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r l l. l i l l r ;' 43’“ n9 Wm °2s22meee~eeees seesacseeseeeeea _ -_r_._ ‘ SIRdNQEii liiAlll liEA'fll G @QQQQE A RANSOMED LIFE CHAPTER VII. The brilliancy of Trevor’s cross-exâ€"t amination was the talk of the town, for a week, and of the profession for a year. He himself felt like an imâ€" positor, but he could not clear him- self of the glory of the achievement. Ardel had pledged him to secrecy: and, apart from that pledge, he knew : it would be impossible to explain to his learned brethren the highly un- professional methods by which innoâ€" cence was vindicated and guilt brought to justice. There was no man, hoxvover, to whom he insisted on telling the truth and the whole truth, without conâ€"I sulting his friend. About a week after Vivian Ardel was lazing in his study over a volâ€" ume of the original edition of “Pick- wick,” for the abounding physical vitality in Dickens’ novels always had a special attraction for him. By turns the busiest or laziest of men, who did his work or his idling thor- oughly and with his whole heart, he was absorbed in the enjoyment of his book when .his servant handed him a card, on which he read the name, "Mr. Edgar Wickham.” He could hardly recognize the splendid young 'fellow that a minute later followed the SOItwaOthl servant; into the room. I Ardel had last seen that handsome face haggard with a horrible fear, then dazed by a sudden, unlooked- for escape; now it was all aglow with youth, and health, and happiness._ “May I ask, sir,” he began court- eously, but a little coldly, when ther youth cut him short. He stepped. across the room with impulsive eagâ€" erness, hand outstretched, cheeks flushed, and eyes shining gratefully. "Forgive me, Dr. Ardel,” he said,‘ “Mr. Trevor has told me everything. I don’t know how even to begin to thank you. When all my soâ€"called friends forsook me, you, a stranger, drew me out of the very pit of hell. You don't know, you cannot know, l from what you saved me. No one . ‘ knows how horrible death is that‘has not stared it in the eyes for days, as I have.” The healthy glow on his cheek faded at the mere remembrance of his long agony, and Ardel, for a moment, seemed to get a glance at the face he remembered in the dock,-l and knew him in that glance. Y He" clasped the young man’s hand] with hearty sympathy. “I think I can understand,” he said, in a low' voice that shook with feeling. “I put myself in your place.” "‘No; no one can understand it Who has not been through with it himself. My whole life and soul reâ€" volted against death, to which I was driven headlong. It was not the pain or the shame of it I regarded in the least; it was extinctionâ€"the being blotted clean out of existence, as though had never been. That thought was with me night and day: sometimes in dull, aching apathy; . sometimes it came sharp as a pangl of physical pain, and made my blood freeze in my veins, and the coldi sweat broke out all over me.” ‘ “You don't believe in a future state?” Ardel asked. The question slipped from him instinctively. "I thought I (lid before this. I went to church and said prayers, and , all that sort of thing; and when: friends and relations died spoke! about meeting them again. But: when it came to my own turn, these ' empty formalities were of no avail. I looked straight into the void gulf of? death, and I could see nothing be-, yond. But don’t let us talk of what is passed and over. You have given me back my life, and the savour of it is the keener and more exhilarat- -_._.-.. ....- . ._. ._.._s..__.. a, â€"â€"“â€"‘â€"____ ____._â€" 1:121:25... ..._ W ' mamamm WWWWGEG ing from having come so near losing it.” "But death still waits for you, only a little further off,” said Ardel, with a curious persistency. “I don’t think of that; I don’t want to think of it: and I could not think of it if I wanted to. I feel my life fervent and glowing; I feel I shall live for ever; I won‘t question the folly of the thought, it is enough for me to enjoy it. But I am wearyâ€" ing you when I should be thanking you. What kind thought promoted you to save me? Why did you come between me and my fate?” “Because I am human, like yourâ€" self. Because our common enemy, the one only real ene1hv whom, like you, I loathe, and fear, threatened you so close.” “But how came you to believe me innocent, when the whole world beâ€" lieved me guilty?” “I did not believe you innocentâ€" no, no; sit down: there is nothing to be angry at. Remember I knew no- thing of you but what