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With wonderful distinctness Jane Withersteen heard her own clear voice。 She heard the water murmur at her feet and flow on to the sea； she heard the rushing of all the waters in the world。 They filled her ears with low； unreal murmuringsthese sounds that deadened her brain and yet could not break the long and terrible silence。 Then； from somewhere from an immeasurable distancecame a slow； guarded； clinking； clanking step。 Into her it shot electrifying life。 It released the weight upon her numbed eyelids。 Lifting her eyes she sawashen； shaken； stricken not the Bishop but the man！ And beyond him； from round the corner came that soft； silvery step。 A long black boot with a gleaming spur swept into sightand then Lassiter！ Bishop Dyer did not see； did not hear： he stared at Jane in the throes of sudden revelation。
〃Ah； I understand！〃 he cried； in hoarse accents。 〃That's why you made love to this Lassiterto bind his hands！〃
It was Jane's gaze riveted upon the rider that made Bishop Dyer turn。 Then clear sight failed her。 Dizzily； in a blur； she saw the Bishop's hand jerk to his hip。 She saw gleam of blue and spout of red。 In her ears burst a thundering report。 The court floated in darkening circles around her； and she fell into utter blackness。
The darkness lightened； turned to slow…drifting haze； and lifted。 Through a thin film of blue smoke she saw the rough…hewn timbers of the court roof。 A cool； damp touch moved across her brow。 She smelled powder； and it was that which galvanized her suspended thought。 She moved； to see that she lay prone upon the stone flags with her head on Lassiter's knee； and he was bathing her brow with water from the stream。 The same swift glance； shifting low； brought into range of her sight a smoking gun and splashes of blood。
〃Ah…h！〃 she moaned； and was drifting； sinking again into darkness； when Lassiter's voice arrested her。
〃It's all right； Jane。 It's all right。〃
〃Didyoukillhim？〃 she whispered。
〃Who？ That fat party who was here？ No。 I didn't kill him。〃
〃Oh！。。。Lassiter！〃
〃Say！ It was queer for you to faint。 I thought you were such a strong woman； not faintish like that。 You're all right nowonly some pale。 I thought you'd never come to。 But I'm awkward round women folks。 I couldn't think of anythin'。〃
〃Lassiter！。。。the gun there！。。。the blood！〃
〃So that's troublin' you。 I reckon it needn't。 You see it was this way。 I come round the house an' seen that fat party an' heard him talkin' loud。 Then he seen me； an' very impolite goes straight for his gun。 He oughtn't have tried to throw a gun on mewhatever his reason was。 For that's meetin' me on my own grounds。 I've seen runnin' molasses that was quicker 'n him。 Now I didn't know who he was； visitor or friend or relation of yours； though I seen he was a Mormon all over； an' I couldn't get serious about shootin'。 So I winged himput a bullet through his arm as he was pullin' at his gun。 An' he dropped the gun there； an' a little blood。 I told him he'd introduced himself sufficient； an' to please move out of my vicinity。 An' he went。〃
Lassiter spoke with slow； cool； soothing voice； in which there was a hint of levity； and his touch； as he continued to bathe her brow； was gentle and steady。 His impassive face； and the kind gray eyes； further stilled her agitation。
〃He drew on you first； and you deliberately shot to cripple himyou wouldn't kill himyouLassiter？〃'
〃That's about the size of it。〃
Jane kissed his hand。
All that was calm and cool about Lassiter instantly vanished。
〃Don't do that！ I won't stand it！ An' I don't care a damn who that fat party was。〃
He helped Jane to her feet and to a chair。 Then with the wet scarf he had used to bathe her face he wiped the blood from the stone flags and； picking up the gun； he threw it upon a couch。 With that he began to pace the court； and his silver spurs jangled musically； and the great gun…sheaths softly brushed against his leather chaps。
〃Soit's truewhat I heard him say？〃 Lassiter asked； presently halting before her。 〃You made love to meto bind my hands？〃
〃Yes；〃 confessed Jane。 It took all her woman's courage to meet the gray storm of his glance。
〃All these days that you've been so friendly an' like a pardnerall these evenin's that have been so bewilderin' to meyour beautyan'an' the way you looked an' came close to methey were woman's tricks to bind my hands？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃An' your sweetness that seemed so natural； an' your throwin' little Fay an' me so much togetherto make me love the childall that was for the same reason？〃
〃Yes。〃
Lassiter flung his armsa strange gesture for him。
〃Mebbe it wasn't much in your Mormon thinkin'； for you to play that game。 But to ring the child inthat was hellish！〃
Jane's passionate； unheeding zeal began to loom darkly。
〃Lassiter； whatever my intention in the beginning； Fay loves you dearly and II've grown toto like you。〃
〃That's powerful kind of you； now；〃 he said。 Sarcasm and scorn made his voice that of a stranger。 〃An' you sit there an' look me straight in the eyes！ You're a wonderful strange woman； Jane Withersteen。〃
〃I'm not ashamed； Lassiter。 I told you I'd try to change you。〃
〃Would you mind tellin' me just what you tried？〃
〃I tried to make you see beauty in me and be softened by it。 I wanted you to care for me so that I could influence you。 It wasn't easy。 At first you were stone…blind。 Then I hoped you'd love little Fay； and through that come to feel the horror of making children fatherless。〃
〃Jane Withersteen； either you're a fool or noble beyond my understandin'。 Mebbe you're both。 I know you're blind。 What you meant is one thingwhat you did was to make me love you。〃
〃Lassiter！〃
〃I reckon I'm a human bein'； though I never loved any one but my sister； Milly Erne。 That was long〃
〃Oh； are you Milly's brother？〃
〃Yes； I was； an' I loved her。 There never was any one but her in my life till now。 Didn't I tell you that long ago I back…trailed myself from women？ I was a Texas ranger tilltill Milly left home； an' then I became somethin' elseLassiter！ For years I've been a lonely man set on one thing。 I came here an' met you。 An' now I'm not the man I was。 The change was gradual； an' I took no notice of it。 I understand now that never…satisfied longin' to see you； listen to you； watch you； feel you near me。 It's plain now why you were never out of my thoughts。 I've had no thoughts but of you。 I've lived an' breathed for you。 An' now when I know what it meanswhat you've doneI'm burnin' up with hell's fire！〃
〃Oh； Lassiternonoyou don't love me that way！〃 Jane cased。
〃If that's what love is； then I do。〃
〃Forgive me！ I didn't mean to make you love me like that。 Oh； what a tangle of our lives！ YouMilly Erne's brother！ And Iheedless； mad to melt your heart toward Mormons。 Lassiter； I may be wicked but not wicked enough to hate。 If I couldn't hate Tull； could I hate you？〃
〃After all； Jane； mebbe you're only blindMormon blind。 That only can explain what's close to selfishness〃
〃I'm not selfish。 I despise the very word。 If I were free〃
〃But you're not free。 Not free of Mormonism。 An' in playin' this game with me you've been unfaithful。〃
〃Unfaithful！〃 faltered Jane。
〃Yes