He must sustain himself beyond what he felt to be the utmost limit of his powers; and always, day after day, there would be that face with its sunken eyes and bloodless lips, to summon him into its presence.
He found himself at his own door, and paused uncertainly.

He passed a tremulous hand before his eyes.

Was he sure of Gilmore,--was he sure of Evelyn, who must know that North was innocent?
The thought of her roused in him all his bitter sense of hurt and injury.

North had trampled on his confidence and friendship! The lines of his face grew hard.

This was to be his revenge,--his by every right, and his fears should rob him of no part of it! He pushed open the door and entered the unlighted hail, then with a grumbled oath because of the darkness, passed on into the sitting-room.
Except for such light as a bed of soft coal in the grate gave out, the room was clothed in uncertainty.