the evidence told me. I neither believed nor disâ€" believed. Innocent or guilty, I wish- ed to save you. A life for a life, the law says. But the poor girl was dead; your life could not bring back hers. The law has no power over life except to destroy it. A. death for a death is mere blind savager‘y masquerading as justice.” “But you believe me innocent now?” the young man said earnestâ€" ly. “All the world believes you inno- cent now,” Ardel answared kindly; and a cloud lifted from Wickham's face. “Well, doctor,” he said, “I won’t intrude upon you further. But I could not rest till I thanked you. Some day, who knows? I may have a chance of proving my gratitude.” He rose up as he spoke, but Ardel put his hand in friendly fashion on his shoulder. "No. no,” he said. “Now that we [have met we must not part so easily. If I had known Trevor meant to tell you, I should have stopped him. But I am glad to see you, all the same. I should like to have a chat with you about your strange experience, if it does not hurt. too much. The subject has a fascination for me. Can you dine here 10-day?” "Very sorry, but I‘m engaged to Trevor. I’m going dowu to his place for a week or so. He has been more than a friend to me through all this trouble. Mine is a very lonely life, you must know, doctor. I have not got a relative in the world. The men I thought friends deserted me. when the pinch came. But Trevor has been like a father to me through it all.” “We will dine together all the same if you don’t mint,” said Ardel, smil- ing. "1 think I may safely invite myself to Lavclla. I owe Trevor a visit for many a day. When and how do you mean to go down?” “I was thinking of going down on my bicycle. But, of course, if youâ€"” “You cannot do better. ‘ It‘s not quite thirty miles, and a road like asphalt the whole way. I’ll pilot you, if you don‘t mind: I generally ride down. We can send our things by train, and wire Trevor to have them taken from the station.” For bothmen it was a very pleasâ€" ant two hours’ ride to Lavella. Wickham possessed what was specialâ€" ,ly attractive to Ardelâ€"a power of enjoyment abounding and intense. It was a quality of Ardcl’s own nature, though by no means the highest, vividly reproduced in the younger man. For mere intellectual pleasure. the delight of research and knowledge ' ‘M‘W ageing gore of itehn Wes. .- A Chronic Case of Unusual Severity and Long Standing Cured by bit. EilIiSE’ @ii’iIdeiiI. Piles, or hemorrhoids, are snrarr: tumors, which form in and about thei orifice of the rectum. 'l‘rhey arer caused by an enlarged and inflamed condition of the veins, which are' very numerous in this portion of the body. I’iles frequently attack wn-t men during the expectant period orr after childbirth. ‘ Any Jorru of piles causes dreadful suffering on account of the itching and burning which accompany them, One can scarcely walk at times, and during the night, when the. bodv égets \'.‘:1llll, suffering is intensn. Mr. Alex. McLaughlin for 230 years a resident of i.‘n';v.':-.ntnville, Ont.,~ writes 2 "For twenty long years I suffered; from iiihihg 1‘i‘v=, and only perâ€"E sun}; ‘1. ho been troubled with; annoying can imagine. in .'. I endured during that. timed About 7 sears ang I asked a druggist t had anything to cure me. He: said that Dr. Chase's Ointment wasl ' favorably spoken of, and onl have rlisea se his recommenda'tion I took a box. "After ihree applications I felt betâ€" ter, and by‘the time I had used one box I was on a fair way to. recov- ery. I continued the treatment unâ€" til thoroughly cured, and I have not suffered any since. _I am firmly con- vinced that the ointment. made a ,pei'fezt cure. “I consider Dr. Chase’s Ointment an invaluable treatment for piles. 1n ll!‘.' case i think the cure. was re- ‘nnrrkable when you consider that I am gettirg up in years. and had tern so long a sufferer from this disease.” Dr, Chase’s Ointment is the only abioluie and guaranteed cure fol- every form of niles. t has a record of curcs unparalleled in the history of medicine. (:30 cents a box at all 'Idcalers or lldnranscn, Bates & (10., Toronto. To protect you against imitations. the portrait and signa- turn of Dr. A. W. Chase. the famous receipt book author, are. on every box. __, of reason, or imagination, Wickham â€"â€"-unlike Ardelâ€"had little zest. But to ,all enjoyments that came through the senses he was keenly alive. “Isn't it glorious?” he said, as they glided out clear of the great ttown down a smooth decline of the llong. white road. while the soft au- ttumn