. No one is to
blame but I. I love him. I made him love me. He has been trying hard not
to love me so much. But I am a woman; and could not deny myself the glory
and the joy of being loved better than woman was ever loved before. And
so I am; I am. Kill me, if you like; insult me, if you will. But not a
word against him, or I give him my hand, and we live and die together on
this island. Oh, papa! he has often saved that life you value so; and I
have saved his. He is all the world to me. Have pity on your child. Have
pity on him who carries my heart in his bosom!"

She flung herself on her knees, and strained him tight, and implored him,
with head thrown back, and little clutching hands, and eloquent eyes.

Ah! it is hard to resist the voice and look and clinging of a man's own
flesh and blood. Children are so strong--upon their knees. Their dear
faces, bright copies of our own, are just the height of our hearts then.

The old man was staggered, was almost melted. "Give me a moment to
think," said he, in a broken voice. "This blow takes my breath away."

Helen rose, and laid her head upon her father's shoulder, and still
pleaded for her love by her soft touch and her tears that now flowed
freely.

He turned to Penfold with all the dignity of age and station. "Mr.
Penfold," said he, with grave politeness, "after what my daughter has
said, I must treat you as a man of honor, or I must insult her. Well,
then, I expect you to show me you are what she thinks you, and are not
what a court of justice has proclaimed you. Sir, this young lady is
engaged with her own free will to a gentleman who is universally
esteemed, and has never been accused _to his face_ of any unworthy act.
Relying on her plighted word, the Wardlaws have fitted out a steamer and
searched the Pacific, and found her. Can you, as a man of honor, advise
her to stay here and compromise her own honor in every way? Ought she to
break faith with her betrothed on account of vague accusations made
behind his back?"

"It was only in self-defense I accused Mr. Arthur Wardlaw," said Robert
Penfold.

General Rolleston resumed:

"You said just now there are accusations which soil a man. If you were in
my place, would you let your daughter marry a man of honor, who had
unfortunately been found guilty of a felony?"

Robert groaned and hesitated, but he said, "No."

"Then what is to be done? She must either keep her plighted word, or else
break it. For whom? For