Summaries

Synopsis

Episode 1: "Flower of the Flames" The first reel of this installment is taken up by the prologue. Seneca Trine, middle aged and powerful in the financial world, had married a girl much younger than himself. The girl was forced into the marriage through circumstances rather than through love she felt toward Trine. In fact she loved another, Wellington Law. At the opening of the prologue we find Trine's wife the mother of twin girls, unhappy in thoughts which still haunt her of her old sweetheart, Law. Law, on the other hand, is married to a cool, calculating woman, is the father of a boy. In the course of time Trine begins to suspect the affection that his wife still feels for Law and with a bitter heart, he undertakes a scheme to ruin his wife's sweetheart. At a ball one evening, he secures positive proof of his wife's attitude toward him, and his determination to ruin Law crystallizes into definite action. A month later Trine's plans of revenge against the man whom he believes has robbed him of his wife's love, are carried to completion; Law is ruined. Desperate and desiring fresh air, Law drives into the country in his automobile. As fate would have it, he accidentally runs down Trine. Discovering the identity of the wounded man, he flees. Trine recovers but is left a paralytic for life. It is following this that Trine plans to kill Law and he writes him to this effect. Law is already broken down, mentally and physically, and when he begins to find here and there a trey o' heart card, Trine's sign of approaching revenge, he takes the easiest way out by killing himself, after sending his boy to Europe. At the opening of the play proper, Law, Jr., is a prosperous young businessman in London. Trine, still in America, has not forgotten his plan of revenge; he awaits the time when Law, Jr., is the happiest to strike him down. Rose, one of twin daughters, he sends to Europe for the purpose of meeting and securing Law's love. Rose, however, is unaware of her father's intentions. She has high ideals and a tender heart while her sister, Judith, is hard and revengeful, the prototype of her father. Law, Jr., meets Rose at a watering place, and it is a case of love at first sight with both. It is at this point that Rose receives the first strange letter from her father, hinting at her love and assuring her that she will never marry Law, that he will die before that. Law, for the first time, finds a trey o' hearts and, acquainted with the feud, suspects its meaning. Rose, fearful for Law's life, departs, telling her sweetheart that she will send him a rose, a token of love, if she ever needs him. Through his agents Trine is informed of the complete affair. Through him a rose is sent from America to Law. He hopes to get Law into America where he can the better kill him. Law receives the rose and leaves London, intending to go by way of Canada to his sweetheart. Informed of this, Trine sends his daughter Judith into Canada to meet Law and bring him back, dead or alive. Once in Canada, Judith surrounds herself with bribed half-breeds and prepares to carry out her father's wishes. She follows Law into the mountains and captures him. Law believes he stands before Rose, but is informed otherwise. He is left to die, tied hand and foot in a forest fire. Law manages to break his bonds and escapes to the river bank. Far out in the stream he observes Judith departing with her guide in a canoe. He shoots and kills the guide. Judith, in the canoe without an oar, floats toward the rapids and falls below. Law, realizing her plight, rushes to a log spanning the rapids, leans far down and drags the girl out of the onrushing canoe. What with his wounds, Law is exhausted after this. Judith helps him to a clearing in the woods and holds his head while he falls into a deep sleep, and to Judith comes the first awakening of love. But she leaves the man sleeping, and the man, when he awakens, finds on his breast a rose where he expected to find a trey o' hearts.

Episode 2: "White Water" Alan is alone in the woods, lacking food and all equipment. Judith has meanwhile gone to her camp and sent one of her Indian guides to track Alan. Feeling himself followed, Alan gets more and more nervous. Finally he slips over the side of a cliff and falls into the river. Judith, fishing with the second Indian guide, rescues the young man and has him taken to her cabin. Rose meanwhile receives a note asking her to visit Alan's lawyers. She finds that Alan is overdue and the lawyer is worried. Trine's spy, Marphet, tells him of the note and he accuses Rose of disloyalty. When he starts to ring for a servant to confine her, she pushes the helpless man away, rummages through the desk until she finds papers acknowledging Trine's treachery toward Alan and Judith's plan to kill him at Spirit Lake. Rose immediately starts for the North despite her father's angry protest. Alan has been deep in the ravages of fever and Judith has nursed him with an awakening love and tenderness. She sends one of the guides to a nearby village for quinine. He proceeds to get frightfully drunk and the next morning she goes after him, cutting the one rose on the bush outside and leaving it near Alan's bed. He awakes, finds himself alone, and gets up weakly. Judith and her guide pass Rose and the trapper with her unknowingly. When the latter arrives at the cabin Alan thanks the mystified girl for nursing him. Rose has left her trapper to warn her of Judith's approach. He does, and she persuades Alan to launch a canoe and go away with her. They push off as Judith and her Indian run into the clearing. Alan is almost successful in threading the white water when his paddle breaks and he and Rose are dumped out. They make the shore in safety and Judith is about to shoot him when something stops her. Slowly, her face is buried in her hands, she drifts out of sight. Rose, with her quick woman's intuition, guesses that Judith has commenced to love Alan. Together the two start towards civilization, leaving Judith alone with the guides.