airâ€"though there was no lbreath of wind stirringâ€"blew freshly in their faces. He tilted the light straw hat back from his forehead, and the breeze of their own motion rippled his wavy curls of chestnut hair, while his eyes wandered deâ€" tlightedly over the fair scenes that ~went swiftly by as they rode. Here la slim church spire pierced through lthe trees; there a pretty villa made la,vivid dot of red or white on the lgrcen country side. For off the fair iflowing Thames edged the landscape with silver. Wickham sipped the pure air as a connoisseur sips wine. ' "I could shout with joy,” he said, turning a radiant. face .to Ardel, who eyed him closely, sharing his delight. “There is a wild rapture in my very blood. The world never before seemed so lovely to me. I suppose . it was because I came so near losing it.” - “Have you got all taste of the bitâ€" terness of that thought out of your mind?” "Quite; repays me for everything. “Butâ€"” "There is no ‘but’; you cannot sadâ€" den me now. It is true wisdom to only greet the devil when you meet him. There is no devil but death, and I have given death the slip.”. “For a time,” said Ardel. “For ever,” cried Wickham laughâ€" ingly. “I feel that I am immortal. What more. can man desire? Why let dismal thoughts spoil our lives?" “Who can escape them?" “I for one. I have the blessed gift of forgetfulness. I think of noâ€" thing that doosn’t please me. I bury fears and foreboding out of sight and out of mind. I never knew pain or sickness. I never as much as thought of death until the. thought was forced on me. That ghastly terâ€" ror was horrible. But it is gone, clean gone. I have got my life back, and will enjoy it without thought of the future." "That thought will force itself on you as you grow older.” “Never. never. I know my own nature, and I tell youâ€"never. I will help myself to ail the good things that come in my way. As the years take one form of enjoyment away, I will look out for a new one to re~ place it." ~ “I would give much for your temâ€" perament,” said Ardel. “Sorry I cannot part with it to oblige you. I want it for my own use,” the other answered with a. smile. . Then there was silence for a few moments and the bicycles flew. Presently Wickham wiped the moisâ€" ture from his forehead, and his breathing quickened with the strain. “Would you mind easing a little up h hill?" he said to his companiâ€" the rapture of the escape it on. "I rather fancied myself on the wheel. but you put me to shame.“ “It's not fair to let you think so. pretty hard at a pinch, n I can ride but I am not riding hard now. "Then I’d like to know what you call scorching,” panted Wickharn jei'kedly. “Just now we were doing at least twenty miles an hour.” “ I had help that you hadn’t. I was scarcely pedalling at all.” . I-Ie slipped his feet. fron'rthe pedâ€" als to the rests as he spoke. and still the machine glided swiftly and smoothly beside Wickham‘s up the steep incline. “Electricity,” said Ardel quietly, in reply to the other’s look of blank amazement. “You see that little ebony case, like a round, black ink bottle, there in the middle of the front axle? It is a primary battery, and develops sufficient electricity to work a Steam engine for a day. By this little button here in the handle I can switch it on to the gearing at the crank." “Why, this is a miracle!” "Not in the very least. It’s as. simple as kiss hands. When I once got hold of the main idea it was iquite easy to work it out in detail. [You sce, electricily has neither |weight nor hulk, which is an advantâ€" age when you want to pack it up tight.” "Still, it's the invention of the century!” cried Wickham, with un< abated airrazemeni, his breath coming back a little as they shot over the brow of the incline. “It’s what every one has been trying for and failing to hit. You have patented it of course?" "Not yet." “Not yet! Some other fellow may step in. The thing seems perfect. It is worth a million of money at least. You may adapt it to a flying ma- chine.” “I have adapted it to a. flying machine. but then, I don’t want a. million of money. I have more monâ€" ey than I can spend in the time I have got.to spend it. If I could buy time with money, it would be quite another matter.” “By amazement. Jove!” cried Wickham. in “Well, 1 have myself got what many people would call lots of money. But I could do with lots more. If you cannot buy time, you can buy enjoyment. There is no- thing I would not sell for money, if the price was big enough.” Ardel looked at him hard for moment, and