red to him,
and compensation paid for the burning of his house. I swear it before
God."

She looked up at him, and he could see that she was inclined to believe
him.

"It is true, Bessie, it is true--I will rebuild the place myself, and
if I can find the man who fired it he shall be shot. Come, listen to me,
and be reasonable. The man you love is dead, and no amount of sighing
can bring him to your arms. I alone am left--I who love you better than
life, better than man ever loved woman before. Look at me: am I not a
proper man for any maid to wed, though I be half a Boer? And I have the
brains, too, Bessie, the brains that shall make us both great. We were
made for each other--I have known it for years, and slowly, slowly,
I have worked my way to you till at last you are in my reach;" and he
stretched out both his arms towards her.

"My darling," he went on, in a soft, half-dreamy voice, "my love and
desire, yield, now--yield! Do not force this new crime upon me. I want
to grow good for your sake, and have done with bloodshed. When you are
am wife I believe that the evil will go out of me, and I shall grow
good. Yield, and never shall woman have had such a husband as I will be
to you. I will make your life soft and beautiful to you as women love
life to be. You shall have everything that money can buy and power
bring. Yield for your uncle's sake, and for the sake of the great love I
bear you."

As he spoke he was slowly drawing nearer Bessie, whose face wore a
half-fascinated expression. As he came the wretched woman gathered
herself together and put out her hand to repulse him. "No, no," she
cried, "I hate you--I cannot be false to him, living or dead. I shall
kill myself--I know I shall."

He made no answer, but only came always nearer, till at last his strong
arms closed round her shrinking form and drew her to him as easily as
though she were a babe. And then all at once she seemed to yield. That
embrace was the outward sign of his cruel mastery, and she struggled no
more, mentally or physically.

"Will you marry me, darling--will you marry me?" he whispered, with his
lips so close to the golden curls that Jess, straining her ears outside,
could only just catch the words--

"Oh, I suppose so; but I shall die--it will kill me."

He strained her to his heart and kissed her beautiful face again and
again, until Jess heard the heavy footsteps of the returning sentry,
and saw Muller leave go of her. Then Jantj