Episode 3: "The Sea Venture" Judith catches the same train with Alan and Rose for Portland. Hearing a messenger calling for Alan Law with a telegram she learns that it informs Alan that he will not be able to get through sleeper reservations to New York. Returning the message to the messenger she also gives him a second envelope. Alan reads the message and then opening the second envelope finds it contains a trey o' hearts. Arriving in Portland, they are driven to a hotel. Judith secures the room next to Rose and picks the lock of the connecting door. With the aid of her confederates she chloroforms Rose and dons her clothing. Alan has proceeded to the waterfront and engages the yacht, Seaventure, to take Rose and himself to New York. All his plans being reported to Judith by her confederates, she then engages a fishing boat to intercept the Seaventure on its voyage to New York. Passing herself off as Rose she gets aboard with Alan. She opens the valves of the auxiliary gasoline tanks and allows the gasoline to flood the hold. Later she sights the fishermen and upon its approach she covers Bareus. the owner of the Seaventure, who is the only one on deck, with her revolver. He grapples with her. Alan, hearing the disturbance, hurries on deck. He succeeds in getting Judith below and explains to Barcus that the woman must be partly insane. Calling Judith on deck and being alarmed at the nearness of the fishing vessel, he asks her if she has friends aboard the fisherman. She affirms and he signifies that she shall get over the side into the dory. She casts off and is picked up by the fisherman. Barcus going below learns the true state of affairs aboard the Seaventure, viz., that the gasoline tanks have emptied themselves into the bilge. Then follows a race between the yacht and the fisherman, the latter pursuing full tilt. Towards sunset both are becalmed, the Seaventure lying about one mile farther out. Barcus watches the fisherman through his binoculars and observes the power launch lowered, into which Judith accompanies one companion. They are seen to be working over some sort of apparatus and finally, lighting a fuse, they lash the wheel of the launch and put off the fisherman in the dory. The launch has been set at full speed ahead and is rushing straight for the Seaventure. Barcus, suspecting what it means, drags Alan to the farther rail and they dive overboard, just before the Seaventure and the unmanned launch are blown sky-high. They swim ashore and fall asleep from exhaustion.

Episode 4: "Dead Reckoning" Rose, waking from her drugged sleep in the hotel in Portland, is smuggled out of the hotel, driven from Portland to Gloucester, where she is conveyed aboard the fishing schooner that intercepted the Seaventure. The schooner immediately sets sail. When Judith comes aboard Rose is locked up in a stateroom. Alan and Barcus, having got ashore on Nauset Beach, stretch out panting and half exhausted, and watch the Seaventure burn into the water's edge and sink. A mile farther off shore Judith's schooner lies at anchor. Judith and five male confederates, all dressed as fishermen (including Judith), pile into a dory, leaving Rose imprisoned in her stateroom, and row cautiously ashore to capture Alan and Barcus. When not far from the beach, they burn a blue flare on the water. Judith, with a rifle in the bows, fires at the two men. They retreat down the beach, and strike off inland. Beaching the dory Judith strikes off in pursuit. Eventually throwing off the chase, Alan and Barcus squirm, unseen, up to the lip of the bluff, where they overlook the dory and its guard. As the latter, unconscious of danger, lights his pipe, Alan clubs him down, then Barcus and Alan steal the dory and make for the schooner. Judith and her companions return to learn of their loss. They are upon the dory but without effect. Alan and Barcus take possession of the deserted vessel. Alan finds Rose in the cabin. Judith's party tramp several miles to the nearest life-saving station which they find deserted. Breaking into the boathouse they bring out and launch the motor-driven life boat. In the cabin of the schooner Rose tells Alan of the manner in which she was brought aboard. On deck Barcus fidgets with impatience because of the delay and finally calls Alan. Alan, cutting the anchor, they take in the lights, proceed to get underway. Judith and her party in the stolen life boat pursue. The schooner and the lifeboat round Monomoy Point. Day breaks and a fog closes in. Judith at length runs across the schooner in the fog. The lifeboat bumps into it forward and the five jump aboard. The lifeboat, abandoned, drifts down the side and sheers off. Alan jumps for the companionway, where he has left his rifle, but slips. Before he can recover he is seized by two of Judith's party. The others grab Barcus. One man holds Rose a prisoner. At this juncture a huge coastwise steamship, running through the fog at full tilt, runs down the schooner. Alan, Barcus, Rose, Judith and the five men, all in the stern, are thrown into the water. The steamship slips past and out of sight in the fog, then stops and lowers a lifeboat. Barcus and Rose come to the surface together and the latter, aided by Barcus, swims to the abandoned motor lifeboat. He helps Rose into this. Alan coming to the surface, observes Judith swimming at a little distance but cannot tell whether she is Judith or Rose. He swims to her, offering her assistance. Judith changes her position and tries to drown him by clutching his throat. He manages to break her hold. Barcus finds him, draws him to the side and helps him aboard. Alan recognizes Rose, is much relieved, but is horrified by the thought of Judith drowning. Barcus restrains him from making a fool attempt at a rescue, and starts the engine, steering the lifeboat away from the scene. Judith comes to the surface unconscious. The boat from the steamship eventually discovers and rescues her.

