not go otherwise. Marry me to-day, and
I will start to-night; if not, then any blame there may be will
lie not on my head, but on yours. Now, monsieur, you have my answer."

The two men stood facing each other for a moment in silence.

[Illustration: "The two men stood facing each other in silence."]

Then the priest turned to me: "Will you marry this man, my daughter?"

"Oh, mon pere!" I cried, shuddering, and holding closer to him.

He stepped in front of me and faced the Canadian. "Go!" he commanded.
"Go! You may succour Louisbourg or not, as you will, but before I
would raise my hand in such a sacrilege as you have dared to insult
your God in proffering, I would see it withered to the bone. I will
try to believe you led astray by your evil passions, that you are
not sane for the moment; and if God see fit to leave you in your
present evil possession, He will have punished you more fearfully
than any curse of mine can do. Go, and may God pity you! Come, my
daughter," he said to me.

Holding my hand in his strong, assuring grasp, he led me beside
him, safe in his protecting presence. Before we gained the open
path he stopped, and, motioning me to be seated on a log, he remained
standing. The moment he withdrew his hand the distance between us
seemed immeasurable; all his protection, all his comradeship were
withdrawn with his grasp, and he stood before me as the priest and
judge only.

"I have no wish to add to your trouble," he began, slowly, and
almost unwillingly, I thought, "but for your own safety I must make
it clear to you, beyond further question or casuistry, what your
position now is, and to what your disobedience has led. For yourself,
you are in a position sevenfold worse than you were before; you
have carried the harmless deception I authorised to a point that
has placed you in a most dangerous and humiliating situation.
Sarennes has become infatuated with you to an extent which threatens
ruin to himself, disgrace to those nearest him, and, perhaps,
disaster to greater and more important interests. Nay, do not rise
or speak. I know you would disclaim any part in the matter, but
unfortunately your intention does not alter facts; it is your
presence here that is at fault. Beyond this you are personally in
extreme peril; you must realise that this man knows nothing of the
restrictions which should govern his conduct towards you. Blinded
as he is by his passion, he will not hesitate a moment to carry