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STRONGER THAN DEATH <*. -^ -^^ "*' •«*' OIEt â- *- •^ ^ -^ â- ^. A RANSOMED LIFE CHAPTER XII. Harry Trevor's vacations were spent at Lavella, of course, and his ^ei> first vacation was marked by a startling incident that had its after consequences. Not by father and mother only was his welcome vwarm. Lucy received hiia witli s':> Joy; Dr. Ardel and little Jeanclte with wild, obstrpcrous delight. There was a visitor at Lavella on the occasion of his first home-coming, indeed, Edgar M'ickhani (now Colon- *1 Wicliham) was a constant visitor to the place, and made little secret of the strong attraction that drew him there. Wickhams promotion in in the army had bci;n rapid. Twice he di.stinguishcd himself in action. Good looks, wealth, combined with military reputation, made him a "lion" in London, and there were many fair would-be lion-tamers anx- ious to share his cage. But he was still unmarried, and li'ke to continue so. unless Lucy Ray smiled at last on his patient wooing. In this wooing John Trevor was his strong ally, and haci oven spok- en in a gentle, fatherky fashion to Lucv on his behalf: so far without avail. But Eva, in spite of herself, was pleased with an unreasoning pleasure, to see that Lucy's heart still clung to its first choice. Lucy, it is true, seldom spoke to Dr. Ar- del, who made Jeauette his chosen companion. But Eva saw that ever and again the clear blue eyes would turn on the man-boy a glance of yearning, pitying love. Keen-witted jealousy gave Wickhani too an ink- ling of the truth. But ho made no sign, or, if there were a change, his manner to Dr. Ardel grew kinder than before. So life flowed smoothly at Lavella, with sunshine on its rippling surface, and no hint of chill or danger in the depths below. This summer afternoon Harry Trev- or and Lucy had gone a long, lazy row up the river. Dr. Ardel had challenged Colonel Wickham to a game of lawn tennis, and Wickham had cherily thrown his book aside to humor him. It was quite a hol- low affair from the first. Dr. Ardel was an unrivalled player. He had regained his marvellous skill in all sports, like one recalling a half-for- gotten language, as though there were a sort of memory in nerve and m^uscle. From Wickham he won game after game, and set after set, with consummate ease, while Jcan- nette, who had appointed herself marker and umpire, crowed with unconcealed delight at her big play- mate's triumph. But Wickham's good-humor was not in the least affected. "Game and set. That's the fourth," he said; "it's getting mo- notonous. My dear fellow, you don't give me a look in. I'll have my revenge, though, some day." Ardel laughed a boisterous, boyish laugh as he filled himself a foaming tankard of beer. "Here's better luck. Colonel," he cried, and drained it at a draught. "Nasty bitter aftei'-tostc," he mut- tered, with a comical gi-imace; "the dregs of the cask, I dare say." Then he called out to Jeanettc, "Come along for a gnnie? I'll give you forty and pla.v backhand. Will you umpire. Colonel. just for tliis one set?" But it was soon painfully apparent that Ardcl's skill had departed from him. His body ti'embled and stiffen- ed alternately. He lost control of his muscles. His arms and legs moved with involuntary jerks, like the limbs of a puppet. A look of fright and pain came suddenly upon his face. He staggered two or three limes and recovered himself, then, with a low. half-strangled cry, he fell, and lay prone on the grass un- der the hot glare of the sun, stiff and still, with his teeth clenched tight. That half-strangled cry seemed to reach the soul of young Trevor far up the river. Lucy, lying back in the stern of the boat, with hand dangling in the clear, cool water as they moved languidly down with the current, saw a look of pain and fear start to the boy's face. She saw his body suddenly stiffen and stretch to his oars, and felt their light boat lilt with the straining strokes and tear through the water with sharp hiss of foam at the prow. "I am wanted," is all he said, and he spoke like one in a dream. The water foamed white at their prow, and the banks, and the trees on them, slid swiftly by. At a turn of the river Lucy caught sight of the tennis ground and a group of people on it clustered round a prostrate figure. "Look! look!" she cried; but Harry Trevor never turned his head for a moment, never eased the fierce .