“Feeling sure of foul play he knelt over the prostrate man and felt for his heart, as he did so his hand closed upon the handle of a dagger.
“With a sense of horror, not knowing what he did, he pulled it from the wound. The red blood dyed his sleeve and arm.
“Before he could rise to his feet and sound an alarm, lights flashed about him and he was in the grip of officers of the law.
“Caught thus apparently red-handed, the crime was fastened upon him. There seemed no way for him to prove his innocence.
“Furthermore, the fact that the dead man was Alden Vance was decidedly against him. He was thrown into prison, tried and convicted of murder.
“It was an awful fatality. At once the business so prosperous declined, and Albert was forced to retire at a heavy loss. But he was faithful to his brother.
“He avowed his intention of proving his brother’s innocence. There was no one upon whom suspicion could fall save Duncan Crane, who had disappeared.
“This fact was the saving of Valentine’s life. In view of the possibility that Crane might be implicated, the judge was lenient, and commuted the sentence of death to life imprisonment.
“Of course this was little better than death, but it gave Albert his chance.
“He at once started upon the track of Crane. To Hawaii, to Yokohama, he tracked the wretch.