their love-life. The years of
suffering and denial, of grief and pain, of bitterness and
disappointment would make its final realization all the more wonderful.
She was just reaching the maturity of womanhood, barely thirty-one, and
had yet to know the meaning of love's real glory.

"She's mine and I'll take her!" he cried at last. "Let the little,
scheming, oily, cunning scoundrel die to-night by his own law of
self-interest--I've done my part."

Again the music swept over the white foaming waters. His heart was
suddenly flooded with memories of his boyhood, its dreams of heroic
deeds; his mother's serene face; his father's high sense of honour; and
the traditions of his boyhood that make character noble and worth
while, traditions that created a race of free-men before a dollar
became the measure of American manhood.

"Have I done my part?" he asked himself, with a sudden start. "If he
has his way he will die. Peevish, fretful, spoiled by the flattery of
fools, he is incapable of taking care of himself under the conditions
in which he finds himself. If I consent to his death am I not guilty of
murder? Out of the heart are the issues of life! Have I the right to
apply his own law? Could I save him in spite of himself if I made up my
mind to do it? Pride and ceremony, high words and courtesy cut no
figure in this crucial question. Could I save him if I would? If I can,
and don't, I'm a murderer."

He turned quickly and retraced his steps. Bivens was crouching on his
knees with his back to the fierce, icy wind, feebly striking his hands
together.

"Are you going to fight your way with me back to that yacht, Cal?" he
asked sternly.

"I am not," was the short answer. "I am going to walk the marsh till
four o'clock."

"You haven't the strength. You can't walk fast enough to keep from
freezing. You'll have to keep it up eight hours. You're cold and wet
and exhausted. It's certain death if you stay. That water is rising
fast. In ten minutes more it will be dangerous to try it. Will you come
with me?"

"I've told you I'll take my chances here and I want you----"

He never finished the sentence, Stuart suddenly gripped his throat,
threw him flat on his back, and while he kicked and squirmed and swore,
drew a cord from his pocket and tied his hands and feet securely.

Paying no further attention to his groans and curses, he threw his
little, helpless form across his shoulders, plunged into the water and
began his s