Episode 5: "The Sunset Tide" Alan, Rose and Barcus ride through the fog. Aboard the steamer Judith determines to go after Alan. When she suggests going out in the fog to the captain he scoffs at her. She arranges with her men and they procure a small boat. As they are launching it, Judith stands, giving the final orders. The sailors on the steamship rush up to stop her. She jumps overboard (her men in the meantime having made away with the boat) and her men later pick her up in the small boat. They row on in the fog. At last they strike a reef and their boat is damaged. They are stranded and await help. In the meantime the river thieves' boat escapes (after a short fight) from the revenue cutter and is putting back to the island. Rose, Alan and Barcus pass near the reef, and Judith spies them. She calls for help. Barcus and Rose suspect treachery, but Alan insists on going to the rescue. When Barcus refuses to turn the boat's course. Alan jumps out and swims to the reef. When he discovers Judith he attempts to get away, but her men overpower him and he is made their prisoner. Rose and Barcus attempt to come to his rescue, but they are outnumbered, and Judith's men (who have procured ammunition from the steamship) start to open fire. They depart in search of help. They eventually land on a small rocky island (the home of a band of robbers and river thieves) and Rose is left in one of the caves, while Barcus goes inland in search of help. Meanwhile Judith spies the river thieves' ship and signals them. They come in the dory and rescue Judith, Alan and her men. Judith talks with the captain, giving him much money to become one of her aides. They are landed on the river thieves' island also. Barcus finds a small fishing village and enters the saloon, where numbers are gathered. He starts to drink, asking questions, etc., and one of them suspects he is a revenue officer in disguise. They jump upon Barcus, and he is thrown, bruised and bleeding, out among some barrels and boxes. Judith, Alan, the captain of the band and men land and come up through the village. Barcus recovers, sees them and gets word to Alan that Rose is down on the beach. Judith does not see him. Alan is taken to a little hut, the window overlooking the steep cliff beside the ocean. He is bound there, and Judith taunts him. She first offers him a rose, and then the trey o' hearts, which she throws in his face. She leaves him and goes down into the street. Barcus attempts to escape, but Judith sees him. She orders three men to follow him; they do so, Barcus not knowing of their presence. Judith writes a telegram to her father which the captain says will be sent from the mainland. Barcus returns to Rose and tells her of Alan's presence on the island. Judith's men spring upon Rose and Barcus and after a struggle capture them and hind them to the rocks. Judith returns to Alan and tells him that she knows that Rose is on the island and is going to dispose of her for all time. Judith leaves to go down to see Rose, and Alan, after freeing himself of the ropes on his feet, jumps from the window into the sea, thirty feet below, with his hands bound. He lands among the rocks, stunned from the fall. Judith goes down to see Barcus and taunts him. Rose turns on her and in fury Judith orders the men to bind Rose and Barcus out on the rocks, telling them the tide will be in with the hour and they will be left to drown. She starts back to the village with the men and finds Alan half unconscious. She orders the men to bring Alan with her. Judith's men meanwhile, get into a fight with some of the river thieves and there is a free-for-all fight in the saloon. Judith, Alan and men return in the midst of it. Alan fights to defend himself and gets away, only one man pursuing him. They have a struggle and both fall over a cliff, Alan getting away. He rushes along the beach and discovers Rose and Barcus almost drowned. He frees them and they find their lifeboat and get out into it. Judith discovers Alan's escape and leaves with her men in search of him. The revenue cutter, which has been lying in wait outside the island, opens fire on Alan's party, believing them to be the river thieves. Barcus explains to the officers and they are let go.

