wanted to say good-by."

Her voice seemed to awaken Karl as from a bad dream. He took her hand
eagerly, stepped forward impulsively as if he would take her in his arms
and kiss her, but Millar interposed himself between them, and a servant
entered at the same moment. Checked in his advance, Karl said:

"I shall take you to your carriage."

The servant announced that Elsa's aunt awaited her. She took Karl's arm,
and Millar directed the servant to follow them.

"The sidewalk is very slippery," he said. "Take Miss Elsa's other arm."

He was determined not to give the beautiful girl a chance alone with
Karl. In the young artist's present excited state almost anything might
occur to wreck his plans.

As the two went out, followed by the servant, Olga came in excitedly.
She looked around to see that Millar was alone and said:

"Your plan worked splendidly."

"What are you going to do now?" asked Millar anxiously, as Olga sat at a
table and took out writing materials.

"I am going to write to him," she answered, addressing an envelope.

"But what will you say?"

"I shall tell him," Olga said wearily, with her hands clasped to her
forehead, "never to speak to me again. I never want to see him. He must
leave town immediately. To think he believed me capable of----"

"Of what?"

"Ah, it is all over," Olga cried, ignoring him. "I never want to see him
again, because----"

"Because you love him?"

"Oh, no. After what has happened I hate him."

"I am very sorry, madam," Millar said contritely.

"You need not be," Olga assured him. "I am glad it happened. With all
your cynicism you are clever and you have done me a great service. When
I know that this letter is in his hands again I shall be perfectly
happy," she went on, dipping her pen in the ink-well.

"You say I have helped you; let me render you one more service," Millar
urged.

"What can that be?" Olga asked.

"I have begun this; let me finish it. Let me dictate this letter. You
are excited. You cannot think of things to say. It must be firm,
strong."

[Illustration: "I HAVE BEGUN THIS, LET ME FINISH IT. LET ME DICTATE THIS
LETTER."--Page 136.

By Permission of Henry W. Savage.]

"Yes, firm, strong," Olga acquiesced.

"Undoubtedly," Millar went on. "Let me tell you what to say."

Wearily Olga yielded to his spell. She seemed under hypnotic
influence as she replied:

"Very well, I shall write whatever you tell me to say."

Millar stood behind