"Lass, an' you, Wils, listen," he said, with all his gentleness. "It's bad enough without you makin' it worse. Don't blind yourselves. That's the hell with so many people in trouble. It's hard to see clear when you're sufferin' and fightin'. But _I_ see clear.... Now with just a word I could fetch this new Jack Belllounds back to his Buster Jack tricks!" "Oh, Ben! No! No! No!" cried Columbine, in a distress that showed how his force dominated her. Moore's face turned as white as ashes. Wade divined then that Moore was aware of what he himself knew about Jack Belllounds. And to his love for Moore was added an infinite respect. "I won't unless Collie forces me to," he said, significantly. This was the critical moment, and suddenly Wade answered to it without restraint. He leaped up, startling Columbine. "Wils, you call me pard, don't you? I reckon you never knew me. Why, the game's `most played out, an' I haven't showed my hand!... I'd see Jack Belllounds in hell before I'd let him have Collie. An' if she carried out her strange an' lofty idea of duty--an' married him right this afternoon--I could an' I would part them before night!" He ended that speech in a voice neither had ever heard him use before. And the look of him must have been in harmony with it. Columbine, wide-eyed and gasping, seemed struck to the heart. Moore's white face showed awe and fear and irresponsible primitive joy. Wade turned away from them, the better to control the passion that had mastered him. And it did not subside in an instant. He paced to and fro, his head bowed. Presently, when he faced around, it was to see what he had expected to see. Columbine was clasped in Moore's arms. "Collie, you didn't--you haven't--promised to marry him--again!" "No, oh--no! I haven't! I was only--only trying to--to make up my mind. Wilson, don't look at me so terribly!" "You'll not agree again? You'll not set another day?" demanded Moore, passionately. He strained her to him, yet held her so he could see her face, thus dominating her with both strength and will. His face was corded now, and darkly flushed. His jaw quivered. "You'll never marry Jack Belllounds! You'll not let sudden impulse--sudden persuasion or force change you? Promise! Swear you'll never marry him. Swear!" "Oh, Wilson, I promise--I swear!" she cried. "Never! I'm yours. It would be a sin. I've been mad to--to blind myself." "You love me! You love me!" he cried, in a sudden transport. "Oh, yes, yes! I do." "Say it then! Say it--so I'll never doubt--never suffer again!" "I love you, Wilson! I--I love you--unutterably," the whispered. "I love you--so--I'm broken-hearted now. I'll never live without you. I'll die--I love you so!" "You--you flower--you angel!" he whispered in return. "You woman! You precious creature! I've been crazed at loss of you!"