The General hastily wrote an order and Stella hurried to the jail. She determined to make a desperate appeal to induce him to compromise with the authorities and save his life. At the sight of the heavy iron bars of his door before which John stood smiling, she broke completely down, seized his extended hand, covered it with kisses and sobbed bitterly. “Come, come, my beautiful one, this is not like you! I’ve counted on your brave spirit to win this fight. Not another tear. Courage and laughter in our souls, defiance, scorn, contempt for our enemies! See, they have made me quite comfortable within the past hour. I tried to knock the Attorney General down, and lo, they rewarded me with a cot and a chair!” “You knocked General Champion down?” Stella gasped in amazement. “I did my best under difficulties. Think of it, my dear! He offered me an office for the betrayal of my people! I couldn’t kill him. I was behind the bars, but I shall always thank God that he stood close enough for my fist to reach his mouth.” John broke into a joyous laugh. His spirit was contagious. Stella looked at him with wonder until a smile stole through the clouds that shadowed her own brow. “How beautiful you are this morning, dearest!” he cried exultantly. She brushed the tears from her eyes. “I tried to see you last night at two o’clock,” she softly said. “And succeeded, my love,” he interrupted smiling. “You came up and stood there and talked to me just as you are now. You told me to be of good cheer--that you loved me. That you hated a sneak and a coward and a traitor. That you had rather see me cold in death than stoop to a low dishonourable deed, even for all the honours of earth. And I lifted up my head in courage. I forgot jails and handcuffs, courts and trials. You took me by the hand and led me away into green fields through the deep woods beside beautiful waters. All night hand in hand we roamed through the mystic world of Love--the only world of realities--I was angry with the sun for waking me!” “My darling, I’m not worthy of such love,” Stella cried, pressing his hand. “What can I do to help you?” “Keep on loving me--that’s the main thing!--incidentally consult a lawyer--the best you can find--tell him that I’m going to fight, fight, fight to the last ditch my own cause and the cause of my people! Keep out of old Champion’s way. He carries a bribe in one hand, a death warrant in the other. Don’t let him know your plans. Don’t let him know that you love me.” Stella lifted her head with sudden resolution. “I’ll get the best lawyer in America. I’ll mortgage the house for the money.” “My little heroine!” he exclaimed with pride. “I’ll go at once.” Through the iron bars she pressed her lips and hurried to the telegraph office with the light of new courage shining in her eyes. CHAPTER IV--THE HON. STEPHEN HOYLE