Maker was there still; and Maud looked tenderly and penitently upon
Helen and Charles. The former knelt by her side, and drawing the poor
girl's hands together across her breast as she lay upon the ground,
lifted her own hands heavenward, moving her lips in prayer as she bent
over the sufferer. What little Maud knew of religious instruction, had
been taught her in the form of the Episcopal church, and she now
listened to the formal prayer from the litany appropriate to her
situation. A sweet smile gathered over her face as Helen proceeded, and
prayed for forgiveness for all sins committed; and as she paused at the
close, three voices repeated the word Amen.

Charles and Helen rose to their feet, but the spirit of the Quadroon had
fled!





CHAPTER XVIII.

THE DENOUEMENT.




THE events of the past few weeks seemed to Charles Bramble more like
dream than reality; he could hardly compose his mind sufficiently to
realize the serious bearings of his present situation. Of course, it was
now useless longer to disguise his relationship to Robert, who had lost
his life by means of the poisoned barb which Maud had intended for his