-strain on the oars until he ran the boat's nose on the tank and leaped out, leaving Lucy to follow as she could. He darted straight for the tennis ground, and in a moment was with the group gathered round the pros- trate body of Dr. Ardel, who lay stiff and still, as in the rigour of death, the feet curved and the strong teeth locked tight as a rat-trap. Dr. ?Oai-tley, who happened to be in the house at the time, was bending helplessly over the body. "Is it sunstroke, doctor?" Colonel Wickham asked, as Harry Trevor came up panting. "He was playing in the fierce sun all the afternoon without a hat." "It's poisoning by strychnine," the doctor answered gravely; "the symp- toms are unmistakable. In the last stage, too; there is no hope." One quick, searching glance Trevor cast at the prostrate bod.v, as if to assure himself the doctor spoke the truth, and then turned and ran for the house. He came back more slowly, carry- ing a tumbler in one hand, and in the other a green glass bottle with a glass stopper. He knelt down beside the prostrate body, when the doctor interposed, â€" "What's this for. my boy?" he said sharply. But Trevor turned upon him a look so full of stern authority that he quailed. "You can do nothing." he hissed out; "don't hinder those who can." The quick action, the steady confi- dence of the ho.v. seemed to mesmer- ize the group round the body. He spilt some drops from the bottle on his handkerchief, and dabbed it on the white, set face. The body q.uiv- ered slightly, the lips ported. and the teeth unclenched. Trevor raised the head, the whole hod.v moving with it. stiff as a hoard. He set the tumbler's edge to the white lips and de.xterously poured the contents of the half-filled tumbler to the last drop through the parted teeth. At that moment Luc.v came up run- ning from the water side. She was flushed by the run, but the flush fad- ed from her cheeks as she saw Ardel lying there so still. "O God! is he dead?" she cried out. But the kneeling boy smile<l up at her with confident hope. "Nor like to die," he answered softly. a Bleeding Piles and Erysipelas Two Sdvere Cases Which Illustrate the Extraordin ary Soothing:, Healing: Virtues of DR. CHASE'S OINTMENT. Scores of people do not think of toing Dr. Chase's Ointment for bleeding piles because they have us- ed so many other treatments in vain a»Kl do not believe their ailment curable. Jt Is by curing when others fail that Dr. Chase's Ointment has won such a record for itself. It will not fnil to juomptly relieve and completely euro any form of piles, no nmtler how severe or of how long staiKling. Mr. Jniucs Uriah Pjo. Marie Jos- eph, Gu.vsborough Co., N.S., writes : "1 was bad with blevdJng .piles lor kbout four .vearra and could get no heSp. Dr. Ch»»."»'a Ointment cured nie in n very aTiurt 'liine. am.t^JL can- not piaise it too highly '^or this cui-e. Mrs, I'homas Smith was troiubIe<l with er,i sipelaa in the feet »ud legs and was all swollen up. I jave her soino of the ointment, vhirh took out the swelling and toaied all the acres. She had tried na^tf* treatments before, but none i.X'tiiod to do her any good. I am telling my friends about the wonder- ful cures which Dr. Chase's Oint- ment made for Mrs. Smith and my- self, and would say that it is on!y a j)Iea!»ure for me to recoiumcnd so excellent a projiaration. " Wherever there is irrilation, in- flammation, ulceration or itching of the skin Dr. Chase's Ointment will bring quick relief and will ultimatel.v heal and cure. On this account it Is useiVI in scores of ways in every homo for the cure of eczema, salt rheum, tetter scald head, chafing;, itching 'peculiar 'to women, plSi wwm.'!, piles and all sorts of skin diseases tind efuptions. Dr. Chhse's 'Ointment. (10 centV A box, at all dealers, or Edownson. Bates A Con>pnny, Toronto. To protect you against imitations the portrait and signature of Dr. A. W, Chase, the fannMis ro.-cfjit book au- thor, are on evci^y box ul his reme- dies. Even aa ho spoke a quiver ran through the prostrate body and an- other and another, then thera was a deep sigh of relief, the stiffened muscles relaxed their tension, aiid the great limbs lay limp as a sleep- ing child's Eva watched with part- ed lips and straining eyes. Wickham was trembling like a leaf. John Trevor was the first to speak. (There Was wonder, almost fear in jhis voice. Ue spoke not as father ' to son, but as man to bis master. j "What have you done, Harry?" 