Herculean lift of his body and the stone together； like a man rising
from the dead； he rose from the crypt into the passage。
But the door of the chapel would not yield to a gentle push。
〃My lady；〃 he cried； 〃don't be afraid。 I must make a noise。 It's
only Donal Grant！ I'm going to drive the door open。〃
She heard the words！ They woke her from her swoon of joy。 〃Only
Donal Grant！〃 What less of an only could there be in the world for
her！ Was he not the messenger who raised the dead！
She tried to speak； but not a word would come。 Donal drew back a
pace； and sent such a shoulder against the door that it flew to the
wall； then fell with a great crash on the floor。
〃Where are you； my lady？〃 he cried。
But still she could not speak。
He began feeling about。
〃Not on that terrible bed！〃 she heard him murmur。
Fear lest in the darkness he should not find her； gave her back her
voice。
〃I don't mind it now！〃 she said feebly。
〃Thank God！〃 cried Donal； 〃I've found you at last！〃
Worn out； he sank on his knees； with his head on the bed； and fell a
sobbing like a child。
She would have put out her hand through the darkness to find him；
but the chain checked it。 He heard the rattle of it； and understood。
〃Chained too； my dove！〃 he said； but in Gaelic。
His weakness was over。 He thanked God； and took courage。 New life
rushed through every vein。 He rose to his feet in conscious
strength。
〃Can you strike a light； and let me see you； Donal？〃 said Arctura。
Then first she called him by his Christian name： it had been so
often in her heart if not on her lips that night！
The dim light wasted the darkness of the long buried place； and for
a moment they looked at each other。 She was not so changed as Donal
had feared to find herhardly so change to him as he was to her。
Terrible as had been her trial； it had not lasted long； and had been
succeeded by a heavenly joy。 She was paler than usual； yet there was
a rosy flush over her beautiful face。 Her hand was stretched towards
him； its wrist clasped by the rusty ring； and tightening the chain
that held it to the post。
〃How pale and tired you look！〃 she said。
〃I am a little tired；〃 he answered。 〃I came almost without stopping。
My mother sent me。 She said I must come； but she did not tell me
why。〃
〃It was God sent you；〃 said Arctura。
Then she briefly told him what she knew of her own story。
〃How did he get the ring on to your wrist？〃 said Donal。
He looked closer and saw that her hand was swollen； and the skin
abraded。
〃He forced it on！〃 he said。 〃How it must hurt you！〃
〃It does hurt now you speak of it；〃 she replied。 〃I did not notice
it before。Do you suppose he left me here to die？〃
〃Who can tell！〃 returned Donal。 〃I suspect he is more of a madman
than we knew。 I wonder if a soul can be mad。Yes； the devil must be
mad with self…worship！ Hell is the great madhouse of creation！〃
〃Take me away；〃 she said。
〃I must first get you free；〃 answered Donal。
She heard him rise。
〃You are not going to leave me？〃 she said。
〃Only to get a tool or two。〃
〃And after that？〃 she said。
〃Not until you wish me；〃 he answered。 〃I am your servant nowhis no
more。〃
CHAPTER LXXVII。
THE ANGEL OF THE DEVIL。
There came a great burst of thunder。 It was the last of the storm。
It bellowed and shuddered； went； and came rolling up again。 It died
away at last in the great distance； with a low continuous rumbling
as if it would never cease。 The silence that followed was like the
Egyptian darkness； it might be felt。
Out of the tense heart of the silence came a faint sound。 It came
again and again； at regular intervals。
〃That is my uncle's step！〃 said Arctura in a scared whisper through
the dark。
It was plainly a slow stepfar off； but approaching。
〃I wonder if he has a light！〃 she added hurriedly。 〃He often goes in
the dark without one。 If he has you must get behind the altar。〃
〃Do not speak a word；〃 said Donal； let him think you are asleep。 If
he has no light； I will stand so that he cannot come near the bed
without coming against me。 Do not be afraid； he shall not touch
you。〃
The steps were coming nearer all the time。 A door opened and shut。
Then they were loudthey were coming along the gallery！ They
ceased。 He was standing up there in the thick darkness！
〃Arctura；〃 said a deep； awful voice。
It was that of the earl。 Arctura made no answer。
〃Dead of fright！〃 muttered the voice。 〃All goes well。 I will go down
and see。 She might have proved as obstinate as the boys' mother！〃
Again the steps began。 They were coming down the stair。 The door at
the foot of it opened。 The earl entered a step or two； then stopped。
Through the darkness Donal seemed to know exactly where he stood。 He
knew also that he was fumbling for a match； and watched intently for
the first spark。 There came a sputter and a gleam； and the match
failed。 Ere he could try another； Donal made a swift blow at his
arm。 It knocked the box from his hand。
〃Ha！〃 he cried； and there was terror in the cry； 〃she strikes at me
through the dark！〃
Donal kept very still。 Arctura kept as still as he。 The earl turned
