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He laid the papers on the table, and began to divest hi MacLean took up the pardon and held

it to a candle It caught, but before the fla

Haward had dashed down the other's hand and beaten out the blaze "'Slife,

Angus, ould you do!" he cried, and, taken unawares, there was angry

concern in his voice "Why, man, 't is liberty!"

"I may not accept it," said MacLean, with dry lips "That letter, also,

is useless to me I would you were all villain"

"Your scruple is fantastic!" retorted the other, and as he spoke he put

both papers upon the escritoire, weighting them with the sandbox "You

shall take them hence when our score is settled,--ay, and use them as best

you may! Now, sir, are you ready?"

"You are weak from illness," said MacLean hoarsely, "Let the quarrel rest

until you have recovered strength"

Haward laughed "I was not strong yesterday," he said "But Mr Everard is

pinked in the side, and Mr Travis, ould fight with pistols, hath a

ball through his shoulder"

The storekeeper started "I have heard of those gentleht them

both upon the day when you left your sickrooht lift of his brows "Will

you be so good as to uard, sir!"