knew I was a madman-at times anyhow-I resolved to use my power. Ay, and He felt it too, for He had to come out of the mist to struggle with me. I held tight; and I thought I was going to win, for I didn’t mean Him to take any more of her life, till I saw His eyes. They burned into me, and my strength became like water. He slipped through it, and when I tried to cling to Him, He raised me up and flung me down. There was a red cloud before me, and a noise like thunder, and the mist seemed to steal away under the door." His voice was becoming fainter and his breath more stertorous. Van Helsing stood up instinctively.

"We know the worst now," he said. "He is here, and we know his purpose. It may not be too late. Let us be armed-the same as we were the other night, but lose no time; there is not an instant to spare." There was no need to put our fear, nay our conviction, into words-we shared them in common. We all hurried and took from our rooms the same things that we had when we entered the Court’s house. The Professor had his ready, and as we met in the corridor he pointed to them significantly as he said:-"They never leave me; and they shall not till this unhappy business is over. Be wise also, my friends. It is no common enemy that we deal with. Alas! alas! that that dear Madam Mina should suffer!" He stopped; his voice was breaking, and I do not know if rage or terror predominated in my own heart.

Outside the Harker’s door we paused. Art and Quincey held back, and the latter said:-"Should we disturb her?"

"We must," said Van Helsing grimly. "If the door be locked, I shall break it

in."

"May it not frighten her terribly? it is unusual to break into a lady’s room!" Van Helsing said solemnly.

"You are always right; but this is life and death. All chambers are alike to the doctor, and even were they not they are all as one to me to-night. Friend John, when I turn the handle, if the door does not open, do you put your shoulder down and shove; and you too, my friends, Now!"

He turned the handle as he spoke, but the door did not yield. We threw ourselves against it; with a crash it burst open, and we almost fell headlong into the room. The Professor did actually fall, and I saw across him as he gathered himself up from hands and knees. What I saw appalled me. I felt my hair rise like bristles on the back of my neck, and my heart seemed to stand still.