\"————you！……Inevergaveintoy’uan’Ineverwill。\"
\"But，girl——Ikissedy’u——huggedy’u——handledy’u——\"heexpostulated，andthemakingofthecigaretteceased。
\"Yes，y’udid——y’ubrute——whenIwassodownheartedandweakI
couldn’tliftmyhand，\"sheflashed。
\"Ahuh！Y’umeanIcouldn’tdothatnow？\"
\"IshouldsmileIdo，JimColter！\"shereplied。
\"Wal，mebbe——I’llsee——presently，\"hewenton，strainingwithwords。
\"ButI’mshorecurious……Daggs，then——hewasnothin’toy’u？\"
\"Nomorethany’u，\"shesaid，morbidly。\"Heusedtorunafterme——
longago，itseems……Iwasonlyagirlthen——innocent——an’I’dnotknownanybutroughmen。Icouldn’tallthetime——everyday，everyhour——keephimatarm’slength。SometimesbeforeIknew——Ididn’tcare。
Iwasachild。Akissmeantnothingtome。ButafterIknew——\"
Ellendroppedherheadinbroodingsilence。
\"Say，doy’uexpectmetobelievethat？\"hequeried，withaderisiveleer。
\"Bah！WhatdoIcarewhaty’ubelieve？\"shecried，withliftinghead。
\"HowabootSimmBrace？\"
\"Thatcoyote！……Heliedabootme，JimColter。Andanymanhalfamanwouldhaveknownhelied。\"
\"Wal，Simm。alwaysbraggedabooty’ubein’hisgirl，\"assertedColter。
\"An’hewasn’tover——particularabootdetailsofyourlove—makin’。\"
Ellengazedoutofthedoor，overColter’shead，asiftheforestouttherewasarefuge。Sheevidentlysensedmoreaboutthemanthanappearedinhisslowtalk，inhisslouchingposition。Herlipsshutinafirmline，asiftohidetheirtremblingandtostillherpassionatetongue。Jean，inhisabsorption，magnifiedhisperceptions。
NotyetwasEllenJorthafraidofthisman，butshefearedthesituation。
Jean’sheartwasatburstingpitch。Allwithinhimseemedchaos——awreckofbeliefsandconvictions。Nothingwastrue。Hewouldwakepresentlyoutofanightmare。Yet，assurelyashequiveredthere，hefelttheimminenceofagreatmoment——alightningflash——athunderbolt——abalancestruck。
Colterattendedtotheforgottencigarette。Herolledit，lightedit，allthetimewithlowered，ponderinghead，andwhenhehadpuffedacloudofsmokehesuddenlylookedupwithfaceashardasflint，eyesasfieryasmoltensteel。
\"Wal，Ellen——howabootJeanIsbel——ourhalf—breedNezPercefriend——whowasshoreseenhandlin’y’ufamiliar？\"hedrawled。
EllenJorthquiveredasunderalash，andherbrownfaceturnedadustyscarlet，thatslowlyrecedingleftherpale。
\"Damny’u，JimColter！\"sheburstout，furiously。\"IwishJeanIsbelwouldjumpinthatdoor——ordownoutofthatloft！……HekilledGreavesfordefilingmyname！……He’dkillY’Uforyourdirtyinsult……AndI’dliketowatchhimdoit……Y’ucold—bloodedTexan！
Y’uthievingrustler！Y’uliar！……Y’uliedabootmyfather’sdeath。
AndIknowwhy。Y’ustolemyfather’sgold……An’nowy’uwantme——
y’uexpectmetofallintoyourarms……MyHeaven！cain’ty’utelladecentwoman？Wasyourmotherdecent？Wasyoursisterdecent？……Bah！I’mappealingtodeafness。Buty’u’llHEAHthis，JimColter！……I’mnotwhatyuthinkIam！I’mnotthe——thedamnedhussyy’uliarshavemademeout……I’maJorth，alas！I’venohome，norelatives，nofriends！I’vebeenforcedtolivemylifewithrustlers——vilemenlikey’uan’Daggsan’therestofyourlike……ButI’vebeengood！Doy’uheahthat？……IAMgood——sohelpmeGod，y’uan’
allyourrottennesscain’tmakemebad！\"
Colterloungedtohistallheightandthelaxityofthemanvanished。
VanishedalsowasJeanIsbel’ssuspendedicydread，thecoldcloggingofhisfeveredmind——vanishedinawhite，living，leapingflame。
