m a false friend, an ungrateful servitor, a forsworn man, a perjured
soldier!" he groaned, passing his hand over his pale brow as if to brush
away the idea consequent upon his words.

"But thou hast my love," she whispered tenderly, swaying toward him
again.

"Yes--yes. Would that it could crown something else than my dishonor."

"Say not so."

She kissed him again, fain to dispel the shadow that darkened his face.

"I had been faithful," he went on, as if in justification, "had I not
seen thee on the brink of that cliff, and then thou wert in my arms--I
was lost----"

"And I was found. I leaped to death. I shut my eyes as I drove the horse
toward the cliff, and I awakened to find myself in your arms--in heaven!
Let nothing take me hence."

"It can not be," he said, "I must go to the Viceroy when he returns
from the Orinoco war, and tell him that I have betrayed him."

"I will tell him," she answered, "or wilt thou tell him what I tell
thee?" she went on.

"Surely."

"Then say to him that I sought death rather than be given to Don Felipe
or to any one else. Tell him you saved me on the very brink of the
cliff, and that never soldier made a better fight for field or flag than
thou didst make for thy honor and duty, but that I broke thee down. I
had the power, and I used it. The story is as old as Eden--the woman
tempted--"

"I should have been stronger--I should not have weakened. But I shall
fight no more--it is all over."

"Ah, thou canst not," she whispered, nestling closer to him. "And tell
my father that should harm come to thee, if, in their anger, he or de
Tobar lay hand upon thee, it will not advantage their plans, for I
swear, if there be no other way, I will starve myself to death to follow
thee!"

"I can not shelter myself behind a woman."

"Then I will tell them both myself," she cried. "You shall know, they
shall know, how a Spanish woman can love."

"And thou shalt know, too," answered Alvarado firmly, "that though I
break my heart, I, an unknown, can expatiate his guilt with all the
pride of most ancient lineage and birth highest of them all."

It was a brave speech, but he did not release his hold upon Mercedes and
in spite of his words when, confident that whatever he might say,
however he might struggle, he was hers at last, she smiled up at him
again, he kissed her.

"When go you to my father, Senor Alvarado?" she asked.

"When he returns from the Orinoco."

"And that will not