the first time, I told Marjie of her father's
dying message. I had wanted her to love me for myself. I did not want
any sense of duty to her father's wishes to sway her. I knew now that
she did love me. And I closed the affectionate missive with the words:

"To my father and Aunt Candace you are very dear. Your mother has
always been kind to me. I believe she likes me. But most of all,
Marjie, your father, who lies wrapped in the folds of that
Springvale flag, who gave his life to make safe and happy the land
we love and the home we hope to build, your father, sent us his
blessing. When the roar of cannon was changing for him to the chant
of seraphim, and the glare of the battle field was becoming 'a sea
of glass mingled with fire' that burst in splendor over the
jewelled walls and battlements of the New Jerusalem, even in that
moment, his last thought was of us two. 'I hope they will love each
other,' he said to my father. 'If they do, give them my blessing.'
And then the night shut down for him. But in the eternal day where
he waits our coming and loves us, Marjie, if he knows of what we do
here, he is blessing our love.

"Good-night, my dear, dear girl, my wife that is to be, and know
now and always there is for me only one love. In sunny ways or
shadow-checkered paths, whatever may come, I cannot think other
than as I do now. You are life of my life. And so again,
good-night."

I had climbed to the rock above the crevice and was standing still as
the night about me for the moment when a grip like steel suddenly closed
on my neck and an arm like the tentacle of a devilfish slid round my
waist. Then the swift adroitness of knee and shoulder bent me backward
almost off my feet. I gave a great wrench, and with a power equal to my
assailant, struggled with him. It was some moments before I caught sight
of his face. It was Jean Pahusca. I think my strength grew fourfold
with that glimpse. It was the first time in our lives that we had
matched muscle. He must have been the stronger of the two, but
discipline and temperate habits had given me endurance and judgment. It
was a life-and-death strife between us. He tried to drag me to the edge
of the rock. I strove to get him through the bushes into the street. At
length I gained the mastery and with my hand on his throat and my knee
on his chest I held him fast.

"You miserable d