“I won’t unless Collie forces me to,” he said, significantly.

This was the critical moment, and suddenly Wade answered to it without restraint.  He leaped up, startling Columbine.

“Wils, you call me pard, don’t you?  I reckon you never knew me.  Why, the game’s `most played out, an’ I haven’t showed my hand!...  I’d see Jack Belllounds in hell before I’d let him have Collie.  An’ if she carried out her strange an’ lofty idea of duty—­an’ married him right this afternoon—­I could an’ I would part them before night!”

He ended that speech in a voice neither had ever heard him use before.  And the look of him must have been in harmony with it.  Columbine, wide-eyed and gasping, seemed struck to the heart.  Moore’s white face showed awe and fear and irresponsible primitive joy.  Wade turned away from them, the better to control the passion that had mastered him.  And it did not subside in an instant.  He paced to and fro, his head bowed.  Presently, when he faced around, it was to see what he had expected to see.

Columbine was clasped in Moore’s arms.

“Collie, you didn’t—­you haven’t—­promised to marry him—­again!”

“No, oh—­no!  I haven’t!  I was only—­only trying to—­to make up my mind.  Wilson, don’t look at me so terribly!”

“You’ll not agree again?  You’ll not set another day?” demanded Moore, passionately.  He strained her to him, yet held her so he could see her face, thus dominating her with both strength and will.  His face was corded now, and darkly flushed.  His jaw quivered.  “You’ll never marry Jack Belllounds!  You’ll not let sudden impulse—­sudden persuasion or force change you?  Promise!  Swear you’ll never marry him.  Swear!”

“Oh, Wilson, I promise—­I swear!” she cried.  “Never!  I’m yours.  It would be a sin.  I’ve been mad to—­to blind myself.”

“You love me!  You love me!” he cried, in a sudden transport.

“Oh, yes, yes!  I do.”

“Say it then!  Say it—­so I’ll never doubt—­never suffer again!”

“I love you, Wilson!  I—­I love you—­unutterably,” the whispered.  “I love you—­so—­I’m broken-hearted now.  I’ll never live without you.  I’ll die—­I love you so!”

“You—­you flower—­you angel!” he whispered in return.  “You woman!  You precious creature!  I’ve been crazed at loss of you!”

Wade paced out of earshot, and this time he remained away for a considerable time.  He lived again moments of his own past, unforgetable and sad.  When at length he returned toward the young couple they were sitting apart, composed once more, talking earnestly.  As he neared them Columbine rose to greet him with wonderful eyes, in which reproach blended with affection.

“Ben, so this is what you’ve done!” she exclaimed.

“Lass, I’m only a humble instrument, an’ I believe God guides me right,” replied the hunter.

“I love you more, it seems, for what you make me suffer,” she said, and she kissed him with a serious sweetness.  “I’m only a leaf in the storm.  But—­let what will come....  Take me home.”