have been--no, not friends. I had no higher ideals than he, and
I played his game with him. Then you came. And at a time when he had
involved me heavily financially. The Colombian revolution--his cotton
deal--he must have foreseen, he is so uncanny--he must have known that
to involve me meant control whenever he might need me! He needs me
now, for I stand between him and you."

"You don't!" Carmen was on her feet. "God stands between me and every
form of evil!" She sat down on the arm of the Beaubien's chair. "Is it
because you will not let him have me that he threatens to ruin you
financially?"

"Yes. He couldn't ruin me in reputation, for--" her voice again faded
to a whisper, "I haven't any."

"That is not true!" cried the girl, throwing her arms about the
woman's neck. "Your true self is just coming to light! Why, it is
beautiful! And I love it so!"

The Beaubien suddenly burst into a flood of tears. The strain of weeks
was at last manifesting. "Oh, I have been in the gutter!--he dragged
me through the mire!--and I let him! I did it for money, money! I gave
my soul for it! I schemed and plotted with him; I ruined and pillaged
with him; I murdered reputations and blasted lives with him, that I
might get money, dirty, blood-stained money! Oh, Carmen, I didn't know
what I was doing, until you came! And now I'd hang on the cross if I
could undo it! But it's too late! And he has you and me in his
clutches, and he is crushing us!" She bent her head and sobbed
violently.

Carmen bent over the weeping woman. "Be still, and _know_ that I am
God." The Beaubien raised her head and smiled feebly through her
tears.

"He governs all, dearest," whispered Carmen, as she drew the woman's
head to her breast. "And He is _everywhere_."

"Let us go away!" cried the Beaubien, starting up.

"Flee from our problems?" returned the girl. "But they would follow.
No, we will stay and meet them, right here!"

The Beaubien's hand shook as she clasped Carmen's. "I can't turn to
Kane, nor to Fitch, nor Weston. They are all afraid of him. I've
ruined Gannette myself--for him! I've ruined Mrs. Hawley-Crowles--"

"Mrs. Hawley-Crowles!" exclaimed Carmen, rising.

"Oh, don't, don't!" sobbed the suffering woman, clinging to the girl.

"But--how did you do that?"

"I lent her money--took her notes--which I sold again to Mr. Ames."

"Well, you can buy them back, can't you? And return the money to
her?"

"I can't! I've tried! He refuses