1 "Saved his life, sir, I believe," the boy answered modestly. "Feel his heart, doctor; already it beats easily. The color is returnine to his face; his eyes are opening." "Where am I?" Ardel murmured, but- so feebly they could hardly bear the woi-tis. Harry Tr«\-or helped him to bis feet and sustained him. He swayed like a child who has just learned to walk. "A few hours' sleep," Harry whis- pered to the doctor, "and he wiU be himself again. Then the two moved 'slowly across the lawn logetlier, the tethers followinji. When the boy came down from Ar- del's room all anxiety had passed I from his face. The look of imperi- ;Ous command was gone too. He seemed abashed and ashamed, and ready to apologize for the part he had played. "Ardel is asleep, doctor," he said, "sleeping soundly. I think all danger is past." But the doctor's dignity was ruf- iCed. "I don't know what trickery I has been practised on me," he said j sharply. "The symptoms of strych- jnine poisoning were wonderfully counterfeited. " "They were real.'' Tre\or answered simply. "But this sudden and mysterious cure?" ""nie cure is proof positive." the other replied. Then he went on has- tily, like one caught in an offence, and stammering out an excuse: "I should have told you that I found, some time since, the medicine chest which had been lost â€" Ardel's medicine case. I meant to have told it. Amongst the bottles 1 found this one." He handed a quaint-shaped vial to the doctor, who looked at it and smelt it curiously. "Look at the label, doctor," said the boy. On the label was written. "Antidote to strychnine: twent.y drops in half a tumbler of water." The ink wa« fresh and black, as though the words had only been written a minute before. But the writing was the writing of Dr. Ar- del of the old days, or a perfect imi- tation of it. "When I saw â€" when I heard you say â€" that it was strychnine poison- ing," Trevor said modestly, "of course I ran for this antidote at once. If I was rude or disrecpect- ful. Dr. Bartley, I'm sure you will forgive me. It was my anxiety was to blame for it." John Trevor reddened with pride in his son. Lucy and Eva beamed on him delightedly. Even the doc- tor's professional pride was com- pletely mollilJoU. "â- you have saved his life, m.v dear boy,'' he said pleasantly, "and I heartily congratulate vou. 'Yet that is not quite true, either," he added, smiling at his own conceit. "You hi?lpcd, no doubt. But. in a certain si-nse. we must confess that Dr. Ar- del saved himself." â- â- 'Ves," Ilari-y Trevor answered quickly, assenting, with flushed face; "Dr. Ardel saved himself." He was right in his prophecy. Vivi- an Ardel awoke from his long sleep like a giant refreshed. Neither then nor afterwards did he feel the slight- est ill effects from the potept poison that had mingled with his blood. Nor were his strong nerves in the least shaken by the danger he had passed. Ho laughed like a boy when lie was told it was his own antidote that had saved him. There was no trace of regret or en\-y in his voice. "1 must have been a wornlerful josser in those days, Harry," ho said, "though I'm not up to much now. It we.s lucky I had you be- side n)e yesterday. No." when Tre- vor offered to restore the medicine chest; "you must keep it. You know how to ma'Ue good use of it, and I don't, and never will." Of course there was inquiry and investigation. b\it it came to no- thing. The coachman, it was dis- covered, had got sti>chnino to put an old dying dog out of his pain. But how the stryci.nine had come into the leer tankard or the beer jug was a myster.v. and till long af- terwards a mystcrv it remained. Col- onel Wickham, who seemed most of all appalled by the catastrophe, was keen in his investigations. But oven he had to give up at last in despair. "It was God sent you, Uarry." said Lucy to young Trevor, as the.v pacetl together the long wooded walk where she had spent that delightful, unforgotten hour with Vivian Ardel in the old dajs. "How could you know? How did the call come to you?' ' "It was a strange feeling, Lucy- sudden and strange." he answered. "1 seemed to feel the taste of str.vchnino in m.v mouth, to know that I had swallo»wpd it. I Telt my- self stagger and fall, and lie there hclpIOss and lifeless. 