The Devil: A Tragedy of the Heart and Conscience

on to win him, evidently with the deliberate purpose that she should repel the boy whose will he had determined to subordinate to his own. H

r her and stopped, barring

at last, Miss Els

ied, dropping he

u not in th

If any one really wante

tion surp

sad. Are y

N

as happened?

d so Millar emerged from his place

understan

t that I am the cause of Miss Els

ned to Elsa, looking at

is because you are yourself-a sweet, pure, natural girl. I like y

claimed, blushing a

face, and he turned away, well satis

st say good-evening to our host

each other, Karl leaning forward and looking into the big blue eyes

arl said. "You are the one natural thing in this

ze were blowing through t

e like that bef

had brought Olga that she might witness the fulfilment of her plan, and that he might triumph in

and she, too, is jealous. Do

t turning around. "I would rather talk

sa said warningly, as she saw O

ently. "Let us be glad we are together.

ok around, the

d?" Karl asked. "I

Millar and Olga were doing. He remembered the man's declaration in the studio

hat he would marry her and banish from his heart those hateful emotions which Millar had aroused. He leaned forward and spoke of love

r last love-our last love alw

have never been in love, although I wa

his task difficult. His a

ll, yes, who has not

alk, his futile love-making, and she turned from him coldly. Meanwhile Millar and Olga we

making love to Elsa. Every circumstance favored his design

uld leave the young peo

iderate," Millar

ng fond of each other,

FOND OF EACH OTHER," OLGA

on of Henry

o larg

you dis

N

we leav

joy watching my

atching her closely, saw her lips twitch, and it

nteresting cou

hing besides these two?

esced. "I came here to-night t

absently, looking with jea

you would fall in l

ion, but she treated it lightly a

ou make such a w

Millar answ

say?" Olga cried, almo

l you now; it m

l me now," Olga pleaded, lean

table. It was thus Karl saw them with one of those furtive glances, and the glist froze the pretty speech he was tryi

m immediately. I have p

n, had jumped to his feet. Elsa, almo

here? Take me away.

Karl following. They passed Millar

the ballroom," Olga s

did

are enjoying

l dance every dance to-nigh

tepped between them, giving his arm to Elsa. The two walked togeth

y the enraged Karl. Millar smiled more cynically than ever as he saw the play of emotion on Olga's face. Hi

Olga demanded, turning to her c

ly," Millar said. "First let me tell y

the wager?" Olg

sed to make you fa

did he

ll me," Millar

e felt; mad, unreasoning joy that Karl's love for her had prompted him to kill another who threatened to win

rl tried to kill me with this litt

shoot you?" O

ve done so. This is n

f Olga whispered

ing love to me, and now-he saw you whisper in my ear, hold my ha

d on account of a woman?" Millar interrupt

lga stumbled on hurriedly. "Karl holds me in high regard, bu

of your matrimonial scheme fo

ill be successful?

ut we may find o

ow

he room, his up-slanting eyebrow

means love. Don't speak to me of respect or regard, my dear lady. They fire off cannons in salute out of respect, but when they draw pi

esture of dissent, but Mi

his marriage, and after all it is only right that you should feel a

that i

which was real-his attempt to murde

" Olga asked in bewilderment. "You a

madam

an we make

follow my instructions to the letter. Don

some sinister twist of that marvelous brain, and she was afraid. But she wanted more than anything else

ll, it i

ul cloak that covered you completely from your n

es

r shoes beneath. Button it from top to bottom, as if you felt cold. Then we shall n

OVE YOUR CLOAK, AND THE TIPS OF

on of Henry

o larg

daring suggestion, and at first she was on the point of indignant refusal. Then she as quickly resolved to c

hall know everything," Millar ass

fluence do you possess that compels me to obey your will? You

w go, dear madam. If any one expresses astonishment that

a said with a little shi

ly, pointing to the palms and a d

d. The young artist caught a glimpse of her dress as she disappeared behi

that?" he

llar aske

run away

of, Karl. That is a pretty girl,

arl replied absently, s

He was tormented by the insinuating words the man had uttered in the afternoon when he swore that Olga sh

Karl, Millar continued to chat affably, Kar

eem an

leaped to his feet. He went close

y?" he demanded, putting all the inso

r replied w

ll you why,"

