Rawn, for the first time in his life, faced a situation which he could not dominate by arrogance and bluster. For the first time in his life he had met another man, body to body, in actual physical encounter; and that man was his master! All at once the consciousness of this flashed through every fiber of him, bodily and mental. He had met a man stronger than himself--yes, stronger both in body and in mind. The consciousness of that latter truth also sank deep into his heart. It was a moment of horror for him. He, John Rawn, master of this place, rich, happy, prosperous--he, John Rawn, beaten--subdued--it could not be! Heaven never would permit that! They all remained tense, silent, motionless, for just half an instant; it seemed to them a long time. Halsey at length straightened and turned toward the door. "I'm going," said he dully. "Good by, Grace." Rawn turned, confused, distracted. He cared for no more of the physical testing of this difference. But he saw Success passing in the reviled figure of his son-in-law. "No, no!" he cried--"Jennie--he fouled me--but don't let him go--he'll ruin us, do you hear?" Halsey was within the tall glass doors and passing toward the front entry. He heard the rustle of skirts back of him and felt a light hand upon his shoulder. "Well," he began; and turning, faced young Mrs. Rawn! IV "I'm sorry," he stammered, "it's disgraceful. I beg your pardon with all my heart. But I couldn't help it. He struck me first with what he said. He threatened me. Let me go. I'll never come back here again. I'm sorry--on your account--" "Charles," she said softly, "Charley, wait. Where are you going?" "To the divorce courts, and then to hell." "But you mustn't go away like this. I'm sorry, too. Wait!" Suddenly moved by some swift, irresistible impulse, perhaps born of this unregulated scene where all seemly control seemed set aside, she put both her white bare arms about his neck and looked full into his eyes, her own eyes bright. He caught her white wrists in his hands; but did not put away her arms. He stood looking at her, frowning, uncertain. His blood flamed. "It's disgrace," he said, "I admit it. I can't square it any way in the world. I'm sorry on your account--awfully sorry!" His blood flamed, flamed. "Listen!" she said, panting, eager, her voice with some strange, new, compelling quality in it, foreign to her as to himself. "You mustn't go. You mustn't ruin the future of us all in just a minute of temper. Yen mustn't ruin yourself, or--_me_. Besides, there's Grace!" "Oh, Grace!" "But she's your wife." "Not any longer. She's chosen for herself. She left me and would not come back. I'm going now. I'm on my own from this time." "Why not?" she asked coolly. "But why wreak ruin on us all? You don't stop to think!"