as beyond utterance.

"You love me, little new chum," he said.

There was no question in his words. She quivered, and made no answer.
That headlong outburst of passion had overwhelmed her utterly. She was
as drift upon the tide.

He drew a great heaving breath, and clasped her closer. His words fell
hot upon her face. "You are mine! Why shouldn't I keep you? Fate has
given you to me. I'd be a fool to let you go again."

But something--some inner impulse that had been stunned to impotence by
his violence--stirred within her at his words and awoke. Yet it was
scarcely of her own volition that she answered him. "I am--not--yours."

Very faintly the words came from her trembling lips, but the utterance of
them gave her new strength. She moved at last in his hold. She turned her
face away from him.

"What do you mean?" He spoke in a fierce whisper, but--she felt it
instinctively--there was less of assurance in his hold. It was that that
added to her strength, but she offered no active resistance, realizing
wherein lay his weakness--and her own.

"I mean," she said, and though it still trembled beyond her control, her
voice gathered confidence with the words, "that by taking me--by keeping
me--you are taking--keeping--what is not your own."

"Love gives me the right," he asserted, swiftly--"your love--and mine."

But the clearer vision had come to her. She shook her head against his
shoulder. "No--no! That is wrong. That is not--the greater love."

"What do you mean by--the greater love?" He was holding her still
closely, but no longer with that fierce possession.

She answered him with a steadiness that surprised herself: "I mean the
only love that is worth having--the love that lasts."

He caught up the words passionately. "And hasn't my love lasted? Have I
ever thought of any other woman since the day I met you? Haven't I been
fighting against odds ever since to be able to come to you an honest
man--and worthy of your love?"

"Oh, I know--I know!" she said, and there was a sound of heartbreak in
her voice. "But--the odds have been too heavy. I thought you had
forgotten--long ago."

"Forgotten!" he said.

"Yes." With a sob she answered him. "Men do forget--nearly all of them.
Fletcher Hill didn't. He kept on waiting, and--and--they said it wasn't
fair--to spoil a man's life for a dream--that could never come true.
So--I gave in at last. I am--promised to him."

"Against your will?" His arms tightened upon