st
resource, is quite valueless. I will deal with you afterwards.
Let me pass!"

The command was curt as a blow. But still she withstood him,
striving to still her agitation, striving with all her desperate
courage to face him and endure.

"I will not!" she said, and with the words she stood up to her
full, slim height, thwarting him, making her last stand.

His expression changed as he realized her defiance. She was
panting still, but there was no sign of yielding in her attitude.
She was girt for resistance to the utmost.

There fell an awful pause--a silence which only her rapid breathing
disturbed. Her eyes were fixed on his. She must have seen the
change, but she dared it unflinching. There was no turning back
for her now.

The man spoke at last, and his voice was absolutely quiet, dead
level. "You had better let me go," he said.

She made a sharp movement, for there was that in the steel-cold
voice that sent terror to her heart. Was this Burke--the man upon
whose goodness she had leaned ever since she had come to this land
of strangers? Surely she had never met him before that moment!

"Open that door!" he said.

A great tremor went through her. She turned, the instinct to obey
urging her. But in the same instant the thought of Guy--Guy in
mortal danger--flashed across her. She paused for a second, making
a supreme effort, while every impulse fought in mad tumult within
her, crying to her to yield. Then, with a lightning twist of the
hand she turned the key and pulled it from the lock. For an
instant she held it in her hand, then with a half-strangled sound
she thrust it deep into her bosom.

Her eyes shone like flames in her white face as she turned back to
him. "Perhaps you will believe me--now!" she said.

He took a single step forward and caught, her by the wrists.
"Woman!" he said. "Do you know what you are doing?"

The passion that blazed in his look appalled her. Yet some strange
force within her awoke as it were in answer to her need. She flung
fear aside. She had done the only thing possible, and she would
not look back.

"You must believe me--now!" she panted. "You do believe me!"

His hold became a grip, merciless, fierce, tightening upon her like
a dosing trap. "Why should I believe you?" he said, and there was
that in his voice that was harder to bear than his look. "Have I
any special reason for believing you? Have you ever given me one?"

"You know me," she