Silentlyhedrewhisknifeandlaytherewatchingwiththeeyesofawildcat。TheinstantColtersteppedfarenoughovertowardtheedgeoftheloftJeanmeanttobounderectandplungedownuponhim。ButJeancouldwaitnow。Colterhadagunathiship。Hemustneverhaveachancetodrawit。
\"Ahuh！Soy’uwishJeanIsbelwouldhopinheah，doy’u？\"queriedColter。
\"Wal，ifIhadanypityony’u，that’sdoneforit。\"
Asweepofhislongarm，soswiftEllenhadnotimetomove，broughthishandinclutchingcontactwithher。Andtheforceofitflungherhalfacrossthecabinroom，leavingthesleeveofherblouseinhisgrasp。
Pantinglysheputoutthatbaredarmandherothertowardhimoffashetooklong，slowstridestowardher。
Jeanrosehalftohisfeet，draggedbyalmostungovernablepassiontoriskallononeleap。Butthedistancewastoogreat。Colter，blindashewastoalloutwardthings，wouldhear，wouldseeintimetomakeJean’seffortfutile。Shakinglikealeaf，Jeansankback，eyeagaintothecrackbetweentherafters。
Ellendidnotretreat，norscream，normove。Everylineofherbodywasinstinctwithfight，andthemagnificentblazeofhereyeswouldhavecheckedalesscallousbrute。
Colter’sbighanddartedbetweenEllen’sarmsandfastenedinthefrontofherblouse。Hedidnottrytoholdherordrawherclose。Theunleashedpassionofthemanrequiredviolence。Inonesavagepullhetoreoffherblouse，exposingherwhite，roundedshouldersandheavingbosom，whereinstantlyawaveofredburnedupward。
Overcomebythetremendousviolenceandspiritoftherustler，Ellensanktoherknees，withblanchedfaceanddilatingeyes，tryingwithfoldedarmsandtremblinghandtohidehernudity。
AtthatmomenttherapidbeatofhoofsonthehardtrailoutsidehaltedColterinhistracks。
\"Hell！\"heexclaimed。\"An’who’sthat？\"WithafierceactionheflungtheremnantsofEllen’sblouseinherfaceandturnedtoleapoutthedoor。
JeansawEllencatchtheblouseandtrytowrapitaroundher，whileshesaggedagainstthewallandstaredatthedoor。Thehoofbeatspoundedtoasolidthumpinghaltjustoutside。
\"Jim——thar’shelltopay！\"raspedoutapantingvoice。
\"Wal，Springer，IreckonIwishedy’u’dpaiditwithoutspoilin’
mydeals，\"retortedColter，coolandsharp。
\"Deals？Ha！Y’u’llbeforgettin’——yourladyloveinaminnit，\"
repliedSpringer。\"WhenIcatch——mybreath。\"
\"Where’sSomers？\"demandedColter。
\"Ireckonhe’sallshotup——ifmyeyesdidn’tfoolme。\"
\"Whereishe？\"yelledColter。
\"Jim——he’slayin’upinthebushesroundthetbluff。Ididn’twaittoseehowhewashurt。Butheshorestoppedsomelead。An’hefloppedlikeachickenwithits——haidcutoff。\"
\"Where’sAntonio？\"
\"Herunlikethegreaserheis，\"declaredSpringer，disgustedly。
\"Ahuh！An’where’sQueen？\"queriedColter，afterasignificantpause。
\"Dead！\"
ThesilenceensuingwasfraughtwithasuspensethatheldJeanincoldbonds。Hesawthegirlbelowrisefromherknees，onehandholdingtheblousetoherbreast，theotherextended，andwithstrange，repressed，almostfranticlooksheswayedtowardthedoor。
\"Wal，talk，\"orderedColter，harshly。
\"Jim，thereain’tahellofalot，\"repliedSpringer;drawingadeepbreath，\"butwhatthereisisshoreinterestin’……Mean’SomerstookAntoniowithus。Helefthiswomanwiththesheep。An’werodeupthecanyon，clumboutontop，an’madeacirclebackontheridge。
That’sthewaywe’vebeenhuntin’fertracks。UptharinabarespotwerunplumpintoQueensittin’againstatree，rightoutintheopen。
Queerestsighty’ueverseen！ThedamngunfighterhadsetdowntowaitforIsbel，whowastrailin’him，aswesuspected———an’hediedthar。
