The record-union., 1892-12-31

every sanitary condition would be against
them. Of those who set out, terribly few
would return. How then could he let
MN go-go in ignorance that the neces-
slty no longer existed for jeopardizing
his life for the gold, of which, by rights,
ne should have plenty and to spare?
On; 1t was horrible 1t was SO easy to
stand aside; to do-nothing. He had
merely not to interfere, and the chances
We're that this menace to this new-found
happiness would remove itself, never to
trouble him again. And yet-ob, it was
indeed horrible! He had played with
temptation; had let himself drift, until
now his will was paralyzed, and he could
not-it was impossible to decide.
Easy to see the right, but how fatally
impossible to act! TO let the man go was
little short of murder, while to tell the
truth. in his present mood, would be sui
eide downright. For he could not take
up the old life where he had lain it down,
could not, in short, give up possession of
the others goods.
And full of self-pity, Guy Darrell saw
OF right whatever. Almost he could be-
lleNe IN a hooking devil seeking thus
su0tly to destroy him. Twelve months
before, and he would have laughed at the
IDEA OF sucn a situation Warping him
aside from the plain path of duty. Now
he turned, and twisted, and wavered,
while his companion filled in the details
OF the proposed exploration. Once, but
weakly, he urged him to reconsider.
why not rest contented here? You
have had one narrow squeak for life,
surely you need not
but you forget the inducement, the
splendid stake for which we play. A
man must be fool not to risk all on
that. | shall come back either a man,
Or
Always supposing you do come
back" objected Guy, forced thus far by
his uneasy conscience.
Then out of the dreadful supposition
he drew an inspiration-wh from
his good or bad angel he stayed not to in
qulre. That he was driven to such straits
was no fault of his; he had fallen innO-
Gently INTO the pit; so far they were on
terms. The stake they played for was
indeed large, larger than the other knew:
then why not leave the.issue to its initia-
tor-tate? Why not play out the game {?
They were back again at Sydney, stay
ing at one OF the large hotels, and had
mad dinner served in private room. 1t
was growing late by the time Guy had
arrived at this very partial decision.
Narley WaXed more and more eloquent
as the wine he drank so freely lent its
rosy glow to the scheme. He had made
up his mind, should take his chance, and
either come back millionaire, or-leave
his bones to rot, unburied and unmourned.
One could but die once.
Thus did he ramble on while Guy sat
gloomily silent, but resolved. Yes, he
would submit the arbitrament to Fate.
he, too, would go with the expedition,
and, well-they should see. If only one
survlved-then was the end simplified
and clear; that one would enjoy the for
tune. If boutwell,, the chance was re-
mote, but they might find gold; he might
win enough to replace the lost bequest.
And if neither lived, there was the end,
and no more need be sailor so he
thought-while the unconscious Varley
prattled on.
Soon, however, Guy saw the true mean
ing of his choice, and-no, he found it
would not do.
How could he go, taking his life in his
hand, knowing that through him the
others life was jeopardized as well? No
good blinking the fact or CLOSING it over;
If Varley died. he, Darrell, would have
though he We're to shoot him where he
sat, smiling back at his supposed bene-
factor. No, it must not be. The decision
and the guilt-if he chose the guilty part
must all be his. And again Guy trowned
heavily and tossed about in the throws OF
indecision.
His rowing eyes settled presently on a
pair Of lighted candies at his head, with a
curious intention. as though the idea that
came later was even then lying dormant
in his brain.
For-now he had it, he thought conf
IDENTIFY; now he saw his way. Together
they had been lighted, and together
burned. Fate should decide it after all!
The one that went out first should settle
it-whether for life or death-for him or
against. And straightway, by solemn
oath, he bound himself to abide by the
decision. If the right-hand light went
first, then would he own the truth. he
swore by all he held most dear, and him
self be the only one to go. If the left,
then must Varley take his chance and
full of a new fever of impotence he
waited for the end.
How long would it last, he wondered
this new, selt-imposed torture? There
was full inch yet, he noticed, and how
slowly, how very slowly, they wasted in
the still night air. And his nerves grew
tense and crisp; the room, too, felt close
horribly, unbearably close; or was ii him
self, he wondered next, as he listened to
the labored beating OF his heart. Nor
dare he stir TO open door or window, nor
10 fan himself, lest he should affect the
issue-though now he would have bar
tered the entire fortune fora single breath
of air; but already one-the fatal one i
to his strained eyes seemed gaining on
its fellow, and through all his agony OF
preoccupation he could hear the mantel
clock tick loudly and remorselessly on,
as the night sank lower and lower.
Presently Marley, whom he had almost
forgotten, hdgeted and began to move
about. On, how he longed to bid him
with an oath be still! Yes, he must ring
the bell, and order fresh lights.
Would the Old ones last until the new
ones came? brooded the fascinated Guy,
watching on as one possessed: forgetting
to speak. to smoke, almost to breathe, as
in came the waiter bearing the lighted
candles on tray.
Ought he to call out or interfere-or
would that imperil the true fairness of the
ordeal? And for a moment or two he
sat on in an agony of doubt.
''There, put them down, man. can't
your" cried Marley to the waiter; where
upon the stupefed Guy awoke to the ne
cessity for prompt decision.
mo, no; leave them alone" he was
beginning; but-too late! For already
the man had laid his sacrilegious hand
on the fatal light and-puff! it was gone.
Yes the right-hand light had disap-
peared, and at the sight Guy groaned
aloud as from blow; then turned his
eyes to the left, when-wonder of Won
ders lit must have been the draught-
but that, too, was gone! And the twin
spirals of light blue smoke, curling up as
though in mockery, were all that was
left after half an hours long -drawn
agony of SUSPENSE suspense not over
even Them for which had been extin-
guished tirst-who could say?
And in the face of this new disaster
Guy grew desperate and ashamed. All
that was manly woke within him. Was
he child to leave himself and his whole
future at the mercy of every chance
wind that blew, TO let his whole life he
made or marred by pure accident such
as this? No-a thousand times no! Fate
would not settle it--then he would, once
for all; would be his own fate, as every
man, whether consciously or not, sooner