tts, what do you want with the girl?" queried Shefford, coolly,
and at the question he seemed to find himself. He peered deliberately
and searchingly into the other's face. The missionary's gaze shifted and
a tinge of red crept up from under his collar.

"Absurd thing to ask a missionary!" he burst out, impatiently.

"Do you care for Glen Naspa?"

"I care as God's disciple--who cares to save the soul of heathen," he
replied, with the lofty tone of prayer.

"Has Glen Naspa no--no other interest in you--except to be taught
religion?"

The missionary's face flamed, and his violent tremor showed that under
his exterior there was a different man.

"What right have you to question me?" he demanded. "You're an
adventurer--an outcast. I've my duty here. I'm a missionary with Church
and state and government behind me."

"Yes, I'm an outcast," replied Shefford, bitterly. "And you may be all
you say. But we're alone now out here on the desert. And this girl's
brother is absent. You haven't answered me yet.... Is there anything
between you and Glen Naspa except religion?"

"No, you insulting beggar?"

Shefford had forced the reply that he had expected and which damned the
missionary beyond any consideration.

"Willetts, you are a liar!" said Shefford, steadily.

"And what are you?" cried Willetts, in shrill fury. "I've heard all
about you. Heretic! Atheist! Driven from your Church! Hated and scorned
for your blasphemy!"

Then he gave way to ungovernable rage, and cursed Shefford as a
religious fanatic might have cursed the most debased sinners. Shefford
heard with the blood beating, strangling the pulse in his ears. Somehow
this missionary had learned his secret--most likely from the Mormons
in Stonebridge. And the terms of disgrace were coals of fire upon
Shefford's head. Strangely, however, he did not bow to them, as had
been his humble act in the past, when his calumniators had arraigned and
flayed him. Passion burned in him now, for the first time in his life,
made a tiger of him. And these raw emotions, new to him, were difficult
to control.

"You can't take the girl," he replied, when the other had ceased. "Not
without her brother's consent."

"I will take her!"

Shefford threw him out of the hogan and strode after him. Willetts had
stumbled. When he straightened up he was white and shaken. He groped for
the bridle of his horse while keeping his eyes upon Shefford, and when
he found it he whirled quickly,