and gold-glistening hair--"Dark? ... here? ... beneath the
brightness of the moon? Nay,--I have seen many a full day look
less radiant than this night of stars!"

Her eyes dwelt upon him with a certain pathetic bewilderment,--she
let her extended arms drop wearily at her sides, and a shadow of
pained recollection crossed the fairness of her features.

"Ah, I forgot! ..." and she sighed deeply--"This is that strange,
sad world where Darkness is called Light."

At these words uttered with so much sorrowful meaning, a quick
thrill stirred Alwyn's blood, an inexplicable sharp thrill, that
was like the touch of scorching flame. He gazed at her perplexedly
... his pride resented what he imagined to be the deception
practiced upon him, but at the same time he was not insensible to
the weird romance of the situation.

He began to consider that as this fair girl, trained so admirably
in mystical speech and manner, had evidently been sent on purpose
to meet him, he could scarcely be blamed for taking her as she
presented herself, and enjoying to the full a thoroughly novel and
picturesque adventure.

His eyes flashed as he surveyed her standing there before him,
utterly unprotected and at his mercy--his old, languid, skeptical
smile played on his proud lips,--that smile of the marble Antinous
which says "Bring me face to face with Truth itself and I shall
still doubt!".. An expression of reluctant admiration and
awakening passion dawned on his countenance, ... he was about to