ernative than to fight this
through to a finish?" asked the minister.

"I offer you no alternative whatsoever. I command you to remain away
from my daughter."

"And I refuse to obey any such order unless you give some just and
adequate reason."

"I shall give you reason enough. Why did you stop with that little bit
of family history where you did?"

"I had nothing to add of any importance."

"You do not think it of importance to tell us what that confining work
was your father did in Australia?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. If Mother ever told me I was so very
young that I have forgotten."

"Perhaps your mother wished to spare you. If so, I do not intend to tell
you at this late hour in your life. But what he did is sufficient reason
for my forbidding you to carry your attentions any further."

"Father, this is getting really ridiculous," declared his daughter. "We
love each other, and that fact is greater than all else. Not one word
which you may say against Mack's people will make the slightest
difference with me."

"My dear child, if I dared tell you one-tenth of the truth,--but I dare
not."

"You shall not talk like this any longer. It's silly."

"Since when has my child taken to giving her father orders? You are
forcing me to speak. I'd rather cut off my right arm than do it, but I
must save my little girl from----"

"I shall not listen to another word!" broke in the girl.

"Be still! I shall speak, and you shall listen."

"Father! You dare not. I love him, and----"

"You'll blush at the thought of having used that word in connection with
that man before I have finished."

"It doesn't matter what you say, you can never change----"

"Beth, I must ask you to stop interrupting me. This man's father is an
out----"

"You'd better not say that, Father!" cried Elizabeth. "You'll wish you
hadn't when it is too late."

The Elder's face grew livid. His hands trembled violently as he steadied
himself to deliver his final blow. Elizabeth drew close to Mr. McGowan
as though to shield him, and shot a defiant glance at her father.

"I shall tell the truth, and you shall hear it. That man's father is an
outlaw. He is a fugitive from justice. All this prattle about him being
dead is a hoax."

The Elder now stood back to watch the result of his bomb. But what he
saw was far more mystifying than satisfying. It was Mr. McGowan who drew
back as the girl threw her arms about his neck. Elizabeth entreated h