"Shake off her chain, and be free." "I cannot, I cannot," said he.

"But this I will do.

I will make another will.

I always intended to do so, and Walter shall not be wronged." Then rising, he hurriedly paced the room saying, "Walter shall not be wronged, no, no--Walter shall not be wronged." After a time he resumed his former seat, and taking his daughter's hand in his, he told her of all he had suffered, of the power which his wife held over him, and which he was too weak to shake off.

This last he did not say, but Margaret knew it and it prevented her from giving him other consolation than that of assuring him of her own unchanged, undying love.
The morning twilight was streaming through the closed shutters ere the conference ended; and then Mr.Hamilton, kissing his daughter, dismissed her from the room, but as she was leaving him he called her back, saying: "Don't tell Walter; he would despise me; but he shan't be wronged--no, he shan't be wronged." Six weeks from that night Margaret stood, with her brother, watching her father as the light from his eyes went out, and the tones of his voice ceased forever.