ut he held them back
with a stern gesture, "I don't think I ever knew just what love was.
There is one way--only one--"

But from those lips the explanation of this one way never came. As they
saw the change in him and rushed to his support, his head fell forward on
his breast and all was over.

CHAPTER XXX

NOT YET

They had laid him on the bed and Mr. Harper, in his usual practical way,
was hastening to rouse the house, when Georgian stepped before him and
laid her hand upon the door.

"Not yet," said she with authority. "He said there was a way--let us find
it before we give up our secret and our possible safety. Mr. Harper, have
you guessed that way?"

"No, except the usual one of protection through the law which he scouts.
I do not believe, Mrs. Ransom, in any other being necessary. Your
brother's threats answered a very good purpose while he was alive, but
now that he is dead they need not trouble you. I'm not even sure that I
believe in the organization. It was mostly in your brother's brain, Mrs.
Ransom; there's no such band, or if there is, its powers are not so
unlimited as he would make you believe."

She simply pointed to the motionless form and the distorted face which
were slowly assuming an expression of great majesty.

"There is my answer," said she. "Men of his strong attributes do not kill
themselves from fancy. He knew what he did."

"And you think--"

"That I will not live a week if I pass that door under the name of
Georgian Ransom. Mr. Harper, I am sure of it; Roger, I beg you to believe
what I say. It may not come here--but it will come. The mark has been set
against my name. Death only will obliterate this mark. But the name--that
is already a dead one--shall it not stay so?--It is the one way--the way
he meant."

"Georgian!"

It was a cry of infinite protest. Such a cry as one might expect from the
long-suffering Ransom. It drew her from the door; it brought her to his
side. As their eyes and hands met, Harper stepped back to the bedside,
and remembering the sensitiveness of the man before him, softly covered
his poor face. When he turned back, Mrs. Ransom was slowly shaking her
head under her husband's prolonged look and saying softly:

"No, not Georgian, Anitra. Henceforth Anitra, always Anitra. Can you
endure the ordeal for the sake of the safety and peace of mind it will
bring?"

"I endure it! Can you? Remember the deafness that marks Anitra."

"That can be cured