“You mean to convict him,” Susie cried. “Another shrewd trick you are playing. Your lawyers will gain his confidence, learn his secrets, betray and send him to his death. But, I’ll warn him!” “Susie, you can’t believe this of me! The pledging of this house is the first great act of selfsacrifice of my life. The joy of it has been a sweet revelation to me. You must hear me when I tell you that I love him with passionate devotion. I’d give my life for him if I could!” “And yet you brought Ackerman here and hounded him for three months until at last he lies in a filthy jail with the shadow of death over him--and you call this love?” The tall form again towered in rage above the shrinking figure. “Wait! I must tell you all, Susie. You know but half the truth. Listen dear, I did try to avenge my father’s death. I believed John Graham guilty. I did lure him on to love me only to find that I loved him! I tried to hate him and couldn’t. I’ve betrayed only his name to Ackerman. I could tear my tongue out for it. If he learns of it, he will turn from me and hate me! Susie darling, I’ve been proud and vain and wilful. Now I’m a poor little girl alone, friendless and lost. You’re stronger than I am. Have pity on me. Be a mother to me--I’m lonely and heart-sick. You know what it is to love. If he turns from me now before I can atone for the wrong I have done him, I can’t live. You--believe--me--now--dear?” Susie’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes, I believe you now.” Stella’s head sank on the table and her form shook with sobs. Susie gently stroked the curling black hair, and said: “I’ll help you. We’ll work together to save his life.” In a moment they were sobbing in each other’s arms. CHAPTER VII--THE PRISONER AT THE BAR WHEN the day of trial dawned, Stella had succeeded in securing the services of two of the greatest lawyers in America, Reverdy Johnson of Maryland, Attorney General in the Cabinet of President Taylor, and Henry Stanbery of Ohio, Attorney General in the Cabinet of Andrew Johnson. The Government was represented by the finest legal talent its vast resources and power could command. For eleven days, before two presiding judges of the United States Circuit Court, the fierce battle of legal giants raged. The great lawyers for the defence fought every inch of ground with dogged tenacity. Stella watched from day to day with breathless intensity as she sat by John Graham’s side. It soon became plain that the Court had constituted itself a partisan political tribunal for the purpose, not of administering justice, but of crushing the enemies of the party in power.