imagine that I'll force my child into your arms? If
you were that Czar whom you are so fond of quoting, I would not do it!"

This came off in a great burst, and Mr. Harley in his turn began to pace
the floor. The two passed and repassed each other as they walked up and
down, Mr. Harley puffing and swelling, Storri surveying him with leering
superiority.

"Sit down!" cried Storri suddenly, after a minute spent in marching and
countermarching. "I will show you that you are in my hand."

Storri had become calm and business-like; his new manner mystified Mr.
Harley and worked upon him. He dropped into the chair to which Storri
motioned him. From his pocket, Storri took out those French shares.

"Do you see where you forged my name?" said he. "Can you tell me the
punishment for forgery?"

"Forgery!" panted Mr. Harley, in a whirl of rage and wonder. "Did you
not tell me to write your name? Was it not to sustain your deal in
sugar?"

"Come--you Harley--you John Harley," returned Storri, his cruelty
beginning to bubble into exultation, "how small a thing you are when
opposed to Storri! See, now; it begins when you sacrifice for me those
seven thousand dollars. It was then I set a trap for you--you, the
cunning Mr. Harley! It was so simple; I need only give you a chance to
forge my name and you forge it. From that moment you have had but the
one alternative. You must follow my commands, or you must take the
common course of criminals, and go to prison. And now--you Harley--you
John Harley--you, who pride yourself for your respectability, for your
place in the world, for your illustrious relative Senator Hanway--hear
me: You are to be my slave--my dog to fetch and carry. You are to do my
will; or I swear by my Czar and by the heart in the breast of my Czar
that I'll drag you before the world as a felon."

Storri delivered this menace with a ruthless energy that sent it home
like a javelin. It struck the color from the ruddy countenance of Mr.
Harley, and left him white as linen three times bleached.

"Yes," went on the vindictive Storri in an exultant crow, "did you
little people believe you were to laugh at Storri and pass unpunished?
Did you think to insult him and escape his vengeance? Bah! the
super-fine Dorothy is to spurn Storri for a varlet like this Storms! She
is to laugh at Storri's love, and tell how she refused a nobleman!
Excellent; we shall see her laugh when her father--Mr. Harley--Mr. John
Harley--the gr