Episode 6: "The Crack o' Doom" The power lifeboat containing Alan, Rose and Barcus is running along under the lee of the mainland. They are looking for someplace to land. Alan sights and calls attention to a bright white light on a point some distance ahead. A moment later the engine stops. Investigating the cause of the trouble, Barcus finds the gasoline tank is empty. They carry Rose ashore, leaving Barcus on guard. Alan runs up the beach, and beyond the point of the lighthouse finds a small fishing village with a railroad station. The agent and the telegraph operator are about to shut up for the night. There is one other man in the station, the smuggler-messenger who has brought ashore Judith's telegram to her father. He recognizes Alan, but keeps out of sight. Alan asks for trains and is informed none leave till morning. Alan takes off his money-belt, extracts a sizable wad, and tips the agent. Judith's messenger sees this. Alan sends a telegram to Digby asking him to arrange for a special train to await him at Providence and a motor car on the waterfront at New Bedford. Then, learning that there is a hotel in the village, he secures a flask of brandy and returns to Rose and Barcus, dogged by Judith's messenger, Alan, with Barcus assisting, gets Rose to the hotel. He then goes out to charter a fast motorboat. The proprietor of the hotel introduces him to a rough-and-ready ruffian who has such a boat. While they are talking outside the hotel, Alan sees a rocket go up from the highest point of land in the vicinity, asks the meaning of it. can get no explanation, and suspects that it is a signal to Judith and her gang with their allies. Judith on the schooner spies a rocket going up on the mainland. The smuggler captain agrees with her interpretation of the signal and crowds on sail. Alan, in alarm, calls Barcus and tells him his suspicions. They arouse Rose and start off for the motorboat. Meantime Judith's messenger has conferred with the owner of the motorboat and told him of Alan's money. They agree to rob him, the smuggler passing as the crew of the boat owner. The owner points a pistol at Alan's head and demands his money. Alan knocks the pistol out of his hand and, after a short struggle, throws him overboard. Barcus, meantime, performs like service for Judith's messenger. They shape their course for New Bedford. Shortly after Judith learns what has happened. She delays only long enough to bribe the telegraph operator into re-opening his office, and send another message to her father, asking him to have a motorcar in New York. Trine summons Marrophat and orders him to go to Judith's aid. Sometime out of the harbor, Barcus complains of the engine; it would seem that they have picked a poor boat. Alan catches sight of the white sails of the smuggler's schooner. The night-long chase is on. Barely the winner, the power-boat makes a public wharf in New Bedford in the gray of the morning. Alan sends Barcus with Rose to look for the motorcar and remains behind to cover their retreat. He finds a club at the end of the wharf. The smuggler's schooner ranges alongside. Singlehanded, Alan proceeds to repel boarders. The smugglers, exasperated, open fire. Meanwhile Barcus and Rose have found the motorcar. Arriving he runs to Alan's assistance. Alan grapples with Judith. Her pistol goes off. He notices that at the last instant her hand swerved from the direct aim; the bullet fires over his head. He disarms her, taunting her with the fact that she hasn't the nerve to shoot him. He throws her pistol back on the deck of the schooner, and it explodes in one of the broken powder kegs. A terrible explosion results. Judith falls stunned to the wharf. Barcus grabs Alan and hurries him to the motorcar. On the way they are halted by a policeman who grabs Barcus. The latter goes to the mat with the cop, shouting to Alan to go on. Alan feels that this is the only course left to him. Two minutes later Marrophat drives up in a high-powered touring car, something heavier and faster than Alan's. He arrives just in time to rescue Judith. She directs him in pursuit of the fugitives.

