mprecation rose to his lips, but he chopped it off
quickly, uttering again that laugh, so hard, so cruel, so
blood-curdling, that it sent a chill of terror to her young heart.

"It's too late to change your mind now," he exclaimed. "It's only
natural you should feel this way; girls always do. Here is the coach and
the horses. The driver and my friend will be impatient to be off."

Either the excitement of his coming triumph or the brandy he had taken
had made him recklessly wild.

He drew her along, heedless of her struggles, her passionate protest.
His face was flushed, his dark eyes gleamed; he was ready at that moment
to face and defy devils and men.

"Don't make a fuss, my darling. You've got to come along," he exclaimed.
"Of course, you have scruples and all that. I think the more of you for
them, but you'll thank me for not listening some day. I'll bring you
back after the ceremony's over and set you down at your own gate, if you
say so, I swear I will," and as he spoke he caught her in his arms and
fairly thrust her into the vehicle, placed her on the seat and sprang in
beside her.

The door closed with a bang and the horses were off like a flash.

Too terrified to utter another word of protest, and half fainting from
fright, Faynie sank back, gasping, into the farthest corner. Her
companion turned to the man sitting opposite.

"My friend, Smith, Faynie," he said by way of introduction, and adding,
before the other could utter one word to acknowledge the introduction,
"let's have a little more of that. I'm chilled to the marrow with the
cold, standing out there in the snow."

There was a faint move of the little bundle huddled up in the corner.
She fell forward in a dead faint.

"So much the better," cried Kendale. "She will not bother us until
we've had time to formulate our plans. Ha, ha, ha! how easy it is for a
sharp-witted fellow like myself to make a million of money!"

CHAPTER IV.

FOND LOVE TO HATRED TURNED.

Despite the severe shock which caused Faynie to swoon, her
unconsciousness lasted but a few moments, then, dazed and bewildered,
her blue eyes opened slowly, and she realized with horror too great for
words that she was whirling swiftly over the snowy road, still in the
company of the two men, her lover and his companion.

They were talking together in low, guarded tones. She could not help but
hear every word distinctly, and they fell upon her ears with horror so
intense she