"The Desire of thine eyes." What a perfect description of a man's absorbing love for a woman. Two months ago, he would not have understood it; but he remembered now how he used to look forward, all the week, to the first sight, on Sunday evening, of the sweet face and queenly head of his Lady of Mystery, in her corner beside the stone pillar. And on Christmas-eve, when he stood in the snow, under the shadow of the old lich-gate, while the footman flashed up the lights in the interior of the car, and her calm loveliness was revealed among the furs. Then these two days of intimacy had shown him so much of vivid charm in that gay, perfect face, as she laughed and talked, or hushed into gentle earnestness. She had talked for so long--he sitting watching her; he knew all her expressive movements; her ways of turning her head quickly, or of lowering her eyelids, and hiding those soft clear eyes. To-day--this very day--he would see her again; and every anxious cloud would lift, when she heard his decision. Her grateful look would beam upon him. "The Desire of thine eyes." Yes; it was a truly Divine description of a man's---- Suddenly David sprang to his feet. "My God!" he cried; "I love Diana!" The revelation was overwhelming in its suddenness. Having resolved upon a life of celibacy, his mental attitude towards women had never contemplated the possibility of this. He had stepped fearlessly out into this friendship, at the call of her need, and of his duty. And now---- He stood quite still in the chill silence of the dimly lighted study, and faced the fact. "I--love--Diana! And, in two weeks, I am to wed Diana. And a few hours afterwards, I am to leave Diana--for ever! 'Son of man, behold I take away from thee the Desire of thine eyes with a stroke.' To sail for Central Africa; and never to look upon her face again--the face of my own wife. 'And at even my wife died.' But my wife will not die," said David. "Thank God, it is I who bring the offering of myrrh. Because of this that I can do for her, my wife will live, rich, happy, contented, useful. Her home, her wealth, her happy life, will be my gift to her. But--if Diana knew I loved her, she would never accept this service from me." David had been pacing the room. He now stood still, leaning his hands on the table, where glimmered the one candle. "Can I," he said, slowly, asking himself deliberately the question: "Can I carry this thing through, without letting Diana suspect how much more it means to me, than she intends; how much more than it means to her? Can I wed the Desire of mine eyes in the morning, look my last upon her in the afternoon, and leave her, without her knowing that I love her?" He asked himself the question, slowly, deliberately, leaning heavily on the study table. Then he stood erect, his head thrown back, his deep eyes shining, and answered the question with another. "Is there anything a man cannot do for the woman he loves?" said David Rivers.