Had she anything to do with this baleful cousin's return, or was she only to be a helpless victim of it?
A white, dazzling, and bewildering flash of lightning suddenly lit up the room, the porch, the dripping ailantus, and the flooded street beyond.

It was followed presently by a crash of thunder, with what seemed to be a second fainter flash of lightning, or rather as if the first flash had suddenly ignited some inflammable substance.

With the long reverberation of the thunder still shaking the house, Courtland slipped quickly out of the window and passed down to the gate.
"Did it strike anything, sah ?" said the startled negro, as Courtland returned.
"Not that I can see," said his employer shortly.

"Go inside, and call Zoe and her daughter from the cabin and bring them in the hall.

Stay till I come.