CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE END OF IT ALL Two years after the discovery of Rhoda's guilt, Mr.and Mrs.Denzil were seated in the garden of Berwin Manor.

It was a perfect summer evening, at the sunset hour, something like that evening when, in the same garden, almost at the same time, Lucian had asked Diana to be his wife.
But between then and now twenty-four months had elapsed, and many things had taken place of more or less importance to the young couple.
The mystery of Clear's death had been solved; Lydia had been set free as innocent of crime; her father, found guilty of conspiracy to obtain the assurance money, had been condemned to a long term of imprisonment, and, what most concerned Lucian and Diana, Mark Vrain had really and truly gone the way of all flesh.
After the conclusion of the Vrain case Lucian had become formally engaged to Diana, but it was agreed between them that the marriage should not take place for some time on account of her father's health.
After his discharge as cured from the asylum of Dr.Jorce, Miss Vrain had taken her father down to his own place in the country, and there tended him with the most affectionate solicitude, in the hope that he would recover his health.

But the hope was vain, for by his over-indulgence in morphia, his worrying and wandering, and irregular mode of life, Vrain had completely shattered his health.

He lapsed into a state of second childhood, and, being deprived of the drugs which formerly had excited him to a state of frenzy, sank into a pitiable condition.

For days he would remain without speaking to any one, and even ceased to take a pleasure in his books.