blood-hound. Me! whom you have robbed, and cheated, and debased
from the beginning! Oh! for a pistol to rid the earth of the
blackest-hearted villain that walks its surface. Let me go,
gentlemen! I have nothing left in the world to care for,--there is
no consequence I fear. Let me do society one good service before T
die'"

And, with one vigorous effort, he swept himself clear of the hands
that were pinioning him, and sprung again upon the gambler with
the fierce energy of a savage beast. By this time, Green had got
his knife free from its sheath, and, as Hammond was closing upon
him in his blind rage, plunged it into his side. Quick almost as
lightning, the knife was withdrawn, and two more stabs inflicted
ere we could seize and disarm the murderer. As we did so, Willy
Hammond fell over with a deep groan, the blood flowing from his
side.

In the terror and excitement that followed, Green rushed from the
room. The doctor, who was instantly summoned, after carefully
examining the wound, and the condition of the unhappy young man,
gave it as his opinion that he was fatally injured.

Oh! the anguish of the father, who had quickly heard of the
dreadful occurrence, when this announcement was made. I never saw
such fearful agony in any human countenance. The calmest of all
the anxious group was Willy himself. On his father's face his eyes
were fixed as if by a kind of fascination.

"Are you in much pain, my poor boy!" sobbed the old man, stooping
over him, until his long white hair mingled with the damp locks of