his jade a few yards away and stay
there."

Jake did as he was told, and the servant, having evidently seen Wilfred
before, seemed to think no wrong. I saw Ruth look around her as if in
fear, however, while I, scarce knowing why, waited for what should
follow next.

"Wilfred," said Ruth, "this is strange acting. Never before has any
one dared to treat me so; but you are an old friend, or I should say
perhaps that I have known you a very long time, and so I grant your
request. Speak, but speak quickly. Meanwhile we will walk home."

"No," said Wilfred, "I say what I want to say here."

"Why?"

"Ruth, I am a desperate man, and I must use desperate means. I am not
going to be frightened out of my purposes; nothing shall stay my hand!"

He spoke with the old intense tone of voice that I knew so well, and I
knew, as he said, that he was desperate.

"Well, what have you to tell me, Wilfred?" There was no fear in her
voice. Evidently, she felt she was on her own land, and that no one
would dare to molest her, where she was beloved by all.

"First of all, Ruth," he said hoarsely, "I am come to tell you that
Roger is dead. News came last night of his death."

"Died! How?" she gasped.

"Hanged," he said, savagely. "The pirate vessel on which he sailed was
captured, and he has been hanged. One or two of the crew were granted
a reprieve, but Roger was the most bloodthirsty man among them, and to
him no mercy was shown."

She did not speak, and, after being silent a second, he went on.

"I came to tell you that first of all; I thought you might be glad to
know that he will plague you no more.

"Then, Ruth," he went on, "I am come to tell you something else. I
cannot live without you, Ruth. I have been mad for love of you for
long, long years. Oh, if you only knew, if you only knew!"

"Wilfred," she answered, "say no more about that. Surely you know that
when I was nearly driven to marry you, the thought of it almost killed
me. You cannot come with that petition again."

"But, Ruth, Roger is dead, and now I have come to beseech you to have
pity. I am dying for you, Ruth. Oh, if you will only pity me, and if
although you do not love me, you will fulfil my father's wish, and your
father's wish, and wed me, you will save me. Save me from death
here--from death hereafter."

He spoke with passionate earnestness, which I can never forget. He
pleaded for her love as a man fearful of death might plead