Episode 7: "Stalemate" In the dark Judith and Marrophat smuggle Rose into Trine's house in New York from their car. Leaving Rose with Marrophat, Judith reports to her father, who sends for Rose. Although worried over Alan, Rose is defiant towards her father. At a taunt from Judith, however. Rose is accused of loving Alan. Trine orders Judith from the room and questions Rose. When he tells her that Alan has been assassinated, she tries to disbelieve but finally breaks down and is led, a weeping prisoner, to her room a hundred feet above the street. Marrophat tries to make love to Judith. She ignores him and he secretly vows vengeance. Marrophat tells Trine how Judith prevented Alan's death at the bridge. Judith accused Marrophat of lying because she refused his advances. Trine received an unsigned note reading: "Digby has reserved suite at Monolith Hotel to be held for Arthur Lawrence." Judith departs in anger and Marrophat tells of Judith's love for Alan. Tipping the head bellboy at the Monolith. Marrophat gives him a trey of hearts, indicating a practical joke. As they talk, Alan enters and registers as Arthur Lawrence. After he has entered the elevator, Marrophat leaves hurriedly for an East Side dive, where he pays Red November to assassinate Alan. From his room Alan phones Digby. Unseen, the bellboy slips the trey of hearts into the stationery and leaves. While Trine is apparently sleeping. Judith creeps into the room and reads the note, but as she leaves the room, Trine rouses and traps Judith, proving her disloyalty. Alan slips out a side door unobserved, he thinks. Marrophat sees him and orders Red November to follow his taxi in another, Alan changes taxis several times, but fails to lose November. Believing himself safe Alan arrives at Trine's house. By bribing a night watchman, he climbs to the girder of an unfinished apartment house across the street and using a flash-lamp and the Morse code communicates with Rose. Judith from her window reads the message, telling Rose to be ready to leave the house by six the next morning. Alan turns and finds November edging along the girder, a knife between his teeth. After a desperate fight, Alan gains mastery, but as Red is slipping over the edge of the girder, Alan grasps him and pulls him back onto the girder, where he collapses, sick with fright. After signaling Rose "good night" Alan climbs to the street. Judith plans to outwit Rose and Alan, and enters Rose's room where she empties vial of poison into a glass and at the point of a gun forces Rose to submit a deal of the cards to decide which shall drink it. Judith draws the trey of hearts and loses. Rose faints as Judith starts to drink. Judith, however, throws the glass aside and dresses in Rose's clothes. Meantime Alan enters the building opposite, bribes the ironworkers and they prepare a steam crane for his use. With one foot in the iron hook, he is swung to Rose's window, where he takes Judith from the window, thinking it is Rose, and they are lowered to the street. At this moment, Marrophat, seeing Alan being lowered to Rose's room, rushes through the halls and bursts into the room, but is too late. He mistakes Rose for Judith, until, as she comes from her faint, her words show him his error. When he learns that Judith is going to marry Alan instead of Rose, he rushes out in time to see the machine disappearing. Calling a taxi, he starts madly in pursuit.

Episode 8: "The Mock Rose" When Alan Law rescues Judith Trine, believing her to be her sister Rose, from the New York home of Seneca Trine, they proceed at once by motorcar to Jersey City, where arrangements are made for the marriage of Rose and Alan. Marrophat, Trine's lieutenant, discovers their escape, learns that it is Judith, and not Rose, who has fled with Alan, and with wild jealousy pursues, his car overtaking theirs in a slum on the Jersey side. Judith still pretending to be Rose begs Alan not to let Marrophat speak to her, and when Marrophat makes a leap from his car to Alan's the latter throws him violently to the street. This incident occurs directly in front of the ramshackle tenement occupied by Red November and his gang of gunmen, some of which rush out, pick up Marrophat and convey him to the room where November lies dying, in consequence of his injuries sustained in attempting to assassinate Alan in a previous episode of this series. Marrophat promises, in Trine's name, to avenge the death of November, and sends several members of the gang to try for confirmation of this promise. He then renews the pursuit of Alan and .Judith, again overtaking them and stopping their car by shooting a bullet through the gasoline tank which ignites the gasoline and blows up the car, but Alan and Judith continue without injury by taxicab to the house of the minister who is to perform the wedding. Here, as Alan is about to be married to Judith, who is still impersonating Rose. Marrophat bursts into the room exposing the impersonation. Judith turns in fury on Marrophat and runs from the house, getting away in the taxicab, Marrophat pursuing. Alan proceeds to look for Rose. On his way back to the ferry to take him to New York, he passes the tenement of the gunmen, just as they arrive in a taxicab with Rose, who has been taken prisoner by them, while attempting to escape from the house of her father in New York. Alan sees Rose hustled into the house, jumps out of his car and goes to her rescue. The gunmen lock Rose in a room at the top of the house, and after a violent fight with Alan on the staircase, throw him from the house. In the course of this fight a kerosene lamp is kicked over and explodes, setting fire to the tenement. The fire alarm is turned in, but escape from the upper floors is cut off because of the blazing staircase. Rose appears at the topmost window and Alan seeing all other means of rescue has failed hauls himself up to the level of the her window by means of a block and tackle in front of the warehouse across the street. He then swings himself across the window, where Rose is waiting, and so contrives her rescue, bringing her safely to the street.

