Of _him ?_ It seemed almost incredible--yet for the very sake of the past and for the pitiful alteration now, she felt her heart yearn towards that desolate figure, and going softly forward she laid her hand upon his shoulder.
"Christian!" she said in a low and trembling voice.
The prisoner slowly moved, as if waking from a doze.

He raised his head, pushed back his tangled hair and looked at her.
What a face! It needed all her pity to help her to repress a shudder; but there was no recognition in the dull heavy eyes.
"Christian," she repeated.

"See, I am your wife.

I am Mary, who left Moose Island so many years ago." Still he looked at her in the same dull way, scarcely seeming to see her.
"Mary," he repeated mechanically.

"She went away." Then changing to his own language, he said with more energy, "She is hidden, but I shall find her; no fear," and his head sank down again upon his arm.
His wife trembled as she heard the old threat which had pursued her for so long, but she would not be discouraged.