I know you must be ill.

Will you let me send for our doctor ?" And she approached him kindly, and looked with anxious scrutiny into his face.
He put her gently away, and said in a thick, rapid voice, "Christine, I came to-night to tell you that Donald McFarlane is unworthy to come into your presence--he has forged your father's name." "James, you are mad, or ill, what you say is just impossible!" "I am neither mad nor ill.

I will prove it, if you wish." At these words every trace of sympathy or feeling vanished from her face; and she said in a low, hoarse whisper, "You cannot prove it.

I would not believe such a thing possible." Then with a pitiless particularity he went over all the events relating to the note, and held it out for her to examine the signature.
"Is that David Cameron's writing ?" he cried; "did you ever see such a weak imitation?
The man is a fool as well as a villain." Christine gazed blankly at the witness of her cousin's guilt, and James, carried away with the wicked impetuosity of his passionate accusations of Donald's life, did not see the fair face set in white despair and the eyes close wearily, as with a piteous cry she fell prostrate at his feet.
Ah, how short was his triumph! When he saw the ruin that his words had made he shrieked aloud in his terror and agony.

Help was at hand, and doctors were quickly brought, but she had received a shock from which it seemed impossible to revive her.