1 knew there WHS not ono mofhertt {o st>are. I knew that I was trembling on the brink of dissolutiop. Oh! it W(i8 agony while It l«»ted." Ho broke off with a ga.sp almost of pain. His wild words and • voice frightened hei- â€" he who was always so placid. Hisi face bad grown ghastly, and the drops of perspira- tion stood out on his forehead. He seemed to have forgotten she was be- side him. She laid a timid band on his arm. "Why, Harry," she said, "what has come to you?" With a strong effort he curbed his feelings as a man curbs an unruly steed, forcing it to be still. "It is the reaction. I suppose. The strain was killing while it lasted. You know, Lucy,"â€" a faint smile flickered on his lips, â€" "Ardel is more than a brother to me. He is as dear to me as my own flesh and blood." Then and afterwards Lucy found a mystery in his words, and ponder- ed vainly over their meaning. (To be continued.) WELL AP STROKfi. AFTER ELE-VXN 'TEAB.S OF CHEAT SUFFESING. A Wonderful Tribute to the Power of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills to Cure Stubborn Diseases. Proof upon proof has accumulated that Dr. Williams' Pink Pills will cure when doctors, hospital treat- ment and all other medicines fail. Paralyzed limbs have been restored to strength, rheumatic sufferers made well, weak, anaemic girls and wo- men made bright, active and strong; neuralgic pains banished, and the poor dyspeptic given a new diges- tion when it seemed almost hopeless to expect a cure. Here is a bit of strong proof that Dr. Williajns' Pink Pills bring health and strength after years of suffering. Mr. Louis Brien is a well known resident of St. Di- dace. Que., and tells of his years of suliering as follows: "Eleven years ago. while working in the bush, I strained myself and brought on ter- rible pains in m.y stomach and back, where the trouble seemed to locate. I had frequent fits of vomiting, which caused much distress. Some- times I could work, and then again for months at a time I would be wholly unable to do an.vthing; but even at the time I could work I was always suffering. At different times I was treated by three doctors, but they were unable to help me. Then I went '.o Montreal and put myself under the care of a doctor there. His medicine relieved me while I was in- active, but as soon as I attempted work or exertion of £uiy kind, the pains returned worse than before. All this time I was growing weaker and less able to resist the inroads of the trouble. Then Dr. Williams' Pink PilN were brought to my notice, and I began to use them. From that time I be.can to regain my health and by the time I had used thirteen bo.xes I was once more a well, strong man. The proof of this is that I can do as hard a day's work as anyone and never have the slightest symptoms of the old trou- ble. I am only sorry that I did not know of the pills sooner â€" they would have saved me much suffering and mone.v as well." With such proof as this, that even apparently hopeless cases can be cured. tliere can be no reasonable doubt that Dr. Williams' Pink Pills will restore health in nil cases where given a fair trial. These pills are sold by all raedicir.f dealers or will he sent by mail at 50c. per bo.x or six boxes for S2.f,0. by writing di- rect to the Dr. Williams' Medicine Co.. Brockville. Ont. See that the full name. "Dr. 'Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People." is printed on the wrapper around every bo.x. WAS HE KHXIID? Xr. and Mrs. Slocunt War* ia Grea.t Doubt. A few evenings since Hr. Slocum was reading an account of a dreadful accident which happened at the fac- tory in the town of L , and which lb* editor had described in a great many words. "I declare, wife, that was an awful accident over at the mill," said Mr. Slocum. "What's it about, Mr. Slocum?" I "I'll read the 'coun'. wife, and then you'll know all about it." I Mr. S. began to read: â€" I "Horrible and Fatal Accident. â€" It I becomes our melancholy and painful jduty to recoril the particulars of an accident that occurred at the lower ntill, in this village, yesterday alter- Inoon, by which a human being, in the prime of life, was hurried to that bourne from which, as the im- mortal Shakespeare says, "no travel- ! er returns.' " I "Do tell!" exclaimed Mrs. S. I "Mr. David Jones, a workman who I has but few superiors this side of- jthc city, was superintending one of ithe large drums " "I wonder if 'twas a bass drum, such as has "Epluribus Unum' printed on't? " "When ho became entangled. His arm was drawn around the drum, and finally his whole body was drawn over the shaft at a fearful rate. When his situation was dis- covered he had revolved with im- mense velocity about fifteen minutes, his head and limbs striking a large beam a distinct blow at each revolu- tion." "Poor creature! How it must have hurt himi" "WTien the machinery had been stopped it was found that Mr. Jones' arms and legs were macerat- ed into jelly." "W-ell, didn't it kill him?" asked Mrs. Slocum, with increasing inter- est. "Portions of the dura mater, cere- brum, and cerebellum, in confused masses, were scattered about the floor. In short, the gates of eter nity had opened upon him." Here Mr. Slocum paused to wipe his spectacles, and his wife seized the opportunity to press the ques- tion: â€" "Was the man killed?' "I don't know; haven't come to that place yet; you'll know when I have finislied the piece." And Mr. Slocum continued read- ing: â€" "It was evident, when the shape- less form was taken down and it was no longer tenanted by the im- mortal spirit, that the vital spa«k was extinct." "Was the man killed?