pause, 'I trust in God, and He will deliver me,' the laugh was changed
into a tone of entreaty. Something in this girl there was which, in
spite of himself, commanded respect. So small, so fragile as she looked
in his power, in his hands, lured thither by his treachery, as a bird is
lured to the snare, he yet quailed as Bryda repeated, 'He will deliver
me.'

'Nay, Bryda,' he began in a gentler tone, 'I love you. I offer you all I
have. I make you honourable proposals, when some men might--'

A loud voice was now heard.

'What are you doing here--eh?' And in another moment Jack Henderson
strode up, and putting his arm round Bryda, said defiantly, 'Touch her
again if you dare.'

'Touch her!' Mr Bayfield said, with cool irony, 'touch her! I am to
marry her to-morrow morning at Bath, so, my good fellow, I advise you to
go back the way you came, and remember the old adage and mind your own
business.'

'Is this true, Bryda?' Jack said, still holding her with his strong arm,
'is this true?'

'No, Jack, no, it is not true--it is false.'

Then Jack sprang upon the Squire and struck him across the face.

'Leave her!' he shouted, 'leave go this instant, you scoundrel!'

'Yes, to give you your deserts, you young rascal.'

The two men closed in a deadly struggle, and Jack, the lion roused
within him, got the mastery, though his adversary fought in a more
scientific way, as one who had been well accustomed to such conflicts.

Bryda stood by the old thorn tree too terrified to move, only entreating
Jack to stop for her sake, only crying aloud in her despair to Mr
Bayfield to stop.

But the fight grew ever fiercer and fiercer, and at last, with one
mighty blow of his huge arm, Jack had his adversary at his feet, his
knee on his chest, his hand at his throat.

So tremendous was the force with which the young giant had felled the
Squire that his fall made a heavy thud on the hard road.

Just at this moment a storm-cloud came sweeping over the hillside, and
hail fell in a thick, sharp shower.

'Swear you will leave her, swear you will not touch her again,' Jack
gasped out, for he was breathless with rage and exertion.

But there was no answer. Suddenly Jack relaxed his hold, and rising,
stood staring down at the inanimate form before him, on which the hail
beat with blinding fury.

Bryda drew near, and clasping her hands, said,--

'You have killed him, Jack Henderson, you have killed him! Oh, God have
mercy on you