that I would be
rich--that I would be elected to Congress--ah, the traitor! And,
Padre--I burned his letters because it was his wish! Ah, _Santa
Virgen_!" He put his head on the priest's shoulder and wept
violently.

Jose's heart was wrung; but he was powerless to aid the man. And yet,
as he dwelt momentarily on his own sorrows, he almost envied the fate
which had overtaken the misguided Don Mario.

The lieutenant entered. "_Senor Padre_," he said, "the sun is low. In
a quarter of an hour--"

Don Mario sank to the ground and clasped the priest's knees. Jose held
up his hand, and the lieutenant, bowing courteously, withdrew. The
priest knelt beside the cowering prisoner.

"Don Mario," he said gently, holding the man's hand, "confess all to
me. It may be the means of saving other lives--and then you will have
expiated your own crimes."

"Padre," moaned the stricken man, rocking back and forth, his head
buried in his hands and tears streaming through his fingers, "Padre,
you will forgive--?"

"Aye, Don Mario, everything. And the Christ forgives. Your sins are
remitted. But remove now the last burden from your soul--the guilty
knowledge of the part Don Wenceslas has had in the disaster which has
come upon Simiti. Tell it all, friend, for you may save many precious
lives thereby."

The fallen Alcalde roused himself by a mighty effort. Forgetting for
the moment his own dire predicament, he opened his heart. Jose sat
before him in wide-mouthed astonishment. Don Mario's confession
brought a revelation that left him cold. The lieutenant entered
again.

"One moment," said Jose. Then, to Don Mario: "And Carmen?"

Don Mario leaned close to the priest and whispered low. "No, she is
not Diego's child! And, Padre, take her away, at once! But out of the
country! There is not an inch of ground in all Colombia now where she
would be safe from Don Wenceslas!"

Jose's head sank upon his breast. Then he again took Don Mario's
hand.

"Friend," he said gravely, "rest assured, what you have told me saves
at least one life, and removes the sin with which your own was
stained. And now," rising and turning to the waiting lieutenant, "we
are ready."

_Ora pro nobis! Ora pro nobis! Santa Virgen, San Salvador, ora pro
nobis!_

A few minutes later a sharp report echoed through the Simiti valley
and startled the herons that were seeking their night's rest on the
wooded isle. Then Jose de Rincon, alone, and with a heart of lead,
m