"Thank God ! thank God ! " she cried, most impassioned accents; and, before aware of what she was doing, she seized my hand and kissed it

"There, do," , withdrawing my hand; " under no obligations You had better go back to your father "

" 't go," she answered "You despise me-- not so ? "

no reply

" me monster--a criminal went home last night, you were wonderstruck that so vile creature as so fair face "

"You embarrass me, madam," , in most chilling tone "Pray relieve me unpleasant position "

"Wait bear that think ill of me good and kind, and to possess your esteem You little know how I love my father "

restrain bitter smile

" believe that ? Well, convince you hard struggle all last night with myself, but am now resolved This life of deceit must continue no longer hear my vindication ? "

I assented The wonderful melody of her voice purity of her features were charming me once more I half believed in her innocence already

"My father has told you portion history But tell you that his continued failures search secret of metallic transmutation nearly killed him Two verge grave, working every day at his mad pursuit, and every day growing weaker and more emaciated that if his mind was not relieved in some way die The thought was madness , for I loved him--I love him still, as daughter never loved father before During all these years of poverty I had supported the house with my needle; hard work, but it--I still ! "

"What ? " I cried, startled, " --"

"Patience Hear me out My father was dying of disappointment 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 crucible making one vain attempts at transmutation God, , will pardon the deception I never anticipated the misery it would lead to

"I never beheld anything like the joy poor father, when, after emptying his crucible, deposit of pure gold bottom He wept, and danced, and sang, and built such castles air, that my brain was dizzy to hear him He the ingot , and went to work at his alchemy with renewed vigor The same thing occurred He always found the same quantity of gold crucible I alone knew the secret happy, poor man, for nearly two years, belief that amassing fortune I all the while plied my needle daily bread When he asked me savings, the first stroke fell upon me Then it I recognized the folly conduct give him no money I never had any--while he believed that I had fourteen thousand dollars My heart was nearly broken when that he had conceived the most injurious suspicions against me Yet blame him give no account treasure I had permitted him was in my possession suffer the penalty fault, for to undeceive him , , to kill him I remained silent then, and suffered

" the rest You now know why it reluctant that ingot--why it I degraded myself ask it back It only means I had of continuing deception I believed my father's life depended But that delusion dispelled live this life of hypocrisy no longer exist and hear my father, whom I love so, wither me daily curses undeceive him this very day come with me, for the effect enfeebled frame ? "

"Willingly," I answered, taking her hand; "and that no absolute danger need be apprehended Now, Marion," I added, "let me ask forgiveness for having even for moment wounded so noble heart truly as great martyr as any whose sufferings the Church perpetuates in altar-pieces "

" do me justice knew all," she sobbed, pressing my hand; "but come on fire hasten to my father, and break this terror to him "

When we reached the old alchemist's room, him busily engaged over crucible placed on small furnace, and some indescribable mixture was boiling He looked up entered

"No fear of me, doctor," , with ghastly smile, "no fear; not allow little physical pain to interrupt my great work, , just In the marriage Red King and White Queen accomplished, as George Ripley calls the great act, book entitled 'The Twelve Gates ' Yes, doctor, in ten minutes me make pure, red, shining gold ! " poor old man smiled triumphantly, and stirred his foolish mixture with long rod, which he held with difficulty bandaged hands grievous sight for man of any feeling to witness

"Father," said Marion, in low, broken voice, advancing little toward the poor old dupe, " your forgiveness "

"Ah, hypocrite ! for what ? going back my gold ? "

"No, father, but deception that practicing on you for two years--"

" it ! it ! " shouted the old man, with radiant countenance "She has concealed my fourteen thousand dollars all , and now comes to restore them forgive her Where are they, Marion ? "

"Father--it must come out You never made any gold I who saved up thirty-five dollars, and I used to slip them into your crucible when your back was turned--and it only because that you were dying of disappointment wrong, --but, father, I meant well You'll forgive me, won't you ? " poor girl advanced step toward the alchemist

He grew deathly pale, and staggered about The next instant, though, he recovered himself, and burst into horrible sardonic laugh Then , in tones full bitterest irony: "A conspiracy, ? Well done, doctor ! to reconcile me wretched girl by trumping up this story that for two years dupe of her filial piety It's clumsy, doctor, total failure Try again "

"But I assure you, Mr Blakelock," as earnestly as , "I believe your daughter's statement perfectly true it so, as she has got the ingot in her possession which so often deceived you belief that gold, and certainly find that no transmutation has taken place in your crucible "

"Doctor," said the old man, in tones most settled conviction, " fool The girl has wheedled you In minute turn you out piece of gold purer than any the earth produces Will that convince you ? "

" convince me," I answered By gesture I imposed silence on Marion, who was about it better to allow the old man his own undeceiver--and we awaited the coming crisis

The old man, still smiling with anticipated triumph, kept bending eagerly over his crucible, stirring the mixture rod, and muttering to himself all the time "Now," I heard him say, "it changes There--there's the scum And now the green and bronze shades flit across it Oh, the beautiful green ! the precursor golden-red hue that tells end attained ! Ah ! now the golden-red is coming--slowly--slowly ! It deepens, it shines, dazzling ! Ah, it ! " So saying, he caught up his crucible in chemist's tongs, and bore it slowly toward the table stood brass vessel

"Now, incredulous doctor ! " he cried, "come and be convinced," and immediately began carefully pouring the contents crucible brass vessel crucible was quite empty he turned it up and called me again "Come, doctor, come and be convinced See "

"See first any gold in your crucible," I answered, without moving

He laughed, shook his head derisively, and looked crucible In moment he grew pale as death

"Nothing ! " he cried "Oh, jest, jest ! gold somewhere Marion ! "

"The gold is here, father," said Marion, drawing the ingot from her pocket; " all we ever had "

"Ah ! " shrieked the poor old man, as he let the empty crucible fall, and staggered toward the ingot which Marion held out to him three steps, and then fell face Marion rushed toward him, and tried to lift him, but I put her aside gently, and placed my hand heart

"Marion," said I, " perhaps better dead ! "