He set her free then, just as he had set her free on that day long ago when her will had first bruised itself against the iron of his.  He went away from her, went to the door as if he would leave her; then stood still, and after a space came back.

She trembled at his coming.  She had a feeling that he had armed himself with another, stronger weapon to overcome her resistance.

He stopped in front of her.  “Olga,” he said, “have you thought about me at all?”

She made a sharp gesture—­the involuntary wincing of the victim from the knife.

He went on, very quietly, as if he had not seen.  “Do you think I’m going to be happy without you?  I’ve got my career, haven’t I, and all my brilliant successes?  How much do you think they are worth to me?  How far do you think they are going to satisfy me—­make up for that which you have taken away?”

He paused, but she could not answer him, could not so much as lift her eyes to his.

He went on.  “A little while ago you appealed to my love, and—­I don’t claim to be more than human—­it stood the strain.  I appealed to yours, and you sent me about my business.  You had some excuse.  I had deceived you.  But this time—­this time—­are you going to do the same this time, Olga?”

“I can’t help it!” she whispered through her tears.

He came nearer to her, but he did not touch her.  “Is that the truth?” he said.  “Don’t you love me well enough?  Is that it?  Is my love so little to you that you can afford to throw it away?  You know I love you, don’t you?  You believe in my love?” His voice suddenly vibrated; his hands clenched.  “It’s stood a good deal,” he said.  “But, by Heaven!  I don’t think it will stand this!”

She lifted her face suddenly.  “Max, stop!  I can’t bear it!”

“Neither can I!” He flung back fiercely.  “It’s too much to ask—­too much to give!  Olga, you shall come to me!  You shall!  You shall!”

He caught her to him with the words, holding her mercilessly in a grip that was savage.  She felt the hard, passionate beat of his heart against her own.  And she gasped and gasped again, as one suddenly immersed in deep waters.

She did not resist him, for she could not.  He had her a helpless captive before she could even begin.  Perhaps she might not have done so in any case.  It was a point she never was able to decide.  But from the moment his lips met hers the battle was over.  With or without her will her lips clung to his; the flame of his passion kindled an answering flame in her; and the love which she had striven so desperately to restrain leaped forth to him in wild, exultant freedom, so that she forgot all the world beside.

* * * * *

“So that’s settled!” said Max a little later into the flushed face that lay against his shoulder.  “It’s taken a mighty long time to make you see reason.”

“It isn’t reason,” said Olga faintly.  “And oh, Max, what—­what am I to say to Noel?”