He seemed to be in great poverty, and in bad health.

If he had wished it, I was prepared to acknowledge him; but he seemed not to wish it; there were no doubt reasons why he preferred to keep his assumed name.

I did what I could for him, and arrangements had been made to put him with decent people at Vancouver.

But last Wednesday night he disappeared from the boarding house where he and I were both lodging, and various persons here will know"-- he glanced at one or two faces in the ring before him--"that I have been making inquiries since, with no result.

As to what or who led him into this horrible business, I know nothing.