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A spasuish convulsed his features for a moment; but Cheniston was too intent on his own self-revelation to notice

"Life--without--Hilda seehed drearily "We have always been so happy togetherI can't i on without her"

He paused, but Anstice said nothing He did not knohat to say

"I wonder--can I go on? Is it really required ofon to an existence which is absolutely devoid of all attraction, of all ?" He fixed his blue eyes on the other's face "You're a doctor, aren't you?"

Anstice nodded

"Yes"

"Well, I daresay it has happened in your experience that some poor devil doomed to a lifetime of torture, condemned, perhaps, to bear the burden of the sins of his ancestors, has begged you to furnish him with the means of escapethere must be cases in which death is infinitely preferable to life, and a doctorfree the poor ied bird Tell me, has such an experience ever come your way?" He spoke almost irritably now

"Well," said Anstice, "and if it has? What then?"

"How have you answered such entreaties, I wonder? Even you can't pretend that life is always a sacred thing; that ahis back on the existence he never desired and yet has to endure" He paused, and his eyes held a queer blue glitter "Well, have you nothing to say?"

"No," said Anstice resolutely,a step forward as he spoke "On such a subject I have nothing to say--to you If, as see that I should furnish either you or myself with an easy solution of the probleestion I'h"--suddenly he bit his lip and his face turned grey--"you, of alliven him back his youth faded out of Cheniston's face; and when he spoke even his voice sounded years older

"Well, it's no use talking, I suppose After all"--his lip curled--"no ood offices if he decides to cut short his sojourn on this delightful planet Though it strikes ht perhaps allow me to fix the method of payment"