MR.

VERNER'S ESTRANGEMENT.
The former chapters may be looked upon somewhat in the light of an introduction to what is to follow.

It was necessary to relate the events recorded in them, but we must take a leap of not far short of two years from the date of their occurrence.
John Massingbird and his attendant, Luke Roy, had arrived safely at Melbourne in due course.

Luke had written home one letter to his mother, and there his correspondence ended; but John Massingbird wrote frequently, both to Mrs.Verner and to his brother Frederick.

John, according to his own account, appeared to be getting on all one way.