"Merciful Heavens!" burst from her lips. "He is a prisoner," continued Lieutenant Mazenas, "and he will most assuredly be put to death as a spy, unless you consent to save his life." "And how can I save him?" she burst out, eagerly. "There is but one way. I have charge of him, and one word from me and he will be led out blindfolded and shot. I will give him his liberty, on condition that you become my wife at once." "And if I refuse?" She gasped out the words faintly. "If you refuse, I swear that he shall not live to see the rising of to-morrow's sun. Now take your choice. Will you wed me, or shall Howard Sherwood go to his death?" CHAPTER XIII. "YOU HAVE SIGNED HIS DEATH-WARRANT! HE SHALL DIE WITHIN THE HOUR!" Like one transfixed with sudden terror, Estella listened to the cruel words of Lieutenant Mazenas, and they burned deeply into her young heart. She must either marry this man, or her lover, the light of her life, would be put to an immediate and cruel death. "You--you wretch!" she gasped, when she could manage to speak. "Do you call yourself a man, to come here with such a base proposition?" He frowned, and then laughed an unnatural laugh. "Remember, my fair, untamed beauty that in war all is fair, and so it is in love. Besides, I am asking no more at your hands than your father has already promised." "You are a villain, Lieutenant Mazenas, to thus seek to enslave me to you. To bring about Howard Sherwood's death, even under the guise of a war measure, would be nothing short of murder." "He is a spy--he deserves death," muttered the Spanish soldier, not liking her final words. "He is no spy--in the sense that is meant in the army. He is an American newspaper correspondent. The most you can do with him is to expel him from the country." "We can shoot him; it will be done, too, unless you become my wife," he answered, doggedly. "Come, fair Estella, why repulse me longer. See what I offer you, see----" "Enough! There can be no thought of love between you and me. I hate and despise you, Lieutenant Mazenas! I would not marry you even to save my own life----" "But how about saving the life of Howard Sherwood?" "He would not ask so great a sacrifice at my hands. He is too manly, too noble; he has too deep a regard for me." Again the Spaniard muttered an oath under his breath. "Dios! can nothing move her?" he asked himself. "Then he shall die!" he cried. "I will have him shot at sunrise!" "No, no! Spare his life!" she gasped, and then suddenly fell upon her knees before him. "Oh, say you will not do this awful deed!" He gazed at her with a half-smile of triumph upon his lean, yellow features. Was she beginning to weaken? It would appear so.