The glowing coals in the spacious grate seemed to fascinate the woman
as she sat huddled in a big luxurious chair. The book she had been
reading was lying open and unheeded on her lap. Her surroundings were
by no means in keeping with her dejected manner. The room was cosy and
lavishly furnished, while the shaded electric reading-lamp cast its
gentle radiance upon the woman's white hair and soft evening-gown. It
was a rough night, and the wind howling outside beat furiously against
the closely-blinded windows.

It was a night such as this, nearly twenty years before, of which the
woman was thinking. She was once again in a room in a private
hospital, lying weak and helpless from the ordeal through which she had
passed. It all came back to her now with a stinging intensity, causing
her white hands to clench hard, and her eyes to widen with a nameless
fear.

A maid entered and announced a visitor.

"I can't see anyone to-night," the woman before the fire declared,
without even turning her head.

"But----" the maid began.

"That is all, Maggie. You need not say anything more. I wish to be
left entirely alone."

The maid hesitated a few seconds before obeying the imperious command.
Then she slowly turned, and had almost reached the door when it was
suddenly pushed open and a man entered. Without a word, he stepped