Hewasn’tcoldwhenwefoundhim……Somerswasquicktoseeatrick。
SoheproppedQueenupan’tiedthegunstohishands——an’，Jim，thequeerestthingabootthatdealwasthis——Queen’sgunswasempty！Notashellleft！Itbeatusholler……Welefthimthar，an’hiduphighonthebluff，mebbeahundredyardsoff。Thehossesweleftbackofathicket。An’wewaitedtharalongtime。But，sureenough，thehalf—breedcome。Hewastoosmart。ToomuchInjun！Hewouldnotcrosstheopen，butwentaround。An’thenheseenQueen。Itwasgreattowatchhim。Afteralittleheshovedhisrifleoutan’wentrightferQueen。ThisiswhenIwantedtoshoot。Icouldhavepluggedhim。
ButSomerssayswaitan’makeitsure。WhenIsbelgotuptoQueenhewassortofhalfhidbythetree。An’Icouldn’twaitnolonger，soIshot。Ihithim，too。Weallbeguntoshoot。Somersshowedhimself，an’that’swhenIsbelopenedup。HeusedupawholemagazineonSomersan’then，suddenlike，hequit。Itdidn’ttakemelongtofiggermebbehewasoutofshells。WhenIseenhimrunIwascertainofit。Thenwemadeforthehossesan’rodeafterIsbel。PrettysoonIseenhimrunnin’likeadeerdowntheridge。Iyelledan’spurredafterhim。ThereiswhereAntonioquitme。ButIkepton。An’IgotashotatIsbel。Heranoutofsight。Ifolleredhimbyspotsofbloodonthestonesan’grassuntilIcouldn’ttrailhimnomore。Hemusthavegonedownoverthecliffs。Hecouldn’thavedonenothin’elsewithoutmeseein’him。Ifoundhisrifle，an’hereitistoprovewhatIsay。IhadtogobacktoclimbdownofftheRim，an’Irodefastdownthecanyon。He’ssomewherealongthatwestwall，hidin’inthebrush，hardhitifIknowanythin’abootthecolorofblood。\"
\"Wal！……thatbeatsmeholler，too，\"ejaculatedColter。
\"Jim，what’stobedone？\"inquiredSpringer，eagerly。Ifwe’resharpwecancorralthathalf—breed。He’sthelastoftheIsbels。\"
\"More，pard。He’sthelastoftheIsbeloutfit，\"declaredColter。
\"Ify’ucanshowmebloodinhistracksI’lltrailhim。\"
\"Y’ucanbetI’llshowy’u，\"rejoinedtheotherrustler。\"Butlisten！
Wouldn’titbebetterforusfirsttoseeifhecrossedthecanyon？
Ireckonhedidn’t。Butlet’smakesure。An’ifhedidn’twe’llhavehimsomewharalongthatwestcanyonwall。He’snotgotnogun。He’dneverrunthetwayifhehad……Jim，he’sourmeat！\"
\"Shore，he’llhavethatknife，\"ponderedColter。
\"Weneedn’tworryaboutthet，\"saidtheother，positively。\"He’shardhit，Itelly’u。Allwegottodoisfindthetbloodytrailagainan’
sticktoit——goin’careful。He’slayin’lowlikeacrippledwolf。\"
\"Springer，Iwantthejoboffinishin’thathalf—breed，\"hissedColter。
\"I’dgivetenyearsofmylifetostickagundownhisthroatan’shootitoff。\"
\"Allright。Let’srustle。Mebbey’u’llnothavetogivemuchmore’ntenminnits。BecauseItelly’uIcanfindhim。It’dbeeneasy——but，Jim，IreckonIwasafraid。\"
\"Leaveyourhossformean’goahaid，\"therustlerthensaid，brusquely。
\"I’veajobinthecabinheah。\"
\"Haw—haw！……Wal，Jim，I’llrustleabitdownthetrailan’wait。
Nohuntin’JeanIsbelalone——notferme。I’vehadaqueerfeelin’
aboutthetknifeheusedonGreaves。An’Ireckony’u’doughterletthetJorthhussyalonelongenoughto——\"
\"Springer，IreckonI’vegottohawg—tieher——\"Hisvoicebecameindistinguishable，andfootfallsattestedtoaslowmovingawayofthemen。
