ef that I had won you.
Returning suddenly and unexpectedly, I found you had gone to Florida,
to the home of Rex Lyon. Do you know what I would have done, Pluma, if
I had found you his wife and false to your trust?"

"You forget yourself, Lester," she said; "gentlemen never threaten
women."

He bit his lip angrily.

"There are extreme cases of desperation," he made reply. "You must
keep your promise," he said, determinedly. "No other man must dare
speak to you of love."

She saw the angry light flame into his eyes, and trembled under her
studied composure; yet not the quiver of an eyelid betrayed her
emotion. She had not meant to quarrel with him; for once in her life
she forgot her prudence.

"Suppose that, by exercise of any power you think you possess, you
could really compel me to be your wife, do you think it would benefit
you? I would learn to despise you. What would you gain by it?"

The answer sprung quickly to his lips: "The one great point for which
I am striving--possession of Whitestone Hall;" but he was too
diplomatic to utter the words. She saw a lurid light in his eyes.

"You shall be my wife," he said, gloomily. "If you have been
cherishing any hope of winning Rex Lyon, abandon it at once. As a
last resort, I would explain to him how cleverly you removed the
pretty little girl he loved from his path."

"You dare not!" she cried, white to the very lips. "You have forgotten
your own share in that little affair. Who would believe you acted upon
a woman's bidding? You would soon be called to account for it. You
forget that little circumstance, Lester; you dare not go to Rex!" He
knew what she said was perfectly true. He had not intended going to
Rex; he knew it would be as much as his life was worth to encounter
him. He was aware his name had been coupled with Daisy's in the
journals which had described her tragic death. He knew Rex had fallen
madly, desperately in love with little Daisy Brooks, but he did not
dream he had made her his wife. "You have not given me time to explain
why I am here."

"I have heard all about it," he answered, impatiently; "but I do not
understand why they sent for you."

"Mrs. Lyon requested it," she replied, quietly. "Rex simply obeyed her
wishes."

"Perhaps she looked upon you as her future daughter-in-law," sneered
Lester, covertly. "I have followed you to Florida to prevent it; I
would follow you to the ends of the earth to prevent it! A promise to
me can not b