Dunbar released his hold on Lance, and while the terror-stricken scoundrel rushed to the companion, he turned toward the girl, his face twisting with the conflicting emotions of his brain. I staggered to my feet, reached her side and supported her. "John Dunbar," she continued, "you are too big, and strong, and brave, to do this thing--to kill yourself so that you may kill another. Live, so that I may live, too. God will care for him." Dunbar shook like a man with the ague, and it was some time before he could control his voice in answer. "I _can_ live," he stammered, "for you. But, is it possible? You love him." "I do not. He killed my child--his child." Dunbar stiffened up and looked around. "Mr. Wright," he called to the first mate. "Put the owner in irons and lock him in his room." "Aye, aye, sir," answered the officer. And so, with the help of four husky, able seamen, Mr. George Lance, owner of the yacht _Sylph_, was ironed and confined by order of his sailing-master, charged with the crime of murder. We returned to New York. Ella, collapsing in my arms after her declaration to Dunbar, was put to bed by my wife, and slowly recovered her strength. Dunbar, somewhat changed by what she had said, grew tranquil, but non-committal. My wife recovered her equanimity, and expressed hope for the future, in which hope I joined her; but Lance, with his wrists linked by handcuffs, and his soul tortured by deadly fear, reviled us all whenever his opened stateroom door gave him opportunity. There is little more to this story. We anchored, handed Lance over to the harbor police, and went home to await the trial. Dunbar, whose testimony was not needed, secured command of a ship and went to sea. Ella remained in seclusion and was not dragged into the trial when it came off; for Lance, on the evidence furnished by the man at the wheel, my wife and myself, was easily convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. But there were the usual appeals and retrials, and, pending the final disposal of the case, and with regard to Ella's future, I moved my goods and chattels to a far-away city, there to build up a new practice in a community that knew nothing of the trial. But John Dunbar followed us, and, considering the preliminary reference to astrology that appeared in this story, it is but fitting to close with the statement that on the day Dunbar married Ella Madison, Lance entered the penitentiary, there to remain for the rest of his life. THE EQUATION