then startled him by an extraordinary question,â€" "Nothing, you say. sell your youth?” Would you a. I orgagmnerxt. ‘ ‘I OF’ F ICE <°HSULTATIDN . CAsH Oholly Oumpleiglrâ€"I say, Doc, (l Dr. Krus'tyâ€"No wo'nder. They’r Wickham, bewildered at his appar~ cnt seriousness, could find no word to answer, and the other continued:â€" “How many millions of money would you take for ten years of your life? The best ten 'years. Say from twenty yearsâ€"you are about twenty now, I should sayâ€"to my age thirty?” ' Then Wickham broke out laughing, tickled by the gravity'of the othei"s face and voice. "You’ve caught me there,” he said. “No, I don’t think I would care to sell a slice of my life for money. It would be like sell- ing a bit of myself. Besides.” and he laughed again at the whimsical notion, “I could give no warranty. How can I tell, or you tell, for that matter, that I am going to last that other ten years? There may be some hereditary weakness or disease to cut me off in the bloom of my youth and beauty. My father died two months before, and my mother one month after, I was born. You would be buying a pig in a poke with your millions, even if I were willing to deal.” “Yes, that’s true,” Ardcl answerâ€" ed, still so gravely that Wickham looked at him with comical, amaze- ment, hardly knowing whether he was in jest or earnest. But Ardel smiled as he noticed his wonderment. “You must pardon my oddities,” he said. “My imagination plays me strange tricks sometimes. Just now I half fancied myself as young as you are, with ten years of youthful enjoyment restored to me. You are right. Such a treasure is not to be bought or sold for mere money. You would be a fool to swop lives even with a few millions to boot between them.” At this moment they were gliding smoothly over the crest of a second gentle incline. "See there,” Ardel went on, “there where the river takes a bend to the left. You can catch a glimpse of the chimneys of Lavella just showing over the. trees. We are not more than two miles away now.” In a few minutes more they SWept abreast through the open gate into the lawn. On the right-hand side of the house, and running almost right down to the river’s edge, was a high green wall of closeâ€"clipped sycamore, touched here and there with the hec- tic flush of autumn. In this ramâ€" part' of verdure .a little rustic gate was set. Through the opening in the rough latticeâ€"work of the gate they had a the vivid green lawn beyond, and the sound of gay voices was in the 'calm air. Ardel slipped from his bicycle and touched a little electric button set in the pillar of the gate,â€"â€"three short finger pressures in succession,â€" and almost. at once the gate was opâ€" ened by Trevor himself. ."IIalloa! Ardel,” he cried; “this is an enexpected pleasure. You are ham. This way. My wife is on the lawn. She will give you a cup of tea after your ride. There is lots of time for a game of, tennis before dinâ€" ner, if you care for that kind of thing. Never mind your machines. I will send a man to see after them.” (To be continued.) .__â€"â€"+â€"-â€"â€"~..., ODD CURE FOR RABIES. Hydrophia is treated in a highly original manner by Chinese doctors. Two sandstone bottles halfâ€"filled. with wine or spirits are leate'd until tlte| liquid boils. The contents are then emptied and the redhot mouth of the bolt‘e is applied to the bite. and held tl'ere until it is filled with blood. when the same process is gone through with the other bottle. A (Iecoction is made of glutinous rice, called ltian-miâ€"ou-lou. in which seven cantharides are boiled. The flies are taken out and the rice is given to the patient. who is to be kept quiet. The. celestials have no less than six- teen kinds of coughâ€"the cough from cold, damp. heat, grief, anger, fatiâ€" gue, indigestion, the obstinate cough, the night cough being among them. Before a limb is amputated the mem- ber is dried up by exposure to the sun. ....__+â€"â€"_ He: “I hope you didn’t believe what they said arbott nze.” She: “I irral'e it a point never to believe 'n‘lm‘e dhan half I hear." I-Ie: “But t-l‘e trouble is you women generally belime frhe wiorg half.” “I am reduced from affluence tlo beggarly l” l'e fallered. In as few words as possible she broke their wi.