me。 You are
good and kind； and I desire to possess your esteem。 You little
know how I love my father。〃
I could not restrain a bitter smile。
〃You do not believe that？ Well； I will convince you。 I have had a
hard struggle all last night with myself； but am now resolved。
This life of deceit must continue no longer。 Will you hear my
vindication？〃
I assented。 The wonderful melody of her voice and the purity of
her features were charming me once more。 I half believed in her
innocence already。
〃My father has told you a portion of his history。 But he did not
tell you that his continued failures in his search after the secret
of metallic transmutation nearly killed him。 Two years ago he was
on the verge of the grave； working every day at his mad pursuit；
and every day growing weaker and more emaciated。 I saw that if his
mind was not relieved in some way he would die。 The thought was
madness to me； for I loved himI love him still； as a daughter
never loved a father before。 During all these years of poverty I
had supported the house with my needle； it was hard work； but I did
itI do it still！〃
〃What？〃 I cried； startled； 〃does not〃
〃Patience。 Hear me out。 My father was dying of disappointment。 I
must save him。 By incredible exertions； working night and day； I
saved about thirty…five dollars in notes。 These I exchanged for
gold； and one day； when my father was not looking； I cast them into
the crucible in which he was making one of his vain attempts at
transmutation。 God； I am sure； will pardon the deception。 I never
anticipated the misery it would lead to。
〃I never beheld anything like the joy of my poor father； when；
after emptying his crucible； he found a deposit of pure gold at the
bottom。 He wept； and danced； and sang； and built such castles in
the air； that my brain was dizzy to hear him。 He gave me the ingot
to keep； and went to work at his alchemy with renewed vigor。 The
same thing occurred。 He always found the same quantity of gold in
his crucible。 I alone knew the secret。 He was happy； poor man；
for nearly two years； in the belief that he was amassing a fortune。
I all the while plied my needle for our daily bread。 When he asked
me for the savings； the first stroke fell upon me。 Then it was
that I recognized the folly of my conduct。 I could give him no
money。 I never had anywhile he believed that I had fourteen
thousand dollars。 My heart was nearly broken when I found that he
had conceived the most injurious suspicions against me。 Yet I
could not blame him。 I could give no account of the treasure I had
permitted him to believe was in my possession。 I must suffer the
penalty of my fault； for to undeceive him would be； I felt； to kill
him。 I remained silent then； and suffered。
〃You know the rest。 You now know why it was that I was reluctant
to give you that ingotwhy it was that I degraded myself so far as
to ask it back。 It was the only means I had of continuing a
deception on which I believed my father's life depended。 But that
delusion has been dispelled。 I can live this life of hypocrisy no
longer。 I cannot exist and hear my father； whom I love so； wither
me daily with his curses。 I will undeceive him this very day。
Will you come with me； for I fear the effect on his enfeebled
frame？〃
〃Willingly；〃 I answered； taking her by the hand； 〃and I think that
no absolute danger need be apprehended。 Now； Marion；〃 I added；
〃let me ask forgiveness for having even for a moment wounded so
noble a heart。 You are truly as great a martyr as any of those
whose sufferings the Church perpetuates in altar…pieces。〃
〃I knew you would do me justice when you knew all；〃 she sobbed；
pressing my hand； 〃but come。 I am on fire。 Let us hasten to my
father； and break this terror to him。〃
When we reached the old alchemist's room； we found him busily
engaged over a crucible which was placed on a small furnace； and in
which some indescribable mixture was boiling。 He looked up as we
entered。
〃No fear of me； doctor；〃 he said； with a ghastly smile； 〃no fear； I
must not allow a little physical pain to interrupt my great work；
you know。 By the way； you are just in time。 In a few moments the
marriage of the Red King and White Queen will be accomplished； as
George Ripley calls the great act； in his book entitled 'The Twe