r own wife! There is no other thing that I could not have thought of
you, but this I would never have believed had I not heard it from your
lips. Say now, do you still love me, Hokosa?"

"You know well that I love you, now and always," he answered, in a voice
that sounded like a groan; "as you know that for love of you I have done
many sins from which otherwise I should have turned aside."

"Grieve not over them, Hokosa; after all, in such a count as yours they
will make but little show. Well, if you love me, I hate you, though
through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. I demand
of you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not desire to
become a Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, having one
wife already, it will not please you henceforth to live in sin with a
heathen woman."

Now Hokosa turned to Owen:--

"In the old days," he said, "I could have answered her; but now I am
fallen; or raised up--at the least I am changed and cannot. O prophet of
Heaven, tell me what I shall do."

"Sever the bond that you have upon her and let her go," answered Owen.
"This love of yours is unnatural, unholy and born of witchcraft; have
done with it, or if you cannot, at the least deny it, for such a woman,
a woman who hates you, can work you no good. Moreover, since she is a
second wife, you being a Christian, are bound to free her should she so
desire."

"She can work me no good, Messenger, that I know; but I know also that
while she struggles in the net of my will she can work me no evil. If I
loose the net and the fish swims free, it may be otherwise."

"Loose it," answered Owen, "and leave the rest to Providence.
Henceforth, Hokosa, do right, and take no thought for the morrow, for
the morrow is with God, and what He decrees, that shall befall."

"I hear you," said Hokosa, "and I obey." For a while he rocked himself
to and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and spoke:--

"Woman," he said, "the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone,
for I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been,
and soul of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together.
Yet be warned and presume not too far, for remember that which I have
laid down I can take up, and that should I choose to command, you must
still obey. Farewell, you are free."

Noma heard, and with a sigh of ecstasy she sprang into the air as a
slave might do from whom the fetters have bee