"You misunderstand, Stephanie dear," he said softly. "I've not come to reproach you, nor to find fault, nor to cast up the few unpleasant things in an exquisite past. I've come----" he took a step toward her--"I've come, dearest, to beseech you to forgive--to come back to me--to let me make amends." He held out his arms. "You're the only woman in the world for me--I know it now--I knew it as soon as you had left me. I've come clear from India to tell you--to take you away with me. Won't you come, dearest, won't you come?" "You would dare!" she exclaimed tensely. "You would----" "I would dare the gates of hell for you, sweetheart!--to hold you once again in my arms, to pillow your dear head upon my shoulder, to bury my face in your ruddy tresses, to have you----" "What folly--what silly folly!" she interrupted. "I am no longer your paramour, thank God! I am trying to be an honest woman--to regain the place I lost by reason of your seductions and false tongue. Do you think I would forfeit it again even though I loved you to distraction?" "You _do_ love me, Stephanie--you----" "I loathe you!--your honeyed words and pretty beauty that once led me astray are now simply reminders of your abominations, and the proofs of your depravity.--I ask you to leave the house at once, Mr. Amherst." "You mean it?" he whispered. "You actually mean it?" "I _do_ mean it," she replied. "It may be difficult for such as you to comprehend--but _I mean it_. Now go." He looked her in the eyes a moment, then he humbly bowed his head. "I will go," he said contritely. "I will go----" Suddenly he leaped forward--and his arms closed around her, pinioning her hands to her sides. "But I will kiss you another time before I go--and maybe I shall----" She fought him silently--unwilling even for the servants to see her in this man's embrace. She evaded his every attempt at her lips--she struggled--she buried her hair in his face--she felt his breath on her neck--she was carried slowly across the room--her hair burst free and fell in waves around her, enveloping her face and shielding it somewhat from his attempts. "You siren!" he panted. "You siren!" "You devil!" she gasped. "You worse than devil!--Loose me! I tell you--loose me!" "I'll loose you," he breathed,--"I'll loose you--when I've had--my----" He raised her in his arms and bore her toward a couch--crushing her to him in a mad ecstasy that left her well-nigh senseless. She felt herself strike the couch--felt herself flung upon it--tried to cry out and could not! With a final desperate effort that exhausted her last atom of strength, she strove to thrust him from her. But he only laughed--and shifted his hold. "Not yet, sweetheart!" he panted.--"Not yet----" She closed her eyes in helplessness and sickening fear. It was useless--she could not---- Then she felt Amherst's grip on her torn loose. She opened her eyes--to see him and Harry Lorraine grappled in furious fight.