ad perpetrated. This
latest buffet of the world would be conclusive evidence to Hamlen that
he had no place in its daily routine.

Marian had reached this point in her mental struggle when the most awful
thought of all suddenly came to her.

"Would the harm stop there!"

She sat bolt upright, staring ahead into the grey dawn which lighted the
chamber through the long windows. "Merciful God!" she cried aloud,--"not
that! not that!"

A moment later she sprang out of bed and threw a kimono about her. Then
she opened the window-door and passed out onto the little balcony. The
sun was just rising, and Marian unconsciously first felt the beauty of
the breaking day. It had been long since she had seen a sunrise! She
stood watching it for a brief moment, brushing back with her hand the
mass of beautiful hair which fell about her shoulders and lay against
her ashen cheeks. Then she stepped forward, and facing the East like a
Sun-worshiper of old fell upon her knees in an agony of prayer. The God
who made a world like this she supplicated, who flooded it with the
radiance of such a day, would not so punish her for a single act of
folly! Mistaken as it was, behind it all lay a desire to atone, an
effort for the happiness of others. He would not ask for retribution
such as that!

Relieved by her outburst she returned to her chamber. She must see
Huntington. He would know what to do. He would be God's agent to prevent
the awful climax. But it would be several hours before she could disturb
him, and these hours must be endured.

Huntington responded promptly to the summons when it reached him,
wondering what the occasion might be. Marian's explanation of Hamlen's
disappearance the night before had been so diplomatic that he had
accepted it, so the real story was a complete surprise. He listened
intently as she told him everything, sparing herself in no degree,
anxious only to receive from him some assurance that her fears were
unwarranted.

"You should have told me sooner," was the only criticism Huntington
made, after learning the details.

"I was completely dazed," Marian explained helplessly. "This awful
thought only came to me in the early morning. You don't think it too
late! Don't tell me that!"

"It is useless to speculate," he answered gravely. "Knowing Hamlen as we
do, and knowing how high his sense of honor, the next step seems
inevitable. He will consider that he has sinned against the woman he
loves, and will