Trembling in every limb, wildly excited, and with his despair written in every lineament of his face, Mark Heath dropped from his chair, and crept upon his knees before the doctor, holding up his clasped hands, and evidently so completely exhausted that he might have been mastered by a child.

"Yes, yes; of course, of course I will," said the doctor kindly.

"There, come and lie down here on this couch."

"Lie down?" said the young man, with a suspicious look.

"To be sure; it will rest you. You are quite safe here."

"Safe? Am I safe?"

"Of course," said the doctor, spreading the fallen ulster over the young man's shivering form, as he slowly lay down.

"Stop! where are you going?"

"Only into the next room--the surgery," said the doctor, turning to face his visitor's fierce eyes as he started up from the couch.

"What for? Is it to admit those devils."

Mark Heath, in a fit of impotent rage, made a dash to reach the fireplace, but his feet were hampered by the ulster, and he would have fallen heavily had not the doctor caught him in his arms.

"Why, man," he said, "I was going to get you something to take-- something to calm you. It is impossible for you to go on like this."

The young man looked at him wildly.

"I can't help it," he said, calming down. "I have been hunted till I am afraid of everybody. Save me, doctor, for you can."

"Lie down, then; there: that's better."

"Yes. I am so helpless and so weak," the poor fellow moaned. "The brandy kept me up, but it makes me wild."

"Then you shall have something that will calm you, and not make you wild," said the doctor; and he went out of the room, leaving his visitor lying down with his eyes closed.

But the moment he was alone, Mark Heath started up on one arm, listening, and thrust his hand into his breast. He was listening for the unlocking of a door; but he heard the chink of a glass and the faint gurgle of some fluid, and he sank back with a sigh of relief.

"Rich--my darling," he said softly; "it is for you, sweet--for you!"

"There," said the doctor, re-entering with a glass; "drink that, and you must have some sleep. We shall soon get you right."

"Heaven bless you, doctor!" cried the young man, hysterically pressing his hand after draining the glass. "I feel in sanctuary here. Ah," he sighed, as he sank back, "to be at rest once more, and safe! Doctor, you must guard over me and what I have here."

"Oh, yes," said the doctor, sitting down after replenishing the fire.

"Did you have a rough passage back?"

"I don't know--I know nothing but that those fiends were after me to get it, and I knew that they would kill me if they could only get a chance.

A heated hare sees nothing but the hounds."

"No, of course not," said the doctor, speaking softly to keep his patient's attention, but watching him intently the while, to see the effect of his medicine. "Let's see, you have been away four years."

"Yes, four years," said Mark, speaking more calmly now. "Lost every penny, farming, doctor. No good."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"Then I tried--wagon-driving, and made a respectable living--doing regular carter's work till I had a team and wagon of my own; but I went one bad time--right across the desert, and found myself at last--seated on the last bullock of my team of twenty--by the wreck of my wagon-- doctor dying--for want of water."

"Ah! that was bad."

"Yes, but I was picked up by a party who came in the nick of time. They were going by across journey to the diamond-fields."

"Ah! you went there?"

"Yes, I went there," said the young man drowsily, and speaking in a restful manner and with many pauses. "Rough life, and for six months-- no good. Then luck turned. I went on. At last found--self rich man.

Rather absurd, doctor--handful of stones--stones, crystals--handful in a leather bag. Soon nothing. I often laughed. Seemed so much trash, but the right thing. Very large some of them, and I worked on--digging--and picking. Knew I was a wealthy man."

"You were very fortunate, then?"

"Yes," was the drowsy reply. "Then began the curse of it. Couldn't keep it--secret. Found out that it was dangerous. Ought to have banked, but they were--were so hard to get. 'Fraid of everybody.

Felt--felt should be murdered. Nearly drove--drove me wild. Made secret--secret plans--escape--get home--old England. To bring--to bring--bag of diamonds--leather bag--worth a deal--bring home myself.

Followed--followed me. Three men--part of gang out there--gamble and cheat men--at play. Always--always--on my track--hunted--at bay--sea-- always watching--like tigers--Ah!"

He sprang up from his drowsy muttering state, in which he had been incoherently piercing together his imaginary or real adventures, and gazed wildly round.

"Who's that?"

"It is only I--Doctor Chartley. Lie down again."

"I thought they'd come, and I--I was telling them. Bag of diamonds.

No. Nonsense! All rubbish! Poor man. Going home. 'Nough to pay his passage. All nonsense. No diamonds; no nothing."

He had sunk back once more, and went on muttering as he dropped asleep.

The doctor sat watching him, and then rose and tapped the fire together, picking up a few fresh pieces of coal to augment the blaze, which seemed to send some of the fog out of the room.

"Wild dissipation--gambling with Nature for treasure," said the doctor softly. "Imagination, poor wretch!"

The doctor bent down over his patient, who was now sleeping deeply, but had tossed the ulster aside, so that it was gliding down.

"Curious, this wild delirium," said the doctor, rearranging the improvised cover. "I often wonder that I have not made it a study and-- Good heavens!"

He started back from the couch, and stood staring at his patient for a few minutes before advancing again, and laying his hand upon his breast gently, and then thrusting it beneath the fold of the thick pea-jacket.

"It is not delirium; they--"

The doctor hesitated a few moments after drawing back from the couch once more. Then, with his whole manner changed, he thrust his hand into the sleeping man's breast, glanced round, and, satisfied that he was not overlooked, drew forth a good-sized wash-leather bag, simply tied round the neck with a strip of the same skin.

"Stones," muttered the doctor, with his face agitated and his eyes glittering; and after balancing the bag in his hand and glancing at the sleeping man, he placed it upon the table, where the light of the lamp was upon it full.

Then ensued a period of hesitation, the doctor's fingers worked as he stood gazing down at the little yellowish-drab bag, and anon at his patient.

Then the newly awakened curiosity prevailed, and, unable to contain himself, he rapidly untied the string, drew open the bag, and saw that it was nearly full of large rough crystals, which sparkled in a feeble way in the light.