of morals. Davia, he knew, loved him. She was a strong,
passionate woman, therefore he had not bothered about Jean. That Jean
could possibly have scruples or feelings, had never entered his head.
Davia had given her love, then what business of her brother's was the
manner in which he, Victor, chose to accept it? This is how he argued
when he fully realized the position in which he had thrust himself. But
his argument went no further.

Jean was a man strong and purposeful. He had waited long for such an
opportunity, and he was not the one to forego his advantage without
enforcing his will. If Victor wanted his share of the proceeds of the
robbery he must fulfil the promise, which, in a passionate moment, he
had bestowed. Davia was as clay in his hands. Jean was different. He was
possessed of all the cunning of the half-breed nature, but, looked at
from a half-breed point of view, he was a good man, an honest man. A
half-breed will shoot an enemy down in his tracks, while yet he is a
good father and husband, or a dutiful son. He is a man of much badness
and some good. Jean was a little above the average. Possibly it was
because his affections were centred upon but one creature in the world,
his sister Davia, that he felt strongly in her cause. He knew that, at
last, he held Victor in a powerful grip, and he did not intend to relax
it.

Jean was as good as his word and took up his abode in Victor's store.
Nor would he permit the removal of the treasure under any pretext. This
brother of Davia's understood the trader; he did not watch him; it was
the chest that contained the money that occupied his vigilance.

Victor was resourceful and imaginative, but the stolid purpose of the
other defied his best schemes. He meant to get away with the money, but
the bulldog watchfulness of Jean gave him no opportunity. He was held
prisoner by his greed, and it seemed as if, in the end, he would be
forced to bend to the other's will.

And no word came from Davia. No word that could cause alarm, or tell
them of the dire tragedy being enacted in the mountains. And the two
men, one for ever scheming and the other watching, passed their time in
moody silence.

It was the third day after the foregoing events had taken place, and
midday. Victor was in the store standing in the doorway gazing out
across the mighty foothills which stretched far as the eyes could reach
to the east. He was thinking, casting about in his mind for a means of