"There is life certainly," he said, after a moment. "It is possible that she may be revived."
"A hundred dollars shall be your fee, doctor, if you revive her so she can speak again," declared Shanks in a tone of the most intense eagerness.
"I will try."
Placing a medicine case on the stand at the head of the bed, the doctor, whose gray hairs seemed to indicate long experience at least in the profession, proceeded to open and pour out a dark liquid in a spoon.
Then he forced open the jaws of the poor woman, and was gratified to see her swallow it.
A second later she breathed spasmodically and soon showed signs of life.
Shanks sat watching every movement with the most intense interest.
The physician succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. It was a most powerful antidote to the poison he knew had been administered by the treacherous husband.
In the course of twenty minutes the woman was able to speak again, although only in an extremely low tone.
"Can you communicate with me, Mrs. Barkswell?"