HIS FINIS. 387 



torment him, the old man staggered forth into the 

 darkness, the wind, and the driving snow. Whither 

 he went he knew not; what happened to money or 

 ought else he cared not. His mind was completely off 

 its balance for the time being, and he imagined himself 

 pursued by demons. The candle flared up and burned 

 itself out. The vault remained gaping ; and round 

 and round about the ruin James Gertson wandered, 

 unknowing where he went. He was quite bewildered, 

 terrified, and insane. At last he sank exhausted into 

 a snow wreath, and was soon shrouded in its icy folds. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Yaspard conducted his companions to the house of 

 Breeta's father, where they were hospitably received as 

 he had affirmed they would be. Although the young 

 sailor needed rest himself, he could think of nothing 

 but his promise to Breeta, and lost no time in acquaint- 

 ing her relations with what she had said regarding her 

 husband. There was nothing selfish in Yaspard's eager 

 desire to be of use to her in her present anxiety. He 

 believed, from what he had seen of the poor girl's fear 

 and grief, that she loved James Gertson with all the 

 devotion of a true wife; therefore Yaspard proved his 

 own affection to be of a very high order, when he 

 determined to restore her husband in safety to her — 

 if that was possible. 



The few words spoken to Breeta's father served to 

 rouse anxiety on Gertson's account, and soon all the 



