Scarcely had Truth hung up the receiver when the phone gave a prolonged ring. "Clarence," she cried in dismay; the thought of him made her shudder; on and on it rang insistently but Truth made no movement to answer but walked swiftly into the reception hall to await the coming of Adoni.

Hastily Mrs. Ralston came from the dressing room, saying, "That must be Clarence; I will talk with him:" "Yes." "Mrs. Ralston." "Yes, Truth is here; I believe she's ill. No, no, don't come in the car; it would rouse the servants. Be patient, Clarence; we will leave here quietly in a few minutes; you can meet us outside. What? If you get here first you can wait for us on the porch. All right, good-bye."

Truth scarcely breathed while listening to her mother's conversation, who, without noticing her, went hastily back to finish her toilet. A few minutes more and her mother would be prepared to start should the storm cease. Oh, if it would only increase in violence - if not - she must think of something else to delay their departure; she must gain time. She saw her mother descending the stairs, all clad for their journey.

In a moment Truth was at her side. "Mother, I'm chilled through and through; my garments are soaked." She thrust forward her little slippered foot, soiled and dripping. "See my feet; they are so cold."

"Mercy! It will be a miracle if you're not sick abed from this dreadful exposure. Here, drink this." She handed Truth a glass of brandy which she drank obediently. "There now, hurry to your room and change your clothing at once."

In an incredibly short time she had changed her garments. Without a sound she descended the stairs and glided into the hall, near the window, listening for Adorn. He must be coming every minute; she listened again and heard footsteps approaching. Then a firm tread upon the porch. Truth hastened to open the door and in another moment Adoni was standing beside her, grasping her extended hands.

The agony in her eyes, to his searching look of inquiry, told the story.

In brief, tragic sentences Truth explained the circumstances that compelled her to seek his assistance. Upon her declaration that Clarence Vallero had exercised hypnotic influence upon her, a look of comprehension dawned in his eyes.

"Yes, Truth, I understand all now and I have come, as a friend, to save you from this evil influence."

Tear-stained eyes looked into Adoni's with gratitude as her trembling voice whispered: "I shall trust you as I do God."

They entered the room together where Mrs. Ralston was just about to leave.

"Adoni Bourdalone," she cried in undisguised consternation.

Then turning angrily upon Truth: "Pray, what does this mean?"

"It means," interposed Adoni, "that your daughter was compelled to seek my protection from the cruelty of her husband and your insisting that she return to this man against whom she brings such grave charges. Therefore, I take the liberty to ask you why you assume this antagonistic spirit toward your own child?"

"You certainly have no right whatever to question my motives nor interfere in our private affairs."

"Pardon me, madam, I have a right to defend the weak against injustice, and protect innocence and purity from degradation."

"I assure you there is no occasion for such heroic measures in this case and you will show discretion by allowing us to manage a strictly family affair ourselves."

"I can assure you, Mrs. Ralston, that unnatural and dangerous unions are no longer considered strictly family affairs. It becomes the duty of society to protect itself from such marriages. You doubtless are aware that the ancient morality which made a woman the servile property of her husband is obsolete, and that Clarence Vallero has committed a moral crime, which nullifies whatever legal right he possessed over your daughter."

"And you believe that absurdity? I'm astonished that you, above all, should give the slightest credence to my daughter's imagination. The girl is overwrought; she doesn't realize what she is saying."

"You would be more correct, madam, if you said that she did not realize what she was saying during the marriage ceremony. Now, for a moment, let us consider this serious question which you are pleased to term 'A vagary of Truth's imagination.' To me, who had the opportunity of closely observing the strange demeanor of Truth and Vallero during the ceremony, I certainly feel that her charges against him are well-founded. Surely, Mrs. Ralston, you have been aware of something unusual in their manners."

"As I said before, Truth was nervous and badly frightened, as many girls are on their wedding day."

"Mrs. Ralston, I have officiated at many weddings and am familiar with what they call the ordinary stage fright of girls but I can assure you this was of a far different nature, a serious one, so that at one moment I was on the verge of discontinuing the service, for it was then I beheld a 'soul in torture.9 I regret exceedingly that I lacked the moral courage to do what, in my heart, I felt to be my duty.

"I hold my weakness in a measure responsible for your daughter's sad predicament and declare to you in all sincerity, that if Truth were my own sister I would rather see her lying cold in death than the wife of Clarence Vallero."

It was impossible not to be impressed with the earnestness and profound conviction with which Adoni uttered these words and a vague uneasiness resembling fear crept into Mrs. Ralston's eyes.

"Of course, if I really believed for one moment that Clarence had any hypnotic influence over her - but the idea is absurd. I should have to be convinced before allowing any action that would occasion scandal. Think what the consequence will be, if this becomes public. As it is I'm afraid. Clarence will be terribly angry."

She glanced at the clock and after listening a moment concluded in a peremptory tone, intended to terminate the interview: "I'm sorry if I appear rude and ungrateful for your service to us in restoring my daughter's sight but for that great deed and the respect we hold for you, I should not have discussed this subject with you at all. I really cannot permit you to detain us any longer. Come, Truth, put on your wraps; we must go."