l for Mother Dolores?"

There was no response save a low moan, Don Carlos's limbs stretched out
as if they were stiffening into the rigour of death, and his head
sagged back as Myra tried to raise it. Temporarily, Myra completely
lost her head.

"Speak to me, Don Carlos," she gasped brokenly. "Open your eyes and
look at me, darling. Oh, surely, surely you can't be going to die!
What can I do? Oh, my dear, my dear--"

Her voice failed her, she tried to cry out for help but sobs choked her
utterance. Don Carlos's eyes fluttered open for a moment then closed
again.

"Kiss me, Myra darling," he moaned faintly. "Kiss me, my sweet love."

Quivering with emotion, Myra bent down and pressed her trembling lips
to his--and immediately found herself encircled by two strong arms,
found the eyes of the "dying" man open and glowing with life and
ardour, found herself crushed in a close embrace, and being kissed, and
kissed, and kissed.

She struggled, broke free, and scrambled to her feet, her brain in a
turmoil, and almost instantly Don Carlos also was on his feet, laughing
exultantly.

"Myra, darling, surely you can no longer persist in pretending you do
not love me," he exclaimed breathlessly. "If you hated me, as you
professed, you would have let Standish try to fire a second time. I
have put you to the test and proved that you love me."

Myra, agitated, bewildered, torn by conflicting emotions, gazed at him
wide-eyed.

"But--but aren't you wounded?" she stammered. "Have you only been
pretending?"

"Only pretending, Myra, but I blame myself for not acting my part for a
little longer," answered Don Carlos. "If only I had waited, pretending
for a few minutes longer that I was dying, you would have confessed
your love. But your kiss so fired my heart that I forgot my part."

He laughed again exultantly and made a movement as if to sweep Myra
into his arms, but she recoiled from him hastily. Anger and resentment
at having been fooled swiftly succeeded her bewilderment, and her blue
eyes flashed her indignation.

"So you have only been making mock of me, playing a part as usual, to
flatter your own vanity!" she exclaimed. "I am sorry now that Tony's
aim was not truer, and that I prevented him from firing a second time."

"The result would have been just the same, Myra," Don Carlos responded.
"The pistol was loaded with blank cartridges. I deliberately left it
within the reach of Standish, to see if he wo