She selects a man in ill health and given to drink, that he may die the sooner; and, by being buried as Mark Vrain, give her the money she wants.

When you told me of this man Berwin's coughing and drinking, I thought it strange, as my father had no consumptive disease when I left him, and never, during his life, was he given to over-indulgence in drink.

Now I see the truth.

This dead man was Lydia's puppet." "Even granting that this is so, which I doubt, Diana, why should the man be murdered ?" "Why ?" cried Diana fiercely.

"Because he was not dying quickly enough for that woman's purpose.