Truth sprang to her feet, crying imploringly: "Oh, mother, surely you cannot be so cruel to insist upon my returning to that man?" She clasped her hands in prayerful desperation. "Mother, please, mother, let me stay here with you tonight." Her whole soul cried out in the intensity of passionate appeal; her body trembled, then swayed. She would have fallen but for Adoni, who was at her side in a moment, supporting her with his strong arms. Taking her hand in his reassuring clasp he soothingly said: "Have no fear, no power on earth shall compel you to return to Clarence Vallero against your own will."

"Mrs. Ralston," said Adoni, in a tone of resolute determination, "I hardly think the gentleman in question will care to wait until your daughter is ready to join him. She certainly will not do so tonight and it might be well to acquaint him with the fact."

"There will be no necessity for doing so," exclaimed the mocking voice of Vallero, who had crept stealthily up the stairs, appearing in the doorway, and with ill-concealed wrath continued mockingly: "A thousand pardons for intruding. May I take the liberty to ask the Reverend Mr. Bourdalone who authorized him to assume the management of this affair?"

"I did." The words fell tremblingly from Truth's lips. The sudden appearance of Vallero struck a chill of terror into her inmost being - her face blanched, becoming tense with the effort to repress the wild emotion within her heart - a silent moment elapsed before she became master over her feelings - then, submitting to a superior will, calmly replied: 'The Reverend Mr. Bourdalone came here at my urgent request."

"Yes," interposed Mrs. Ralston eagerly, "I had nothing to do with it. Truth telephoned without my knowledge and I can assure you,

Clarence, that I resent this intrusion quite as much as you do."

At this, Vallero addressed himself directly to Adoni. Now that you are here, Mr. Bourdalone, you will understand that there is no occasion for adopting an aggressive attitude until you learn all the facts in the case. Truth is at the present, I am sorry to say, suffering from a temporary aberration, brought on by a severe shock. You, perhaps, recollect the deafening crash at the first outburst of the storm; the bolt of lightning struck a tree near our home; we both felt the shock. Truth was simply crazed by it, and in a frenzy of fear she ran away from me into her own room. After a few minutes I followed her but found her nowhere. Then I noticed the door leading to the side porch open and saw one of her sandals lying on the steps and I knew Truth had gone somewhere, but where, I could not guess, and at this hour of the night, when the fury of the storm was at its height. A few minutes passed before I could think what to do. I entered the house and telephoned Mrs. Ralston, who informed me that her daughter was here."

With an elaborate bow, Clarence concluded: "And now, if your reverence will permit me to have a word with my wife alone, I think we shall be able to adjust matters without any assistance." Vallero spoke defiantly as if challenging some unseen power.

An interval of intense silence followed in which the two men regarded each other motionless - their eyes became riveted upon each other in a wordless combat. It was a duel of wills between the opposing forces of good and evil.

At last, Adoni who had detected an instinctive shrinking in Truth's demeanor, replied in cold, measured accent, "Doubtless you would be able to adjust matters according to your own will but it happens in this, that the lady's will does not coincide with yours."

"That remains to be shown," asserted Vallero indignantly "and you will please refrain from further interference."

"I shall not interfere with any honorable means you may employ to convince us that Truth, of her own free will, desires to accompany you. If, however, she does not wish to return with you, you may be certain that I shall do all in my power to prevent any coercion being used. Do I make myself clear?"

"Not altogether, sir; that depends upon what you consider coercive?"

"I consider any means that compels by force, coercive."

Vallero laughed derisively. "My dear sir, we are living in the twentieth century where the crude methods of the cave man have no place in civilized society. I trust you do not consider me so. hopelessly out of date as to employ them? Set your mind at rest; I shall not use force nor compel Mrs. Vallero to return with me to our home, as I am perfectly confident that moral suasion will prevail."

So saying he turned quickly to where Truth was standing with her hands grasping a chair as if trying to support herself in this terrible ordeal through which she was passing. The sudden and unexpected reply of Vallero startled her. She retreated quickly, regarding him with fascinated fear as he advanced toward her with outstretched arms, his eyes glowing like coals of fire into hers. They seemed to sear her brain and shrivel her soul. She made a supreme effort to withdraw her gaze from him but she was powerless to do so. She became oblivious to everything, save those fiery orbs that glowed and gleamed about her. Her delirious spirit was fanned into raging flames, consuming her very being; everything faded from her vision. She heard nothing but a voice, sweet, persuasive and insistent, saying:

"Truth, dear one, come to me, poor frightened little girl; come, darling, into my arms, nothing shall harm you. You know I love you, sweetheart, and always will; come now, dearest; come and kiss me once again."

Truth in blind obedience moved mechanically in the direction from whence that irresistible sound came, her slow movements toward Vallero being followed by a death-like stillness that was broken only by the deep, passionate breathing of Vallero as he reached forth to embrace the quivering form beside him.

"Come, darling."

"Stop!" A voice low and powerful vibrated through the painful silence.