ss; you shall not ruin hers. I want you to keep out of her way.
Do you understand? I give you fair warning."

"My dear Karl, you don't know what you are saying. I shall not mar her
happiness or yours."

"Why did you play that evil trick on me to-night?"

"Why, you dull, young artist? Because I wanted to show her that you
loved her; that you cared not two straws for that little slip of a girl
to whom you were trying to play devoted. Because I wanted to show her
that her great love is not wasted on an empty-pated ass."

"Her love!"

"Of course. Her love. She loves you, and has loved you for six years,
and you were blind and did not know it."

"It is not true. It must not be so. She is a true, loyal wife to my
friend."

"Bah! Do you want her to be loyal to that big boor of a husband when
she loves you?"

"I refuse to listen to you any further. Now, let me tell you this. I am
going away. I shall not see Olga again. I shall close my studio and
return to Paris. And I wish not to see you again. Do you understand? I
am going to bed now. When I awake I want you to be gone. Don't let me
find you here."

"You are not hospitable, my dear young friend," Millar said, smiling and
bowing. He seemed genuinely amused at the passionate outburst of the
young artist.

"I believe you are the devil!" Karl cried.

"And you don't find the devil a pleasing personage to look upon, except
when he is decked out by poets in the disguise of Cupid," Millar
sneered.

Karl abruptly left the room, going into his own room and locking the
door. He threw himself upon the bed and tried to sleep, but for hours he
lay awake, haunted by the sinister shadow of his temptation.

Left alone, Millar sank comfortably back in the big, Gothic arm-chair
before the fire. The red glow of the flames seemed to absorb him. He
was merged in the shadows--light and shadow, as they played around the
big chair, from whence there came his devilish chuckle.

* * * * *

Olga's maid, alarmed at the prolonged absence of her mistress, found her
moaning on the floor, where she had fallen in a swoon after Millar's
departure. The maid helped her mistress to her room and to bed.

"As soon as it is daylight go to Monsieur Karl's studio and find out at
what time he will arise. Let no one else know that you go there. And
awaken me as soon as it is possible for me to see him."

"Yes, madam."

Olga meant to get to Karl to intercept the lett