married to Richard--then would they make me go in court and
testify against him?"

"No. A wife is not compelled to give testimony against her husband,
nor may she testify for him, either."

Betty rose and straightened herself defiantly; with flaming cheeks and
flashing eyes she looked down upon him.

"Then I will tell one great lie--father--and do it even if--if it
should drag me down to--hell. I will say I am married to Richard--and
will swear to it." Bertrand was silent, aghast. "Father! Where is
Richard?"

"He is there in Leauvite, in jail. You must do what is right in the
eye of God, my child, and tell the truth."

"If I tell the truth,--they will do what is right in their own eyes.
They don't know what is right in the eye of God. If they drag me into
court--there before all the world I will lie to them until I drop
dead. Has--has--the Elder seen him?"

"Not yet. He refused to see him until the trial."

"He is a cruel, vindictive old man. Does he think it will bring Peter
back to life again to hang Richard? Does he think it will save his
wife from sorrow, or--or bring any one nearer heaven to do it?"

"If Richard has done the thing he is accused of doing, he deserves the
extremest rigor of the law."

"Father! Don't let the Elder make you hard like himself. What is he
accused of doing?"

"He is making claim that he is Peter Junior, and that he has come back
to Leauvite to give himself up for the murder of his cousin, Richard
Kildene. He thinks, no doubt, that you will say that you know Richard
is living, and that he has not killed him, and in that way he thinks
to escape punishment, by proving that Peter also is living, and is
himself. Do you see how it is? He has chosen to live here an impostor
rather than to live in hiding as an outcast, and is trading on his
likeness to his cousin to bear him out. I had hoped that it was all a
detective's lie, got up for the purpose of getting hold of the reward
money, but now I see it is true--the most astounding thing a man ever
tried."

"Did he send you to me?"

"No, child. I have not seen him."

"Father Bertrand Ballard! Have you taken some detective's word and not
even tried to see him?"

"Child, child! He is playing a desperate game, and taking an ignoble
part. He is doing a dastardly thing, and the burden is laid on you to
confess to the secret you have been hiding and tell the truth."

Bertrand spoke very sadly, and Betty's heart smote her for his sorr