JeanhadlistenedwithearsacutelystrungtocatcheverysyllablewhilehisgazeresteduponEllenwhostoodbesidethedoor。Everylineofherbodydenotedalisteningintensity。HerbackwastowardJean，sothathecouldnotseeherface。Andhedidnotwanttosee，butcouldnothelpseeinghernakedshoulders。Sheputherheadoutofthedoor。Suddenlyshedrewitinquicklyandhalfturnedherface，slowlyraisingherwhitearm。ThiswastheleftoneandborethemarksofColter’shardfingers。
Shegavealittlegasp。Hereyesbecamelargeandstaring。Theywerebentonthehandthatshehadremovedfromastepontheladder。Onhandandwristshowedabright—redsmearofblood。
Jean，withaconvulsiveleapofhisheart，realizedthathehadlefthisbloodytracksontheladderashehadclimbed。Thatmomentseemedthesupremelyterribleoneofhislife。
EllenJorth’sfaceblanchedandhereyesdarkenedanddilatedwithexceedingamazeandflashingthoughttobecomefixedwithhorror。
ThatinstantwastheoneinwhichherreasonconnectedthebloodontheladderwiththeescapeofJeanIsbel。
Onemomentsheleanedthere，stillasastoneexceptforherheavingbreast，andthenherfixedgazechangedtoaswift，darkblaze，comprehending，yetinscrutable，assheflashedituptheladdertotheloft。Shecouldseenothing，yetsheknewandJeanknewthatsheknewhewasthere。Amarveloustransformationpassedoverherfeaturesandevenoverherform。Jeanchokedwiththeacheinhisthroat。
Slowlysheputthebloodyhandbehindherwhilewiththeothershestillheldthetornblousetoherbreast。
Colter’sslouching，musicalstepsoundedoutside。Anditmighthavebeenastrangebreathofinfinitelyvitalizingandpassionatelifeblownintothewell—springsofEllenJorth’sbeing。Isbelhadnonameforherthen。Thespiritofawomanhadbeentohimathingunknown。
Sheswayedbackfromthedooragainstthewallinsingular，softenedpoise，asifallthesteelhadmeltedoutofherbody。AndasColter’stallshadowfellacrossthethresholdJeanIsbelfelthimselfstaringwitheyeballsthatached——strainingincreduloussightatthiswomanwhoinafewsecondshadbewilderedhissenseswithhertransfiguration。
Hesawbutcouldnotcomprehend。
\"Jim——Iheard——allSpringertoldy’u，\"shesaid。ThelookofherdumfoundedColterandhervoiceseemedtoshakehimvisibly。
\"Supposey’udid。Whatthen？\"hedemanded，harshly，ashehaltedwithonebootedfootoverthethreshold。Malignantandforceful，heeyedherdarkly，doubtfully。
\"I’mafraid，\"shewhispered。
\"Whatof？Me？\"
\"No。Of——ofJeanIsbel。Hemightkilly’uand——thenwherewouldIbe？\"
\"Wal，I’mdamned！\"ejaculatedtherustler。\"What’sgotintoy’u？\"
Hemovedtoenter，butasortoffascinationboundhim。
\"Jim，Ihatedy’uamomentago，\"sheburstout。\"Butnow——withthatJeanIsbelsomewherenear——hidin’——watchin’tokilly’u——an’maybeme，too——I——Idon’thatey’uanymore……Takemeaway。\"
\"Girl，havey’ulostyournerve？\"hedemanded。
\"MyGod！Colter——cain’ty’usee？\"sheimplored。\"Won’ty’utakemeaway？\"
\"Ishorewill——presently，\"hereplied，grimly。\"Buty’u’llwaittillI’veshotthelightsoutofthisIsbel。\"
\"No！\"shecried。\"Takemeawaynow……An’I’llgivein——I’llbewhaty’u——want……Y’ucandowithme——asy’ulike。\"
Colter’sloftyframeleapedasifatthereleaseofburstingblood。
Withalungeheclearedthethresholdtoloomoverher。
\"AmIoutofmyhaid，orarey’u？\"heasked，inlow，hoarsevoice。
Hisdarklycordedfaceexpressedextremestamaze。
\"Jim，Imeanit，\"shewhispered，edginganinchnearerhim，herwhitefaceuplifted，herdarkeyesunreadableintheireloquenceandmystery。
\"I’venofriendbuty’u。I’llbe——yours……I’mlost……Whatdoesitmatter？Ify’uwantme——takemeNOW——beforeIkillmyself。\"