Episode 9: "As the Crow Flies" Marrophat, failing to overtake Judith in her flight, turns back to advise with Red November. His car arrives on the scene of the fire just as Alan has rescued Rose. Rapidly assembling several of November's gang, Marrophat gives them their instructions. The gunmen point Alan out to the police as the incendiary. Two policemen arrest him. Alan, suspecting a plot, breaks from his captors and takes to his heels, the mob following. Doubling and twisting through slum streets, Alan finally finds himself on the waterfront with every landward way of escape closed. Hard pressed, he seeks refuge in the rigging of a ship moored alongside. The gunmen pursue; he fights them off, kicking and pushing several into the water. But the odds proving too heavy, Alan dives from one of the yard arms and starts swimming for midstream. An aviator, Coast by name, sailing overhead in a hydroplane, observes the scene, and his sympathy excited for the gallant fight Alan puts up, drops to the water and rescues him. The day being slightly foggy, Coast loses his way in attempting to locate the Mineola aviation field and hangars. He lands with his passenger in a swamp and it is evening before he and Alan reach the field by motorcar. Hero Alan charters from Coast a new aeroplane with the understanding that it is to be held against his order. He then returns to New York. Meantime Barcus has arrived in New York and learned from Digby, Jr., that Alan is being married to Rose in New Jersey. He starts over in the hope of being in at the finish; fate brings him on the scene of the tenement fire just as Rose is being kidnapped by Marrophat in his motorcar. Barcus pursues in a taxicab. Marrophat takes Rose home, interrupting a violent scene between Judith and her father, Judith having got home a few minutes earlier. She has been lying to Trine, trying to persuade him of Marrophat's treachery. But Marrophat's true story of the events of the morning, backed by Rose's testimony, convinces Trine that Judith is no longer trustworthy. He orders his two daughters to their rooms. At Marrophat's suggestion Trine decides to take Rose by special train to Chicago and points west as a lure to get Alan away from New York into a section of the country where the prejudices of the police are a less serious handicap to their designs. Barcus, by shadowing the messenger, learns of the plan and by bribing the porter and brakeman, substitutes as a porter. He manages to let Alan know of the affair before the train leaves. Alan goes to Trine's house and discovers Judith a prisoner in her own room. Judith lends a willing hand and the two, making for Van Cortlandt Park, find Coast and the aeroplane. They start the pursuit and arrive in Chicago the next morning. They learn that Trine's special has passed through on time. They renew the chase, finally overtaking the special on the plains of Illinois. Alan, with the binoculars, recognize Barcus on the rear platform. Barcus sees the aeroplane and suspects that Alan is attempting a rescue. He hastens to warn Rose. Trine, Marrophat et al., sight the biplane a little later, but as they do so, it develops engine trouble and sinks to the earth. They dismiss it from their thoughts, taking no more precaution than to station the two gunmen as guards on the front and back platform when they go to bed for the night. The biplane comes to earth near Kansas City. Leaving Coast with instructions to effect repairs and follow on. Alan and Judith engage a light engine. On this they pursue Trine's special. Barcus sees their headlight drawing nearer, and suspects that the moment of rescue is at hand. He proceeds to overpower and throw off the train the gunman on the rear platform, then he boots the front platform guard off into the night and hastens to warn Rose. Both are waiting on the back platform when the light engine overtakes the special and runs up close enough for Rose and Barcus to make the leap from the back platform to the cowcatcher. Marrophat and Trine rouse to the situation just in time to complicate the danger. Barcus manages to hold the back door against them until Alan helps Rose from the platform to the light engine, then, forced to release it, makes his own escape in a living leap under fire. The brakeman of the special frightened by the pistol duel, signals for full speed ahead, and the special lights out like a scared jackrabbit, Trine's protests to the contrary notwithstanding.

