ve like that was worth winning; no price was too great to
pay. Her very faith in Mortimer, through which she sought to save him
by inspiring Crane, determined the latter to crush utterly the man who
stood between him and this great love. Intensity of hate, or love, or
cupidity, never drew Crane out of his inherent diplomacy; he took refuge
behind the brother of Allis.

"You see," he said, and his voice was modulated with kindness, "I can't
save Mortimer except at the expense of Alan; you would not have me
do that. Besides, it is impossible--the evidence shines as clear as
noonday."

"If you bring this home to Mr. Mortimer you will punish him, arrest
him?"

"That would be the usual course."

She had taken her hand off his arm; now she replaced it, and he could
feel the strong fingers press as though she would hold him to her
wishes.

"You will not do this," she said, "for my sake you will not."

"You ask this of me, and it is for your sake?"

"Yes, if there is no other way; if Mr. Mortimer, innocent, must take
upon himself this crime, then for my sake you will not punish him."

The gray eyes were violet-black in their intensity.

"If I promise--" He had been going to ask for reward, but she broke in,
saying: "You will keep your word, and I will bless you."

"Nothing more--is that all?"

The magnetism of the intense eyes broke down his reserve; he slipped
back twenty years in a second. Love touched him with a fire-wand, and
his soul ignited. Cold, passionless Philip Crane spoke in a tongue,
unfamiliar as it was to him, that carried conviction to the girl--just
the conviction that he was in earnest, that he was possessed of a
humanizing love. She listened patiently while he pleaded his cause with
much mastery. It was beyond her understanding, that, though Mortimer
through all time had spoken not at all of love to her--at least not in
the passionate words that came from this man's lips--yet she now
heard as though it were his voice and not Crane's. Love was a glorious
thing--with Mortimer.

Crane's intensity availed nothing. When he asked why she held faith to a
man who must be known for all time as a thief, her soul answered, "It is
nothing--because he is innocent."

Because of her Crane would do anything; the matter should be dropped as
though it were all a hideous mistake. Mortimer might remain in the bank;
his employer would even try to believe him innocent, taking the girl's
protestation m conclusive p