\"EllenJorth，there’ssomethin’wrongabooty’u，\"heresponded。
\"Didy’utellthetruth——wheny’udeniedeverbein’asweetheartofSimmBruce？\"
\"Yes，Itoldy’uthetruth。\"
\"Ahuh！An’howdoy’uaccountforlayin’meoutwitheverydirtynamey’ucouldgivetongueto？\"
\"Oh，itwastemper。Iwantedtobeletalone。\"
\"Temper！Wal，Ireckony’u’vegotone，\"heretorted，grimly。An’I’mnotshorey’u’renotcrazyorlyin’。AnhouragoIcouldn’ttouchy’u。\"
\"Y’umaynow——ify’upromisetotakemeaway——atonce。Thisplacehasgotonmynerves。Icouldn’tsleepheahwiththatIsbelhidin’around。
Couldy’u？\"
\"Wal，IreckonI’dnotsleepverydeep。\"
\"Thenletusgo。\"
Heshookhislean，eagle—likeheadinslow，doubtfulvehemence，andhispiercinggazestudiedherdistrustfully。Yetallthewhiletherewasmanifestinhisstrungframeanalmostirrepressibleviolence，heldinabeyancetohiswill。
\"Thatabootyourbein’sogood？\"heinquired，withareturnofthemockingdrawl。
\"Nevermindwhat’spast，\"sheflashed，withpassiondarkashis。
\"I’vemademyoffer。\"
\"Shorethere’salieabooty’usomewhere，\"hemuttered，thickly。
\"Man，couldIdomore？\"shedemanded，inscorn。
\"No。Butit’salie，\"hereturned。\"Y’u’llgetmetotakey’uawayan’thenfoolme——runoff——Godknowswhat。Womenareallliars。\"
Manifestlyhecouldnotbelieveinherstrangetransformation。Memoryofherwildandpassionatedenunciationofhimandhiskindmusthavesearedevenhiscallousedsoul。Buttheruthlessnatureofhimhadnotweakenednorsoftenedintheleastastohisintentions。Thisweather—vaneveeringofhersbewilderedhim，obsessedhimwithitspossibilities。Hehadthelookofamanwhowasdividedbetweenloveofherandhate，whoselovedemandedareturn，butwhosehaterequiredaproofofherabasement。Notproofofsurrender，butproofofhershame！
Theignominyofhimthirstedforitslike。Hecouldgrindherbeautyunderhisheel，buthecouldnotsoftentothisfeminineinscrutableness。
AndwhateverwasthetruthofEllenJorthinthismoment，beyondColter’sgloomyandstuntedintelligence，beyondeventheloveofJeanIsbel，itwassomethingthatheldthebalanceofmastery。ShereadColter’smind。Shedroppedthetornblousefromherhandandstoodthere，unashamed，withthewaveofherwhitebreastpulsing，eyesblackasnightandfullofhell，herfacewhite，tragic，terrible，yetstrangelylovely。
\"Takemeaway，\"shewhispered，stretchingonewhitearmtowardhim，thentheother。
Colter，evenasshemoved，hadleapedwithinarticulatecryandradiantfacetomeetherembrace。Butitseemed，justasherleftarmflasheduptowardhisneck，thathesawherbloodyhandandwrist。Strangehowthatcheckedhisardor——threwuphisleanheadlikethatstrikingbirdofprey。
\"Blood！Whatthehell！\"heejaculated，andinonesweephegraspedher。
\"How’dyudothat？Arey’ucut？……Holdstill。\"
Ellencouldnotreleaseherhand。
\"Iscratchedmyself，\"shesaid。
\"Where？……Allthatblood！\"Andsuddenlyheflungherhandbackwithfiercegesture，andthegleamsofhisyelloweyeswerelikethepointsofleapingflames。Theypiercedher——readthesecretfalsityofher。
Slowlyhesteppedbackward，guardedlyhishandmovedtohisgun，andhisglancecircledandswepttheinteriorofthecabin。Asifhehadthenoseofahoundandsighttofollowscent，hiseyesbenttothedustofthegroundbeforethedoor。Hequivered，grewrigidasstone，andthenmovedhisheadwithexceedingslownessasifsearchingthroughamicroscopeinthedust——farthertotheleft——tothefootoftheladder——anduponestep——another——athird——allthewayuptotheloft。
