aught later.

Kate stepped at once to her father's side; he turned upon her a look of
affectionate pride, but before he could speak, she had drawn forward her
companion, saying,--

"Here is one, papa, to whom we owe much. She has saved your life
to-night, for I would not have known you were in danger if she had not
warned me, and she saved me from worse than death in preventing the
carrying out of the farce of an illegal marriage with that villain, by
giving me a glimpse of his real character before it was too late."

The change that passed over Mr. Underwood's countenance during Kate's
words was fearful to see. From the kindliness and courtesy with which he
had greeted the stranger his face seemed changed to granite, so hard
and relentless it became.

"An illegal marriage? What do you mean?" he demanded, and there was
something in his voice that no one present had ever heard there before.

"Illegal, papa, because this woman is his lawful wife." And Kate gave a
brief explanation of the situation.

"Is that so?" he appealed to the woman, his tones strangely quiet.

"Yes, Senor; I have the papers to prove it."

"Do you admit it?" he demanded of Walcott, with a glance which made the
latter quail, while his hand sought one of the loaded revolvers lying on
the table.

"We were married years ago, but I did not know the woman was living; I
swear I did not. I supposed she was dead until the day she came to me."

"How about the past year? You have known all this time that she was
living, yet you have dared to press your suit for my daughter, you dog!
Not another word!" he exclaimed, as Walcott strove to form some excuse.

He raised his hand and the revolver gleamed in the light. Mr. Britton
grasped him by the arm.

"David, old friend, calm yourself!" he exclaimed. "Don't be rash or
foolish; let the law take its course."

"The law!" interposed Mr. Underwood, fiercely; "do you think I'd take a
case of this kind into the courts? Charges such as these against a man
whose name has been publicly associated with my daughter's as her
betrothed husband, and the principal witness against that man his own
wife! Do you suppose for a moment I'll have my daughter's name dragged
through such mire? No, by God! I'll blow the dog's brains out with my
own hand first!"

A fierce struggle ensued for a moment between the two men, which ended
in John Britton's disarming his friend, Kate meanwhile keeping Walcott
at bay as he sought in