"He must," screamed Echo. "There is a crime charged against you--he must return to prove your story as to the money--He must know through your own lips the lie that separated us." "You love him--you love him." Jack kept repeating the words, aghast at the knowledge that Echo seemed to be forcing upon him. "Bring him back to me." Firmly she spoke. Jack gazed at her in fear. Chokingly he cried again: "You love him!" "I don't know. All I know is that he has suffered, is suffering now, through your treachery; bring him back to me, that I may stand face to face with him, and say: 'I have not lied to you, I have not betrayed your trust.'" "You love him," he repeated. "Find him--bring him back." Jack was helpless, speechless. Echo's attitude overpowered him. The wife staggered again to the piano, slowly sinking to the seat. She had turned her back on him. This action hurt him more than any word she had spoken. Her face was buried in her hands. Deep sobs shook her shoulders. Jack followed her, to take her again in his arms, but she made no sign of forgiveness. Turning, he strode to the rack, and took down his hat and cartridge-belt. Picking up his rifle, he firmly declared: "I will go. I'll search the plains, the mountains, and the deserts to find this man. I will offer my life, if it will serve to place the life you love beside you. Good-bye." The sound of the closing of the door roused Echo to a full realization of what she had done. She had driven the one man she really loved out of her life; sent him forth to wander over the face of the earth in search of Dick Lane, for whom she no longer cared. She must bring her husband back. She must know that he alone had her heart in his keeping. "No, no, Jack--come back!" she called. "I love you, and you alone--come back! come back!" Before she could throw open the door and summon him back to happiness and trust, Bud, who had heard the full confession from the room in which he had taken refuge when he thought Buck would throw the blame on Jack, caught her by the arm. "Stop!" he commanded. "Bud Lane!" exclaimed Echo, "you have heard--" "I've heard--my brother--he is alive!" Bud spoke rapidly. His belief was confirmed. He would have full revenge for what his brother had suffered at Payson's hands. To Echo's plea of "Don't stop me!" he shouted: "No!" and caught the young wife, and pulled her back from the doorway. Echo struggled to free herself, but the young man was too strong. "He had ruined Dick's life, stolen from him the woman he loved," he hissed in her ear. "Jack! Jack!" was her only answer. "No, he sha'n't come back--let him go as he let my brother go, out of your life forever." "I can't--I can't. I love him!" Throwing Bud off, she ran to the door. Bud pulled his revolver, and cried: "If he enters that door I'll kill him." Outside Echo heard Jack inquiring: "Echo! Echo! you called me?"