Thenhewhippedouthisgunandwheeledtofacethegirl。
\"Ellen，y’u’vegotyourhalf—breedheah！\"hesaid，withaterriblesmile。
Sheneithermovednorspoke。Therewasasuggestionofcollapse，butitwasonlyachangewherethealluringsoftnessofherhardenedintoastrange，raptglow。Andinitseemedthesamemasterythathadcharacterizedherformeraspect。Hereinthetreacheryofherwasrevealed。Shehadknownwhatshemeanttodoinanycase。
Colter，standingatthedoor，reachedalongarmtowardtheladder，wherehelaidhishandonarung。Takingitawayhehelditpalmoutwardforhertoseethedarksplotchofblood。
\"See？\"
\"Yes，Isee，\"shesaid，ringingly。
Passionwrenchedhim，transformedhim。\"Allthat——abootleavin’heah——withme——abootgivin’in——wasalie！\"
\"No，Colter。Itwasthetruth。I’llgo——yet——now——ify’u’llspare——HIM！\"
Shewhisperedthelastwordandmadeaslightmovementofherhandtowardtheloft。\"Girl！\"heexploded，incredulously。\"Y’ulovethishalf—breed——thisISBEL！……Y’uLOVEhim！\"
\"Withallmyheart！……ThankGod！Ithasbeenmyglory……
Itmighthavebeenmysalvation……ButnowI’llgotohellwithy’u——ify’u’llsparehim。\"
\"Damnmysoul！\"raspedouttherustler，asifsomethingofrespectwaswrungfromthatsordiddeepofhim。\"Y’u——y’uwoman！……Jorthwillturnoverinhisgrave。He’driseoutofhisgraveifthisIsbelgoty’u，\"
\"Hurry！Hurry！\"imploredEllen。\"Springermaycomeback。
IthinkIheardacall。\"
\"Wal，EllenJorth，I’llnotspareIsbel——nory’u，\"hereturned，withdarkandmeaningleer，asheturnedtoascendtheladder。
JeanIsbel，too，hadreachedtheclimaxofhissuspense。GatheringallhismusclesinaknothepreparedtoleapuponColterashemountedtheladder。But，EllenJorthscreamedpiercinglyandsnatchedherriflefromitsrestingplaceand，cockingit，shehelditforwardandlow。
\"COLTER！\"
Herscreamandhisutterednamestiffenedhim。
\"Y’uwillspareJeanIsbel！\"sherangout。\"Dropthatgun—dropit！\"
\"Shore，Ellen……Easynow。Rememberyourtemper……I’llletIsbeloff，\"hepanted，huskily，andallhisbodysankquiveringlytoacrouch。
\"Dropyourgun！Don’tturnround……Colter！——I’LLKILLY’U！\"
Buteventhenhefailedtodivinethemeaningandthespiritofher。
\"Aw，now，Ellen，\"heentreated，inlouder，huskiertones，andasifdraggedbyfataldoubtofherstill，hebegantoturn。
Crash！TherifleemptieditscontentsinColter’sbreast。Allhisbodysprangup。Hedroppedthegun。Bothhandsflutteredtowardher。
Andanawfulsurpriseflashedoverhisface。
\"So——help——me——God！hewhispered，withbloodthickinhisvoice。
Thendarkly，asonegroping，hereachedforherwithshakinghands。
\"Y’u——y’uwhite—throatedhussy！……I’ll……\"
Hegraspedthequiveringriflebarrel。Crash！Sheshothimagain。
Asheswayedoverherandfellshehadtoleapaside，andhisclutchinghandtoretheriflefromhergrasp。Theninconvulsionhewrithed，toheaveonhisback，andstretchout——aghastlyspectacle。Ellenbackedawayfromit，herwhitearmswide，aslowhorrorblottingoutthepassionofherface。
Thenfromwithoutcameashrillcallandthesoundofrapidfootsteps。
Ellenleanedagainstthewall，staringstillatColter。\"Hey，Jim——what’stheshootin’？\"calledSpringer，breathlessly。
AshisformdarkenedthedoorwayJeanonceagaingatheredallhismuscularforceforatremendousspring。
Springersawthegirlfirstandheappearedthunderstruck。Hisjawdropped。Heneedednotthewhitegleamofherpersontotransfixhim。
