After All;

ing , ear-splitting wrangling , and soul-piercing jangling , of the angry irontongued monsters ; the heavens were rending with the death awakening tmtamarre . At least , so thought the madly excited Redtaper as he rushed up the same road he had similarly travelled when Miss Cumberland had fled to the nunnery . Sure enough it was on fire ; and the cruel bonfire shot forth its

Plutonic sparks into the midni ght air . Sheets of fire spurted out from the volcanic mass , and lambent flames flashed from every opening . Already the convent burned like a furnace , though half an hour ago not a sign of fire was to be seen . Hoses were now playing on the building from every quarter , and Redtaper darted up to the nearest fireman , ancl snatched his hose from him . Madly he exerted himselfendeavouring to cover the whole building with the

, puny flood . Shrieks and . cries rent the air as nun after nun threw themselves blazing into the crowd below or down the avalanche of the fire escape . But no Violet . Distracted beyond endurance , Redtaper threw away the miserable hose , and rapidly climbed one of the scaling ladders nearest to where he had erected his OAvn unfortunate iustrument a month ago . Into the stifling smoke and through the red-hot blaze he flung himselfwhere the horrid suffocating

, atmosphere exceeded any tropical heat . Room after room he entered , but most Avere empty , while some contained the dead bodies ot unfortunate nuns smothered in the choking smoke . His blood was boiling , and his skin burnt by the scorching flames . Several rooms he could not possibly enter , and once or twice he almost succumbed to the dreadful heat . "Save me ! save me ! " shrieked an agonized voice ; and there , across a

ghastly gulf of nickering flame , he saw the thinly clad figure of Violet , still safe , thank God , but environed on every side by the rapidly encroaching fire . He forgot all the torture he was enduring , though his eyes were so blistered he could scarcely see , and taking three or four rapid strides backwards , he leaped across the fiery chasm , and clasped the trembling girl in his arms . She would have been content to have died with him there ; the escape seemed impossible : but the terrible danger he had encountered had invested Redtaper with the

daring of a demon , and the love he bore for Violet seemed to inspire him with the agility of a tiger and the courage ancl strength of a Goliath . But he needed the impenetrable skin of a Vulcan to withstand the terrible heat he was subjecting- himself to , as he panted for breath , while a fierce perspiration burst from every pore . But there was no time for hesitation . Swiftl y he tore off his now charred and smoking long cloak , wrapping it tightly round the

frightened and clinging form of Violet , covering her from head to foot ; for himself he tied a handkerchief round his nostrils , and taking her up he prepared to leap back ; but his strength was not sufficient , and he dare not risk the jump . Violet elected to jump by herself , and persisted she was strong enough . So they rushed together across the deadly chasm with resolute faces , he bearing half her weihtancl they just cleared the distance . Rapidlhe

g , y raised her now inanimate form , and , clenching his teeth , he staggered , to the nearest outer window—back through the broken and crashing timbers , back through the blinding smoke , and lurid spreading flames leaping and clutching at their prey , to sink exhausted and insensible on the threshold of safety , succumbing to the fury of the fire . But two firemen seized the blazing masses and bore them through the window to the anxious and excited crowd below .

Violet was insensible , but otherwise seemingly uninjured , but Redtaper was badly burnt . He could just murmur his wish to be carried to the nearest hospital with Violet , and a dozen willing hands carefull y conveyed them thither immediately . There it was found that Violet was unhurt , but Redtaper ' s injuries were severe , and his face had especially suffered . He endured fearful agony now that he felt the effects of the fire . The fire had now been raging an hour , and was quickly getting under control , as a strong supply of water had been secured . Out of the eighty-