Without reply, she handed him the box, to make his own choice. He selected one, lighted it, and leaning lazily against the show case, puffed the smoke in huge volumes; he finally took the weed from his lips, ejected a mouthful of saliva on to the clean floor, flicked the ashes off with his little finger, and said, “Well, Miss Wood, I s’pose you are ready to chalk up this morning?” Merna flushed a vivid red, then went deadly pale; this man held a mortgage on everything she possessed, and his manner was distinctly aggressive. “I could not get the money this morning, Mr. Balfour; I have the promise of it the latter end of the week, and I beg of you to wait,” faltered Merna. He laughed loudly and coarsely: “As to waiting, I’ve waited just as long as I am going to; my kindness is all right, but I’m no guy, see! Your chump of a fellow left you to shift for yourself; I’m not one to drag up bygones—I’ll marry you, and call the debt square!” He leaned across the showcase, and tried to grasp her hand. Merna drew herself up indignantly: “I thank you, but I prefer paying my debts in a legitimate way.” “Well, fork over, then,” he said brutally. Tears filled her eyes, she had not one-tenth the amount, so she tried to temporize: “I will certainly raise it by the middle of the week——” “The mortgage is due; it’s got to be paid to-day! I’m going to take no more guff—either you promise to marry me, or I’ll take the stock before night, see!” Protruding his face toward her still more aggressively. Merna grew calm as he became excited; she thought of Ned with a pang of bitterness, that he could place her in a position to be insulted upon his account by such a man; but her disgust of the man himself outweighed all else. “Take the goods now; I shall make no more effort!” she said coldly. “You’ll be sorry! You’ll come whining to me when you’re starving,” he flung after her angrily, as he went out. Within an hour the place was stripped of everything; Merna stood with folded arms and saw them taken out without a tear, she seemed benumbed. An acquaintance passing, came in: “What is the trouble, Miss Wood? Are you obliged to give up?” he asked kindly. “Yes,” briefly. He looked at her sorrowful face, and his heart filled with pity for her. He laid his hand over her’s, and said kindly: “I wish that you would give me the privilege of caring for you——” Merna put out her hand as though to shield herself: “Wait! Wait! I cannot answer you now; come back this evening; my heart is too full now to think—I thank you—” she finished brokenly. He lifted her hand to his lips respectfully, as he replied, “I will come,” and went out quietly.