-'-.h to show,” sle observed liaughtily, "that wom- lc-n. contrary to general ropc’r-t. do not necessarily care for 'thirgzs just because they are reduced.” glimpse of figures flitting lightly over-l very welcome to Lavella, Mr. Wickâ€"l “aquaâ€"AL .1 . «'ucnlfomefc on’teherknow, my eyes are 'weak. e in a weak place. CAUSED BY THE HEAT. A Rash on Baby’s Skin That Of- ten Alarms Careful Mothers. During the summer months a rash [often appears on the face, neck and body of babies and small children which is liable to alarm the careful mother. It is due to the excessiva heat, and, while not dangerous, is the cause of much suffering. Immed« iate relief is given by dusting th( eruption liberally with Baby’s Own Powder, which may be had at any druggist’s, but to cure the trouble 3 medicine must be given that will cool the blood of the little sufferer. Baby's Own Tablets will be found a positive blessing in such cases and twill soon restore the clearness and beauty of baby’s skin. Mrs. Clifton Cuyler, of Kincai'dine, On't., says: "My baby had a rash break out on her face and all over 'her body. 1 gave her medicine, but the eruption never left her until i gaxe 1 er Baby’s Own Tablets, and after usâ€" ing them a short time the rash en- tirely disappeared. I have also giv- en her the Tablets f<r constipation with the best of results: they ac". gently but promptly, and always make baby quiet and restful. I think the Tablets a splendid medicine for young children.” Baby’s Own Tabâ€" lets may be had from all druggists Own Powder at the same price. If you prefer to order direct they will at 25 cents per box, and Baby’s be sent post paid» on receipt of price by the Dr. IV’illiarns’ Medicine Com<_ pany, Brockville, Ont. :,__._...__+__._._.__, ‘ IN THE SCIE TTIFIC WORLD. 'Radium, when brought near a dia- mond in the dark, will make it sparkle. Paste diamonds are not so effected. Sir W. Ramsay and Prof. Soddy have found distinct evidence of the presence of helium in the spectra of gases emanating from radium bro- mide. Present observations, there- fore, 'indicate that radium shines largely by the light of the rare gas helium which it evolves. The production of nitric acid by electroâ€"ehemical methods‘is a new process that promises extencive changes in our agriculture. At Nia- gara experiments have been conduct- ed successfully in producing commer- cial nitric acid by using a. high ten- sion current in an air chamber, by gwhich' a yield of one pound of nitric tacid is obtained for every seven rhorse power hours. _ The greatest successes in the elec- trical transmission of water power have been made in the United States The maximum distance over which power is transmitted is from Colgate 'to San Francisco, 220 miles, with a' 10.33 of 25 per (out. At Colgate the [body of water is small, but the fall lis 1,500 feet. ' â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"+â€"â€"â€"- . FROM THE census Brrirsrrws." Every Frenchman is born with a debt of $150 on his shoulders. France spends 35 per cent. of her Iresources on military preparations. Fifty years ago the population of England and Wales was divided equally between city and country; now "7 per cent of it is urban. ( Wlieu accomplished, the Immuniza- tion of tlie Japanese language will put the final touch of victory to the revolution L‘cgun forty years ago. In Russia 2,810 men in every mil- Ilion are annually called into the army; in Germany 4,120; in France ~5,5110. To get so large a number tof Frenchmen weaklings have .to be taken. This makes the mortality in the French army three and half times lthat of the German army. .____._+______ “Marni/um, what would you do if that big vase iin the. parlor sliruuld get broken?” said Tommy. “I i should spank whom or did it,” staid ’Mr Banks, gazing serenely at her ‘iittle son. “Well, then, you’d bet- ter begin 'to get up your muscle.” s'a.id"l‘omm.y, glcel‘ully, “cos papa’s broken it.” A certain grocer enjoys the unenâ€" v'iable notoriety of selling the worst goods in the. district: but he has not recovered from the shock l.e lgot the other day. when a little girl came into the shop and said 2- “My ma send me for fiwo ounces of lyerr best tea for to kill rafts with. arn’ a pound of yer finest ham, an’ lbe sure to cut it in thick slices. lbecrau'se it’s to sole an’ heel my E'dad’s boots.” To prove to you that: m. B Chase‘s Ointment is a certeir . g . and absolute cure for and and‘evcry form of, itching bleedingand protrudin piles the manufacturers have guaranteed it. co to: timonials in the daily press and ask your neigb born what they think ofit. Yon~can use it an: get your money back if not cured. 000 a box. a all dealers or EmunsomBmzs 55 Cchoroutc lDrJCheâ€"se’s Ointmeni i l I. i y 3. ~(stâ€"c. <~.,- . g.» ' ) urea-v5“ a P v. “Q ,0», ~.,\..\, m” k‘L V hob-“9‘ amagamwchga «than» _