â€" that's wh'.t I want to come at," said Mrs. Sio- cum. "Do lave a little patience," said Mr. S.. eyeing his better-half over his spectacles. "I presume we shall eome upon it right away." And 1<.<» went on reading: â€" "This fatal casualty has cast a gloom over our village, and we trust that it will prove a warning to all persons who are called upon to regulate the powerful machinery of our mills." "Now." said Mrs. Slocum. perceiv- ing that the narrative w^as ended, "now I should like to know whi.'ther the man was kilhti or nof" Mr. Slocum looked puzzle^!. He scratihed his head. scrutiniz»><l the article he had been ijerusing. and too'k a careful surve.v of the paper. "I declare. wife. " said I-e. "it's curious; but really the paper don't say! " SLEEPING IN A CRADLE. There is a man of seventy in Paris named Wallace Superiieau, who still sloej>s in the cradle lie wn.s rocked in when a buby, and he has never slept one night of his long life in auy other bed. The yoiin^icst of a family of boys, Wallace retained his place in the craidle as he grow okler. He soon became too tall to lie in it at full length, but ho overcame this ditliculty by drawing his knees up- wai"d. Each night to this da,v he rosrts his feet stj'.iarel.v ou the bot- tom of the cradle, swti.vs his knees to and fio, and rocks hini.self to 9leej> as he did w'hen a small bo,v. The habit was formed in babyhood and never broken. A LETTER TO MOTHEKS. Mrs. Ja.s. E. Harloy, Worthinglon, Ont., gives iK^rmission to puUlisli the following letter for the beneiit of other mothers who have young chil- dren in their homes. She sa.vs: â€" "l have many reasons to be grateful to Baby's Own Tablets, and to i-e<;om- mend them to other mothers. Our little girl is now uhout fourteen j months old, av.d she has taken the 'Tablets at intervals si;>ce she wa.< 'two months old. and I cannot s(>eak too hij;hl,v of tli"m. Since 1 camo TAILORING BY WHUGHT. Many men of mode.st dimensions have thought it hard that they should be charged by their tailor on the same scale as the men wtiom twice as much cloth is needed to clothe. The Garment Jlakors' Con- vention at Chicago has deciRled that in fuHire the clothing of cor^iulent iiMiUi will be jinid for according to bulk. The weight of men of normal size is arbitrarily fixed at 15t) lb., and for each ItK) lb. over that weight the fat nuin will be taxed $'t afWitional for his clothes. "Anti- Fat" and similar remetlies will be nvorc in demand in the States than ever. N.A.V.CIUSFSOR MTAniCOIK... ZUO. I* Wat iflfwi to 1^ 4Jm«m4 â- wt> bj i3u Ita|iTov«l BIswer. H*ah the alom, dtun tb* tit |>un(«v iiop« droppinj^ In \h» throat and ncrrean««tl« caret C«rMTh wd IUt Fi.-»«i. ni.-iwtf frm All dr.lCTj. or br. A, W C!l.w "* ** > â€" C«k Twwita kod B«Stlib here about a .vear ago, evei-j- mother who has small children has asked mo what 1 gave our baby to ki-ep 1 er in such even health, and I have replied 'abi^olutely nothing but Uub.v's Own Tablets.' Now nearly every child here gets the Tablets when a medi- cine is needed, and the old-fashioned crude medicines, such as castor oil and roolhing preparations, which mothers form erly gave their lit- tle ones, are ^^?ardod. Our family doctor also stronglv i^raises the Tnl)- lets, and says the*' are a wonderful medicine for children. Accept m.v thanks for all the good your Tab- lots have done m.v little one. and I hope otiier mothers will profit b.v my experience. " Bab.v's Own Tshiets can bo given with absolute safety to the youngest, frailest child, and the.v are guaran- teed to cure all the minor ailments of little ones. .*<ol(l b.v all miMlicin<» dealers or mailed at 25 cents a box b.v writing the Dr. Williams Medicine Co.. BriKkxille. Ont. -♦r- • INCREASED INSANITY. Nearly 23,(.X>0 persons became in- sane in England ami Wales last year -•-a higher number tlian in any year since ri.-cords have l>een kept. Til* Increas* ovar tkc prtfvims ye«r wa* 8.^51..