“Very well,” said the girl, coldly, “then our engagement is broken. That is the one condition, that you free Kane. And you said you couldn’t do that without using the note.”
“But I can try other ways. I can try to get him off because of lack of evidence.”
“Do just as you choose, Leslie. If you free him by any means whatever, I will keep my promise and marry you, but not otherwise.”
“Avice! when you look like that, I can’t give you up! You beautiful girl! You shall be mine! I’ll stop at nothing to win you. I would do anything for you, Avice, anything! Do you understand?”
Impulsively, he took her in his arms. But she cried out, “No, Leslie, you shall not kiss me, until you have freed Kane!”
“Girl!” he cried, and clasped her roughly, “do you know how you make me feel when you insist it is all for his sake?”
“But it is! I have made no attempt to deceive you as to that.”
“Indeed you haven’t. But aren’t you ashamed to love a man who cares for another woman?”
A dear, serene light shone in Avice’s eyes. “No!” she said, “No! You don’t know what a woman’s pure love is. I ask no return, I sacrifice my heart and soul for him, because I love him. He will never know what I have done for him. But he will be free!”
“Free to marry Eleanor Black!”