My wife was sobbing "So soon--so soon ? I--Hammond, little time ! "

" , Elsie My chief orders me to join him prepare to accompany me "

"No, no ! " murmured Elsie "He loves me so ! And I love him Our child, too--how can I rob him unborn babe ? "

"Another sheep flock," answered Brake solemnly "Elsie, forget your oath ? one of us, or common hypocrite, of us until the hour of self-sacrifice, and then fly like coward ? Elsie, leave to-night "

"Ah ! my husband, my husband ! " sobbed the unhappy woman

" no husband, woman," cried Brake harshly "I promised Dayton not as long were his wife, but the vow was annulled before it Your husband in God yet awaits you yet be blessed true spouse "

" I were going to die," cried Elsie "How can I ever forsake him--he who was so good ? "

"Nonsense ! no weakness worthy of you Go home and prepare for your journey where to meet me everything ready, and by daybreak there shall be no trace of us left Beware of permitting your husband to suspect anything very shrewd at such things--he thought Jesuit in disguise--but we had better be careful Now go too long here already Bless you, sister "

few faint sobs, rustling of leaves, and that Brake was alone I rose, and stepped silently open space he stood His back was toward me His arms were lifted high over his head with an exultant gesture, and I his profile, as it slightly turned toward me, illuminated with smile of scornful triumph I put my hand suddenly throat from behind, and flung him ground before utter cry

"Not word," , unclasping short-bladed knife which I carried; "answer my questions, or, by heaven, cut your throat from ear to ear ! "

He looked up into my face with an unflinching eye, and set his lips resolved to suffer all

" you ? Who ? What object seduction wife ? "

He smiled, but was silent

"Ah ! you won't answer We'll see "

I pressed the knife slowly against his throat His face contracted spasmodically, but although thin red thread of blood sprang out along the edge blade, Brake remained mute An idea suddenly seized me This sort of death had no terrors for him try another the precipice twice as powerful as , so I seized him in my arms, and in moment transported him margin steep, smooth cliff, the edge of garnished tough stems wild vine useless to struggle with me, so allowed me passively to roll him over the edge When suspended air, him vine stem to cling to and let him go He swung at height of eighty feet, with face upturned and pale He dared not look down I seated myself edge cliff, and with my knife began to cut thick vine foot or two above the place grasp correct in my calculation This terror was for him As the notch vine getting deeper and deeper, his determination gave way

"I'll answer you," he gasped out, gazing at me with starting eyeballs; "what ask ? "

" you ? " was my question, as I ceased cutting stem

"A Mormon," answer, uttered with groan "Take me up My hands are slipping Quick ! "

"And my wife you infernal Salt Lake, City, I suppose ? "

"For God's sake, release me ! I'll quit the place, never back Do help me up, Dayton--I'm falling ! "

mightily inclined to let the villain drop; but it suit my purpose hung for murder, so I swung him back again sward, where he fell panting and exhausted

" quit the place to-night ? " "You'd better By heaven, don't, I'll tell all the men village, and we'll lynch you, as sure as is Brake "

"I'll go--I'll go," he groaned "I swear never to trouble you again "

"You hanged, you villain Be off ! "

He slunk away trees like beaten dog; and I went home in state bordering on despair Elsie crying She was sitting window as of old now why she gazed so constantly west her Mecca Something in my face, I suppose, told her that laboring under great excitement She rose startled I entered the room

"Elsie," said I, " come you home "

"Home ? Why, at home, am I not ? What ? "

"No no longer your home deceived me Mormon all become convert apostle of hell, Brigham Young, and live with me I love you still, Elsie, dearly; but-- go and live with your father "