as ever drew the breath of life. He hurled his sinewy form against
Colonel Sheraton again as I released him. "That boy is lying to us both,
I tell you. I say he's not to blame, and I know it. I _know_ it, I say.
I'm her physician. Listen, you, Sheraton--you shall not harm a man who
has lied like this, like a gentleman, to _save_ you and your girl."

"Damn you both," sobbed the struggling man. "Let me go! Let me alone!
Didn't I _hear_ him--didn't you hear him _admit_ it?" He broke free and
stood panting in the center of the room, we between him and the weapon.
"Harry!" he called out sharply. The door burst open.

"A gun--my pistol--get me something, boy! Arm yourself--we'll kill
these--"

"Harry," I called out to him in turn. "Do nothing of the sort! You'll
have me to handle in this. Some things I'll endure, but not all things
always--I swear I'll stand this no longer, from all of you or any of
you. Listen to me. Listen I say--it is as Doctor Bond says."

So now they did listen, silently.

"I am guiltless of any harm or wish of harm to any woman of this
family," I went on. "Search your own hearts. Put blame where it belongs.
But don't think you can crowd me, or force me to do what I do not freely
offer."

"It is true," said Doctor Bond. "I tell you, what he says could not by
any possibility be anything else but true. He's just back home. _He has
been gone all summer._"

Colonel Sheraton felt about him for a chair and sank down, his gray face
dropped in his hands. He was a proud man, and one of courage. It irked
him sore that revenge must wait.

"Now," said I, "I have something to add to the record. I hoped that a
part of my story could be hid forever, except for Miss Grace and me
alone. I have not been blameless. For that reason, I was willing,
freely--not through force--to do what I could in the way of punishment
to myself and salvation for her. But now as this thing comes up, I can
no longer shield her, or myself, or any of you. We'll have to go to the
bottom now."

I flung out on the table the roll which I had brought with me to show
that morning to Grace Sheraton--the ragged hide, holding writings placed
there by my hand and that of another.

"This," I said, "must be shown to you all. Colonel Sheraton, I have been
very gravely at fault. I was alone for some months in the wilderness
with another woman. I loved her very much. I forgot your daughter at
that time, because I found I loved her less. Through fo