Episode 10: "Steel Ribbons" Trine's special was vanishes around the bend in the track. At the opening of the present installment Alan's light engine comes to a standstill in the Kansas prairie. The fireman and engineer balk at either going ahead or returning, as it is a single track section. Judith stands aside, outwardly indifferent, inwardly furious, now that Rose, her sister, is of the company. Alan attempts to bribe the engine crew. There is an argument followed by blows. When the fight is finished the engineer is a prisoner and the fireman lies at the side of the engine, insensible. During this time, Marrophat, aboard Trine's special, is having no success in persuading the frightened crew to back up. By force he overcomes the crew and signals to back up. The special is upon Alan's party before they realize it. Jumping from the train Trine's men open fire ; a furious gun fight results. Taking advantage of the natural features of the land, each party describes a circle; Alan and Rose reach the special. Barcus and Judith come up on the other side. One of the guards vainly attempts to keep them off. The brakeman, who has escaped, gives the signal and the special, now carrying Alan's party, also Trine, is again westbound at top speed. Trine's men, in the lone engine, give chase. In the course of the day's run hell brews on the special. Alan, introduced to Trine, mocks him and orders him locked in the drawing room. Judith is the only one willing to attend her father. Through her jealousy for her sister Rose, Judith is finally reconciled to her father. Judith at first, however, refuses to renew her vow of vengeance, but on observing Alan embracing Rose, she flies into a rage and is only prevented from hurling Rose from the train by Barcus. Later, Judith promises her father to carry out her vow of vengeance. Alan, Rose and Barcus suspect and plan to lose Judith and Trine. The opportunity comes when the special is side-tracked at a water tank in New Mexico. The engine crew mutinies, uncouples the engine and leaves the Pullman stalled. Alan, knowing that Marrophat must be in pursuit, secures a hand-car. On this the three start off down the track. Later, a freight train passes and Judith, disguised as a man, jumps on with her father's blessing. Shortly after Marrophat in the lone engine discovers Trine's stalled Pullman, couples it on and takes up the pursuit. The special passes the freight train on a siding and soon comes within sight of the hand-car. There ensues a wild dash through mountainous country, the hand-car flying like the wind on down grades and managing for a time to keep the lead because of curves. Coming to a spur, Alan throws the switch, Trine's special is shunted off and runs some miles before the trick is suspected. This enables the freight to pass. When it overtakes the hand-car, Alan, Rose and Barcus flag it and climb aboard. Judith, secreted in the box-car, covertly watches this. As the freight starts on Judith jumps out and swings up between the caboose and the next car forward. Some miles farther on, the special, having backed up on the main track, again comes into view of the freight. Judith, standing on the top of the box-car, waves a signal. As the freight crosses a trestle, she climbs down and uncouples the caboose containing Alan's party. Startled to find the caboose blocking the trestle, the engineer of the special whistles and applies the breaks. But Marrophat jams a gun into the pit of his stomach and himself opens the throttle wide. Warned by the whistle of the danger Alan and Barcus pile out and help Rose down to the trestle. They lack time to make solid earth before the collision, so drop between the ties and hang by their arms. The picture fades out as Alan and Barcus climb back to the trestle and help Rose up.

Episode 11: "The Painted Hills" Following their narrow escape from the train wreck on the bridge, Alan, Rose and Barcus scurry off and lose themselves from the sight of those aboard Trine's special. In this they are aided by the fall of night. Meantime the freight train crew discover the loss of the caboose. There is a stop at a telegraph station to report and receive instructions. Here the presence of Judith aboard the train is discovered; she is booted off into the night, passing, in her man's clothing, as a tramp. Alan, Rose and Barcus emerge from the gully onto a wagon road. With the hope of securing horses, they hail a horseman named Hopi Jim, a half-breed, cattle-rustler and general bad man. He is riding north to hold up the California limited. Hopi directs the party to Mesa, a typical western frontier town. Arriving here, Alan purchases three saddle horses and a trail outfit. They take lodgings in a hotel. When Trine's special arrives at the telegraph station the engine is uncoupled; the Pullman is left. Judith comes aboard and goes into conference with her father and Marrophat. While this is going on Hopi Jim approaches and proceeds to hold up the party. Trine manages to secure his services as a guide in the proposed pursuit of Alan, Rose and Barcus. Judith expects to head this expedition, but her dislike for Marrophat causes her to hesitate. However, Hopi secures horses for the party and Judith is brought into the plan. Incidentally, Hopi informs Trine of his meeting with Alan and his companions and of their intentions of visiting Mesa. Trine's party direct their march in this direction. While all this is developing, Hopi has been casting longing eyes toward Judith. Judith, to exasperate Marrophat, encourages the half-breed. It is the cool of the dawn when Trine and his party arrive at Mesa. Alan hears them coming and rouses Barcus and Rose. They steal down the back stairs and escape on their mounts. When Judith, Marrophat, Hopi and Texas, the latter a friend of Hopi's, break in the door, they find they have drawn a blank. Rushing out, they mount