had made a mistake, or that there
was some impediment and they must part. Her love for him had reached
such a height of passionate adoration that where he was concerned she
had no pride left.

He gazed at her in blank amazement. Then she was clasped tight in his
embrace.

"For God's sake don't look like that," he said. "My darling one, what
is it?"

"Are you going to tell me there is something that must part us?" she
managed to gasp out.

"Good God, no!" he answered vehemently. "At least," he added, sadly
doubtful, "that depends on yourself."

The colour came back to her face and her eyes lit up, sweetly,
radiantly.

"Depends on myself," she repeated. "Why, in that case nothing in the
world can part us--nothing!"

"Are you sure?"

"Nothing. Nothing," she reiterated. "Alaric, my darling, you have not
been yourself of late. There is something on your mind, and that is
what you are going to tell me now. Am I right?"

He nodded. Then, after a pause--

"Tell me again, Verna. Is there anything that could separate us,
anything I may have done--not against yourself, mind!--in this wide
world that could cause you to shrink from me? Is there? Think it out."

"Why, of course not," she answered, boldly serene now that the whole
question lay in her own hands, almost laughing, in fact, although
knowing full well she was on the verge of something tragic.

"But--what if I have killed a man?"

"What if you have killed twenty men? Some people have, and they brag
about it."

He looked hard at her.

"Yes; but what if I have--what the law calls--committed murder?"

Now she looked hard at him, then shook her head.

"You have not murdered _me_--nor father."

There spake the natural woman in Verna Halse. He had not injured her or
hers, consequently who ever this man had injured it was nothing to her.
In all probability he was justified in so doing, certainly was, in that
in her eyes he could do no wrong.

"But do you quite understand, Verna?" he said gently. "I am in danger
of--of the rope."

"Are you? Well, we shall make it our particular business to see that
that danger passes off. Why, there are places about here where you
could hide for years. Listen, Alaric"--suddenly waxing grave, while a
passion of tenderness came into her voice--"You saw fit, goodness knows
why, to love me. Do you think, then, I am going to shrink from you
because you are in a difficulty? I am only an ignorant sort of g