Norton lifted his hand in a movement of wounded pride:
"My boy!"
"Come, come, Dad, don't shuffle; this thing's a matter of life and death with me and you must be fair——"
"I'm trying——"
"I want to know why you are Helen's guardian, exactly why. We must face each other to-day with souls bare—why are you her guardian?"
"I—I—can't tell you."
"You've got to tell me!"
"You must trust me in this, my son!"
"I won't do it!" the boy cried, trembling with passion that brought the tears blinding to his eyes. "We're not father and son now. We face each other man to man with two lives at stake—hers and mine! You can't ask me to trust you! I won't do it—I've got to know!"
The father turned away: