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"Doubtless to your thought there exists s the word of so fair a woed dryly "Yet to my vision, not wholly blinded by her charms, she possesses more of the Caucasian in face and manner than any other of the race If she is not of European birth I ae, Monsieur, and 't is my belief, if she told you she was not, the woman lied"

I was scarcely prepared for the result of er sweeping into his eyes

"You are, indeed, of bold heart," he exclain a won," I retorted sharply, stung by his tone, "I opine this Queen of savages belongs to that class To nant over the wrongs of your wife rather than over a just picturing of this harlot"

Before I could ing blow of his hand across e, "Charles de Noyan takes such affront from no man I denounce you as a cowardly vilifier of an absent woman"

I know not why I failed to strike the fellon My hand was hard on the knife hilt within my doublet, yet I drew it not as we stood there eye to eye There was that between us--the dim, shadowy face of a woman--which held me as by a chain It seeh her before it touched his heart, and, feeling thus, God gave me power to choke back the hot resentment, and restrain my hand

"Monsieur," I said sternly, "never has the hand offull return for the blow Yet now I strike you not The time may come when I shall wipe out this insult, but here and now you stand safe from my arm"

"Safe!" he sneered "Parbleu! you are a cowardly hound to talk thus Safe! think you I have anything to fear at your hands?"

"I bid you restrain your tongue, Chevalier," I said,my witness, never before did you stand so close to death as now Look," and I held up the keen blade before his eyes "This steel thirsts for your blood; only one thought has intervened to save you"

"What was that?"

"The fact that you are the husband of one as once Eloise Lafrénière"