d, and I am
proud to have it in my veins."

"Cannot you stop torturing me, and say what you have to say?" asked
Bessie.

"I had no wish to torture you, but if you like I will come to the
point. It is this. Will you now consent to marry me to-morrow morning
at sun-up, or am I to be forced to carry the sentence on your old uncle
into effect?"

"I will not. I will not. I hate you and defy you."

Muller looked at her coldly, and then drew his pocket-book from his
pocket and extracted from it the death-warrant and a pencil.

"Look, Bessie," he said. "This is your uncle's death-warrant. At present
it is valueless and informal, for I have not yet signed, though, as
you will see, I have been careful that everybody else should. If once I
place my signature there it cannot be revoked, and the sentence must
be carried into effect. If you persist in your refusal I will sign it
before your eyes;" and he placed the paper on the book and took the
pencil in his right hand.

"Oh, you cannot, you cannot be such a fiend," wailed the wretched woman,
wringing her hands.

"I assure you that you are mistaken. I both can and will. I have gone
too far to turn back for the sake of one old Englishman. Listen, Bessie.
Your lover Niel is dead--that you know."

Here Jess behind the wall felt inclined to cry out, "it is a lie!" but,
remembering the absolute necessity of silence, she checked herself.

"And what is more," went on Muller, "your sister Jess is dead too! she
died two days ago."

"Jess dead! Jess dead! It is not true. How do you know that she is
dead?"

"Never mind; I will tell you when we are married. She is dead, and,
except for your uncle, you are alone in the world. If you persist in
this he will soon be dead too, and his blood will be upon your head, for
you will have murdered him."

"And if I were to say yes, how would that help him?" she cried wildly.
"He is condemned by your court-martial--you would only deceive me and
murder him after all."

"On my honour, no. Before the marriage I will give this warrant to
the pastor, and he shall burn it as soon as the service is said. But,
Bessie, don't you see that these fools who tried your uncle are only
like clay in my hands? I can bend them this way and that, and whatever
song I sing they will echo it. They do not wish to shoot your uncle, and
will be glad indeed to get out of it. Your uncle shall go in safety to
Natal, or stay here if he wills. His property shall be secu