“I will answer your first question first,” he replied. “What tempted me to come here? Vengeance--deep and deadly vengeance. Vengeance upon the villain who has ruined Grace Davoren. I had intended to take her life first; but I am an Irishman, and will not visit upon the head of the innocent girl, whom this incarnate devil has tempted beyond her strength, the crime for which he is accountable.” “Well, indeed, Shawn, it would be only serving him right; but, in the meantime, you had better be on your guard; it is said that he fears neither God nor devil, and always goes well armed; so be cautious, and if you take him at all, it must be by treachery.” “No,” said the outlaw, indignantly, “I'll never take him or any man by treachery. I know I am an outlaw; but it was the merciless laws of the country, and their injustice to me and mine, that made me so; I resisted them openly and like a man; but, bad as I am supposed to be, I will never stain either my name or my conscience by an act of cowardly treachery. I will meet this dark villain face to face, and take my revenge as a brave man ought. You say he goes well armed, and that is a proof that he feels his own guilt; yes, he goes well armed, you say; so do I, and it will not be the treacherous murderer that he will meet, but the open foe.” “Well,” replied Caterine, “that is just like you, Shawn; and it is no wonder that the women were fond of you.” “Yes,” said he, “but the girl that was dearer to me a thousand times than my own life has proved faithless, because there is a stain upon my name--a stain, but no crime, Caterine; a stain made by the law, but no crime. Had her heart been loyal and true, she would have loved me ten times more in consequence of my very disgrace--if disgrace I ought to call it; but instead of that--but wait--O, the villain! Well, I shall meet him, I trust, before long, and then, Caterine, ah, then!” “Well, Shawn, if she has desalted you, I know one that loves you better than ever she did, and that would never desart you, as Grace Davoren has done.” “Ah, Caterine,” replied the outlaw, sorrowfully, “I am past that now; my heart is broke--I could never love another. What proof of truth or affection could any other woman give me after the treachery of her who once said she loved me so well? She said, indeed, some time ago, that it was her father forced her to do it, but that was after she had seen him, for well I know she often told me a different story before the night of the bonfire and the shower of blood. Well, Caterine, that shower of blood was not sent for nothing. It came as the prophecy of his fate, which, if I have life, will be a bloody one.” “Shawn,” replied Caterine, as if she had not paid much attention to his words, “Shawn, dear Shawn, there is one woman who would give her life for your love.” “Ah,” said Shawn, “it's aisily said, at all events--aisily said; but who is it Caterine?”