Hereyesdidthatandtheywererivetedinunutterablehorroruponsomethingontheground。Thusinstinctivelydirected，SpringerespiedColter。
\"Y’u——y’ushothim！\"heshrieked。\"Whatfor——y’uhussy？……
EllenJorth，ify’u’vekilledhim，I’ll……\"
HestrodetowardwhereColterlay。
ThenJean，risingsilently，tookastepandlikeatigerhelaunchedhimselfintotheair，downupontherustler。EvenasheleapedSpringergaveaquick，upwardlook。Andbecriedout。Jean’smoccasinedfeetstruckhimsquarelyandsenthimstaggeringintothewall，wherehisheadhithard。Jeanfell，butboundedupasthehalf—stunnedSpringerdrewhisgun。ThenJeanlungedforwardwithasinglesweepofhisarm——andlookednomore。
Ellenranswayingoutofthedoor，and，onceclearofthethreshold，shetotteredoutonthegrass，tosinktoherknees。Thebright，goldensunlightgleameduponherwhiteshouldersandarms。Jeanhadonefootoutofthedoorwhenhesawherandhewhirledbacktogetherblouse。ButSpringerhadfallenuponit。Snatchingupablanket，Jeanranout。
\"Ellen！Ellen！Ellen！\"hecried。\"It’sover！Andreachingher，hetriedtowrapherintheblanket。
Shewildlyclutchedhisknees。Jeanwasconsciousonlyofherwhite，agonizedfaceandthedarkeyeswiththeirlookofterriblestrain。
\"Didy’u——didy’u……\"shewhispered。
\"Yes——it’sover，\"hesaid，gravely。\"Ellen，theIsbel—Jorthfeudisended。\"
\"Oh，thank——God！\"shecried，inbreakingvoice。\"Jean——y’uarewounded……thebloodonthestep！\"
\"Myarm。See。It’snotbad……Ellen，letmewrapthisroundyou。\"
Foldingtheblanketaroundhershoulders，hehelditthereandentreatedhertogetup。Butsheonlyclungthecloser。Shehidherfaceonhisknees。Longshuddersrippledoverher，shakingtheblanket，shakingJean’shands。Distraught，hedidnotknowwhattodo。Andhisownheartwasbursting。
\"Ellen，youmustnotkneel——there——thatway，\"heimplored。
\"Jean！Jean！\"shemoaned，andclungthetighter。
Hetriedtoliftherup，butshewasadeadweight，andwiththatholdonhimseemedanchoredathisfeet。
\"IkilledColter，\"shegasped。\"IHADto——killhim！……Ioffered——toflingmyselfaway……\"
\"Forme！\"hecried，poignantly。\"Oh，Ellen！Ellen！theworldhascometoanend！……Hush！don’tkeepsayin’that。Ofcourseyoukilledhim。
Yousavedmylife。ForI’dneverhaveletyougooffwithhim……
Yes，youkilledhim……You’reaJorthan’I’manIsbel……
We’vebloodonourhands——bothofus——Iforyouan’youforme！\"
Hisvoiceofentreatyandsadnessstrengthenedherandsheraisedherwhiteface，looseningherclasptoleanbackandlookup。Tragic，sweet，despairing，thelovelilessofher——thesignificanceofherthereonherknees——thrilledhimtohissoul。
\"Bloodonmyhands！\"shewhispered。\"Yes。Itwasawful——killinghim……But——allIcareforinthisworldisforyourforgiveness——andyourfaiththatsavedmysoul！\"
\"Child，there’snothin’toforgive，\"heresponded。\"Nothin’……
Please，Ellen……\"
\"Iliedtoy’u！\"shecried。\"Iliedtoy’u！\"
\"Ellen，listen——darlin’。\"Andthetenderepithetbroughtherheadandarmsbackclose—pressedtohim。\"Iknow——now，\"hefalteredon。\"Ifoundoutto—daywhatIbelieved。An’IsweartoGod——bythememoryofmydeadmother——downinmyheartInever，never，neverbelievedwhatthey——whaty’utriedtomakemebelieve。NEVER！\"
\"Jean——Ilovey’u——lovey’u——lovey’u！\"shebreathedwithexquisite，passionatesweetness。Herdarkeyesburnedupintohis。
\"Ellen，Ican’tliftyouup，\"hesaid，intremblingeagerness，signifiyinghiscrippledarm。\"ButIcankneelwithyou！……\"