and went away。
〃I will bring a candle！〃 he muttered。
〃Now； my lady； we must make haste；〃 said Donal。 〃Do you mind being
left while I fetch my tools？〃
〃Nobut make haste；〃 she answered。
〃I shall be back before him；〃 he returned。
〃Be careful you do not meet him；〃 said Arctura。
There was no difficulty now； either in going or returning。 He sped；
and in a space that even to Arctura seemed short； was back。 There
was no time to use the file： he attacked the staple； and drew it
from the bed…post； then wound the chain about her arm； and tied it
there。
He had already made up his mind what to do with her。 He had been
inclined to carry her away from the house： Doory would take care of
her！ But he saw that to leave the enemy in possession would be to
yield him an advantage。 Awkward things might result from it！ the
tongues of inventive ignorance and stupidity would wag wildly！ He
would take her to her room； and there watch her as he would the
pearl of price！
〃There！ you are free； my lady；〃 he said。 〃Now come。〃
He took her hands； and she raised herself wearily。
〃The air is so stifling！〃 she said。
〃We shall soon have better！〃 answered Donal。
〃Shall we go on the roof？〃 she said； like one talking in her sleep。
〃I will take you to your own room；〃 replied Donal。 〃But I will not
leave you；〃 he added quickly； seeing a look of anxiety cloud her
face； 〃so long as your uncle is in the house。〃
〃Take me where you will；〃 rejoined Arctura。
There was no way but through the crypt： she followed him without
hesitation。 They crept through the little closet under the stair；
and were in the hall of the castle。
As they went softly up the stair； Donal had an idea。
〃He is not back yet！〃 he said： 〃we will take the key from the oak
door； he will think he has mislaid it； and will not find out that
you are gone。 I wonder what he will do！〃
Cautiously listening to be sure the earl was not there； he ran to
the oak door； locked it； and brought away the key。 Then they went to
the room Arctura had last occupied。
The door was ajar； there was a light in the room。 They went softly；
and peeped in。 The earl was there； turning over the contents of her
writing…desk。
〃He will find nothing；〃 she whispered with a smile。
Donal led her away。
〃We will go to your old room；〃 he said。 〃The whole recess is built
up with stone and lime： he cannot come near you that way！〃
She made no objection。 Donal secured the doors； lighted a fire； and
went to look for food。 They had agreed upon a certain knock； without
which she was to open to none。
While she was yet changing the garments in which she had lain on the
terrible bed； she heard the earl go by； and the door of his room
close。 Apparently he had concluded to let her pass the night without
another visit： he had himself had a bad fright； and had probably not
got over it。 A little longer and she heard Donal's gentle signal at
the door of the sitting…room。 He had brought some biscuits and a
little wine in the bottom of a decanter from the housekeeper's room：
there was literally nothing in the larder； he said。
They sat down and ate the biscuits。 Donal told his adventures。 They
agreed that she must write to the factor to come home at once； and
bring his sister。 Then Donal set to with his file upon the ring： her
hand was much too swollen to admit of its being removed as it had
been put on。 It was not easy to cut it； partly from the constant
danger of hurting her swollen hand； partly that the rust filled and
blunted the file。
〃There！〃 he said at last； 〃you are free！ And now； my lady； you must
take some rest。 The door to the passage is secure。 Lock this one
inside； and I will draw the sofa across it outside： if he come
wandering in the night； and get into this room； he will not reach
your door。〃
Weary as he was； Donal could not sleep much。 In the middle of the
night he heard the earl's door open； and watched and followed him。
He went to the oak door； and tried in vain to open it。
〃She has taken it！〃 he muttered； in what seemed to Donal an
awe…struck voice。
All night long he roamed the house a spirit grievously tormented。 In
the gray of the morning； having perhaps persuaded himself that the
whole affair was a trick of his imagination； he went back to his
room。
In the morning Donal left the house； having first called to Arctura
and warned her to lock the door of the sitting…room the moment he
was gone。 He ran all the way down to the inn； paid his bill； bought
some things in the town for their breakfast； and taking the mare；
rode up to the castle； and rang the bell。 No notice was taken。 He
went and put up his animal； then let himself into the house by
Baliol's tower； and began to sing。 So singing he went up the great
stair； and into and along the corridor where the earl lay。
The singing roused him； and brought him to his door in a rage。 But
the moment he saw Donal his countenance fell。
〃What the devil are you doing here？〃 he said。
〃They told me in the town you were in England； my lord！〃
〃I wrote to