"Come, now, be a good girl, and do me this _one_ favor; it is the last I shall require of you until I give you my name." "I cannot. Such conduct would disgrace our house." "It need not be known." "It is hard to prevent such things being spread abroad." "I will take care of that point. Your house shall not be injured one particle by the occurrence, I give you my word for it. Now do you consent?" "Perhaps you still love this girl, and are trying to deceive me." "I swear that I do not, that I love only you." "Why, then, seek the society of this other?" "I have sworn it, as I have already told you; and this oath _must_ be performed. Will you aid me or not?" "I cannot. I pray you again, do not tempt me!" "But you _must_ help me. I cannot do without you." "For God's sake say no more! Every feeling of my heart revolts at the thought! Just think, for a moment, what it is you ask of me! Think what would be my feelings! Love is incompatible with your request. How can I see you debase yourself and me by such an act?" "I only desire you to decide between this and a worse debasement. Which will you choose?" "What mean you?" "That I will only marry you on condition you will accede to my present proposition." "Have you not told me, time and again, that you looked upon me as your wife by the highest of all laws, the laws of nature and of God? How, then, can you talk of not making me legally yours, in the sight of men?" "I will, I tell you, if you will do as I wish in the present instance. Come, be kind, be gentle and loving, as you ever have been, and we will soon be completely happy by acknowledging our love before men, at the altar." "This again! Oh, tempter, betray me not!" "You have your choice. I will _never_ marry you if you refuse my present offer, NEVER! Whose, then, will be the shame? Which will you be, an honorable wife, or a despised offcast? Your destiny is in your own hands, make your election." "Oh, God! I am in your power!" "Then you consent?" "What assurance have I that this promise will make me your wife? Have you not promised the same thing scores of times?" "Require any form of obligation, and I will give it; as I mean what I say, make your own conditions." "Give me a written promise." He gave it as she dictated it: "I hereby promise to marry Eliza Fleming within one month from this 12th day of April, 1786. This promise I most solemnly give, calling on heaven to witness it, and if I fail in its performance, may the curses of God rest upon my soul in this world and in the world to come. "LOUIS DURANT." "That will do," she said. "And I may depend on you?" "Yes; I am no longer free. But mind, all must be done quietly and kept a profound secret." "Leave that to me; I will be responsible for the result." Thus was a net woven for an unsuspecting victim. Who was she, and what the cause for this unrelenting and revengeful feeling on the part of Durant? Time must show. CHAPTER II. A VILLAIN UNMASKED.