he southward. A continent is before you. We
will find a new Mexico, carve out a new Peru with your sword, though I
want nothing but to be with you, alone with you, my soldier, my lover,
my king!"

"But your plighted word?"

"'Tis nothing. My heart was plighted to you. That is enough. Let us go,
we may never have the chance again," she urged, clinging to him.

A fearful struggle was going on in Alvarado's breast. What she proposed
was the very thing he would have attempted were the circumstances other
than they were. But his patron, his friend, his military duty, his honor
as a soldier--the sweat beaded his forehead again. He had made up his
mind at the betrothal to give her up. He had abandoned hope; he had put
aside possibilities, for he could see none. But here she was in his
arms, a living, breathing, vital, passionate figure, her heart beating
against his own, pleading with him to take her away. Here was love with
all its witchery, with all its magic, with all its power, attacking the
defenses of his heart; and the woman whom he adored as his very life,
with all the passion in his being, was urging, imploring, begging him to
take her away. He was weakening, wavering, and the woman who watched him
realized it and added fuel to the flame.

"The love I bear your father!" he gasped.

"Should it bind where mine breaks? I am his daughter."

"And Don Felipe is my personal friend."

"And my betrothed, but I hesitate not."

"My oath as a soldier----"

"And mine as a woman."

"Gratitude--duty----"

"Oh, Alvarado, you love me not!" she cried. "These are the strongest. I
have dreamed a dream. Lend me your dagger. There shall be no awakening.
Without you I can not bear----"

As she spoke she plucked the dagger from the belt of the young soldier,
lifted the point gleaming in the moonlight and raised it to her heart.
He caught it instantly.

"No, no!" he cried. "Give back the weapon."

The poniard fell from her hand.

"Thou hast taken me, I thank thee," she murmured, thinking the battle
won as he swept her once more in his arms. This time he bent his head to
her upturned face and pressed kiss after kiss upon the trembling lips.
It was the first time, and they abandoned themselves to their transports
with all the fire of their long restrained passion.

"And is this the honor of Captain Alvarado?" cried a stern voice as the
Viceroy entered the room. "My officer in whom I trusted? Death and fury!
Donna Mercedes,