Steve’s face went white, and he stammered: “Why--why--my dear--how--can--I? I don’t know him. It’s impossible!” “Nothing is impossible to the man who loves me if I desire it,” she answered, firmly holding Steve with her eyes dilated to extraordinary size under the tension of her deep emotion. He turned from her gaze, the cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. “But, Stella, my dear, I’m not a member of the Klan.” She dropped his hand, sprang to her feet, and looked at him a moment. “You are lying!” “I swear I’m telling you the truth,” he cried, eagerly attempting to regain her hand. She turned from him with contempt. She saw too late that she had overplayed the part. She had been too eager, too sure. He was a greater coward than she had suspected. “But why should you ask such a thing of me?” he stammered. “You know why.” “I haven’t the remotest idea.” “Coward!” she hissed, turning suddenly. “You know that I wish to hang this man for the murder of my father.” “If the Government of the United States with its army and navy and its millions cannot find him--am I a coward because I tell you that I do not know his name?” “Yes.” “In God’s name why?” he pleaded. “I know that you are a member of the Klan.” “Upon my soul and honour I swear that I am not!” “Have you either soul or honour?” “I won’t quarrel with you, dear; you are overwrought and crushed by this tragedy. You don’t mean what you say.” “I do mean it!” she fiercely cried. “Then you’ll live to regret it,” he answered, recovering his composure. “I’ll do anything within human reason. You must not ask the impossible.” “Then you will help me to find this man?” “To the limit of my power.” “Why say to the limit of my power? I hate a man who fences, squirms and lies when face to face with a test of his manhood! Will you help me find this man? Yes or no?” “Yes.” “That’s better.” “But tell me,” he said, watching her with increasing reserve and cunning. “Whom do you suspect?” “John Graham.” Steve’s eyes flashed. “And what is your programme when you have established the fact?” “The Attorney General has promised to hang him within thirty days.” “With all due respect to the Attorney General--he can’t do it.” “Why not?” “We are living under conditions of revolution. No jury can be found who will convict him. There’s but one way.” “What do you mean?” Stella asked, lowering her voice. “That beyond a doubt John Graham inspired this crime.” “You believe it?” she broke in fiercely. “I’m sure of it. His hatred of the Judge had become a mania. He used the Klan as the cloak of his hired assassin.” “The Klan decreed his death,” said Stella sternly. “John Graham decreed it.” “What do you propose?” she asked, again coming close to Steve. “To have him executed by the Klan itself!” “And yet you are not a member?” she asked with a smile. “I am in touch with men who are.” “How could his execution be brought about?” “Ask him the question you put to me.” “And if he tells?”