" Millar said

change which has come over you since this afternoon. Don't imag

out of the question,"

came here this evening determ

t. I wish you good luck, my boy

are g

," Millar

, still with a truculent air. "This afternoon you insisted I sh

he matter now in

as I entered!" Karl almost shou

run away?" Millar asked,

a cad!" Karl cri

you mea

act like a cad. If you were a gent

the indignation of the young art

to have penetrated my secret, I suppose I might as

olut

t change your mi

ot change

f that is the case,

rrassed at his own ques

d you s

ll,

f her h

, dumb and blind," Mi

pain at his heart

house, you met her for

f you. I am sure of it. Oh, she is grand, fantastic, passionate, daring. Think of it, Karl," he went on, going close to the boy and leaning over him, bringing out his words so that every one s

she?" Karl

Her honor, position, everything depend upon its success. Of course I did not dream she would carry it out. I suggested it merel

for Olga, whom he believed in

s it?"

. She will walk through the ballroom on my arm, among all those people, her friends, her husband, with no one in

sprang at Millar, hur

ia

," Millar protest

arl cried, trying blindly to reach him

ided him and laug

ried to trap me," he crie

; I have watched you gloat over them. Men like you steal a woman's reputation and boast of it and call it a success. But

nedly on Millar, wh

t I have the pistol

-thief; I am not afraid

ed to be the fulfilment of the other's sinister promise. Olga stepped through the door int

ite arms projected from the short sleeves. The hem o

he saw the wild rage stamped on his face, and her woman's intuition made her know that Millar had told him what she had divined he meant. The s

e spoke. The music floated in softly from the ballroom, mingled with the hum of voices and l

I have had a chance to talk

t?" Karl abs

d, bewildered. Millar, cynically misun

is an ope

eruption which she could not control. She cried impulsivel

ces as if it were the first affair of the season. The girls are

thusiasm. "It is splendid. But why is Karl

Karl?" Olga aske

ied with forced gayety. "I neve

ria in his voice that made

having such a goo

mad with joy. I will get drunk to-night. I will drink, drink drink until the ange

ughly frightened. "Why, you never d

before," Karl replied bitterly. "I have never be

illar exclaimed. "She

girl she is? It's not the girl; it's marriage-

are not very gay," M

the last bitter drops of my bachelor days

Karl!" O

thinks about it," Karl sneered at he

ore; she had never heard him speak so bitterly, so vindictively. As she watched him he looked at

aring that cloa

be cold," Millar

said hurriedly, drawing the

ul cloak," Millar said, determined now to

loak," Olga said. "You and Elsa see

replied

to watch such devoted y

of hatred at him and

s lined with

lar had interrupted in his

ft, smoo

arl cried at him savagely.

" Olga replied. "I

ot. I feel stiflin

illy," Olg

nsinuated. "You should wear plenty of clothes in the w

breath and the

to take

eh?" Ka

t to you?" she

winds. With flaming face and a vo

u two afra

m apprehensively. Millar smiled his

sband. Why should I be afraid of

n entered the room. All three were sile

a conspiracy?"

a conversation

with Elsa?" Herman asked, taking the

into the ballroom, Karl evidently reluctant

tell him abo

e cloak?

not tel

ha

he thought-thought I

hat I told him," M

ow cou

knew it. The moment you entered the room you realize

lga gasped, "If I

od, would you have t

es

erstand, why do yo

said not a word, but drew her cloak more closely about her with a

't really?" he c

erstand your suggestion from the very first? You wanted me to fool Karl. P

cried in wide-

ga said. "Give me your arm, my dear doctor, an

woman's intuition against his cunning and had won. But his bewilderment gave way to undis

, Karl suddenly barred their way, co

ith us, Karl?" Olga

uted; "and you are no

do you

u stay here. And you, t

the ballroom door. Th

thing right here. T

ill

it off," he cried fur

llar caught Karl by th

top him?" Olga

tion. Millar was frankly afraid that she had taken his meaning l

as afraid,"

ld back by Millar. "If you do not, I'll find

ed to him

lp me off with my

s nearly touched her cloak he drew back, afraid.

help me remove my cloa

quickly folded them over his breast, bowed ve

r tantalizing smile. The three might have been carv

I went to find Elsa," he said.

een discussing clo

ing one. Isn't it rathe

while ago," Olga answered. "Will

garment from her shoulders. She stood before them again in the beauty of her shimmering

ly made a step toward Olga, and she, fe

me to you two. My guests are dep