"You must stand by _because_ he's her husband."

"God!"

"Jim, can't you try to forget things where he's concerned? Can't you
try to forget that shooting match and its result? Can't you? Think
well. Can't you, outwardly at least, make things up with him? It'll
help to keep him right, and help toward her happiness. Jim, I ask you
to do this for her sake, lad. I know what you don't know, and I can't
tell you. It's best I don't tell you. It would do worse than no good.
You say you love her better than life. Well, boy, if Eve's to be made
happy we must help to keep Will right. He's got a devil in him
somewhere, and anything that goes awry with him sets that devil
raging. Are you going to help Eve, Jim?"

It was some moments before any answer was forthcoming. It was the old
battle going on of the man against himself. All that was human in Jim
was tearing him in one direction, while his better side--his love for
Eve--was pulling him in the opposite. He hated Will now. He had given
way in this direction completely. The man's final outrage at the
saloon had killed his last grain of feeling for him. And now he was
called upon to--outwardly, at least--take up his old attitude toward
him, a course that would help Will to give the woman he had robbed him
of the happiness which he himself was not allowed to bestow. Was ever
so outrageous a demand upon a man? He laughed bitterly, and aloud.

"No, no, Peter; it can't be done. I'm no saint. I'd hate to be a
saint. Will can go hang--he can go to the devil! And I say that
because I love Eve better than all else in the world."

"And the first sacrifice for that love you refuse?"

"Yes. I refuse to give my friendship to Will."

"You love her, yet you will not help her to happiness?"

"She shall never lack for happiness through me."

Peter smiled in the darkness. A sigh of something like satisfaction
escaped him. He knew that, in spite of the man's spoken refusal, his
appeal was not entirely unavailing.

"You won't leave McLagan's then?" he said.

"Not if Eve needs me."

"Then don't."

But Jim became suddenly impatient.

"For G----'s sake, man, can't you speak out?"

"For Eve's sake, I won't," was the quiet rejoinder.

"Then, Peter, I'm going right on to the ranch now. I'll remain. But,
remember, I am no longer a friend of Will's--and never will be again.
I'll never even pretend. But if I can help Eve you can call on me.
And--I put no limit on the hand I play. So long."