their horses and give chase. As Alan's party enter the foothills Rose's horse stumbles and falls, Rose is thrown to the ground. Alan, following behind, catches her from the ground and lifts her to his saddle without stopping. Judith's party, having gained on their victims, open fire. This is returned. Hopi's horse is dropped and his friend, Texas, is shot from his saddle. The pursuers naturally pause. Alan, Rose and Barcus turn into a canyon and escape. Hopi, after he has secured another horse, suggests a short cut and a method to annihilate the fugitives. He leads them through the mountains to a trail which overhangs the trail which Alan and his party are following. At the appropriate moment a boulder is to be rolled down on the fugitives. But Judith can't see Alan crushed to death; her love overrides all and she manages to warn Alan before it is too late. Alan. Rose and Barcus make a detour and go on. Judith, in the meantime, parts company definitely from Marrophat and rides on alone. Hopi Jim, after relieving Marrophat of his valuables, pursues Judith. Marrophat returns afoot to Mesa to await Trine in his motor car. Alan, Rose and Barcus, by dint of forced marches, penetrate the mountains to the desert beyond. Judith's trail has paralleled that of the fugitives, but on higher ground. About daylight Hopi comes up with Judith and attempts to kiss her. There is a terrific struggle. Alan sees it from below and recognizes Judith. Awaiting his chance Alan shoots and brings Hopi down. However, Hopi has tied Judith to her horse; the horse bolts with Judith unable to prevent. Alan telling his companions what has happened follows. The race leads into the desert. Judith is finally released and falls exhausted. Her horse, a trained beast, fills the canteen from a nearby water hole and returns. Alan continues the search, though heat and thirst almost overcome him. Toward nightfall a sand-storm comes up. Alan dismounts to find shelter; he wanders on until he suddenly stumbles upon Judith, sheltered with her horse behind an outcrop of rock. Finding her thus, alive, strong and able to care for herself after all the torments he has endured to rescue her, almost unhinges his reason. He strikes aside the hand she offers and blunders again into the dust storm. Judith follows, pleading. In the end, blinded by dust, Alan stumbles and falls over the brink of a deep arroyo; Judith climbs down and drags him. unconscious, to shelter. She holds his head in her lap while she endeavors to revive him with the contents of the canteen as the picture fades out.

Episode 12: "The Mirage" Judith, lashed to the back of the runaway, is carried at a mad pace along the upper trail through the mountains and foothills, and eventually out into the desert. Alan follows the flight of the horse, expecting momentarily to see Judith dashed to death. He tells Rose and Barcus of the affair, mounts his own horse, and starts off to the rescue. Rose and Barcus break camp and plan to follow. Meantime, Trine's car, containing Trine, Jim, the butler and the chauffeur, arrives at Mesa, takes up Marrophat, and sets off in pursuit again. Steed, a gentleman of Hopi Jim's Kidney, happens along the other trail, discovers the two horses, and is puzzling the matter over when he is joined by several other rough citizens of Mesa, who have started out to follow the fun, promised by what they have already seen. Murder being indicated, they organize a lynching party and set off for the upper trail. Judith's horse, meantime, has run well out into the desert. When he stops Judith manages to release herself, and falls to the ground. The horse roams off and finally locates a water hole. Refreshed, Judith manages to climb to his back, and the horse strikes off on the desert trail away from the mountains. Alan, by the use of his glasses, locates the moving speck, and presses on in pursuit. By mid-afternoon he is overcome with thirst and heat. Barcus and Rose follow upon the trail, and by the merging of hoof prints they learn that Alan has pursued Judith into the dangerous part of the desert. They continue, but are soon overtaken by the Vigilance Committee, whose temper proves to be anything but friendly. Trine's automobile eventually falls in a poor fate in the race across the desert. Judith's horse leads her to a water hole. She dismounts, and seeks water and rest. Alan, who is close at hand, does not observe her there. At this point the sky thickens, and with hardly a moment's notice, a terrific sandstorm breaks forth. Alan, thinking that Judith is helplessly tied to the horse's back, pushes on. It is only by accident that he stumbles across Judith. Judith, realizing the motive which has brought him there, offers her hand in friendly thanks. Alan, on the other hand, is furious at finding the girl safe and well able to care for herself. He strikes aside her offered hand, and rushes out again into the storm. Judith follows, and finally overtakes him, when he falls exhausted down an embankment. The storm is the only thing which saves Barcus and Rose from the Vigilants. In the course of their progress they pass within a few feet which shelter Judith and Alan, the latter unconscious. Judith sees them, but says nothing. Barcus and Rose pass on in ignorance. When the storm falls it is night. Alan finally comes around. He staggers to his feet, climbs out of the arroyo, and starts off again across the desert, paying no attention to Judith. She follows with the same patience as before. This time it is Alan who is under necessity of helping the girl. When she falls to her knees with cold and exhaustion, he wraps his coat around her, and holds her in his arms. Exhaustion overtakes them both, and Alan finally finds comfort in sleep. Meanwhile, Trine's car, after being held up in the storm, continues on the trail, finally coming up with the Vigilance Committee. Marrophat and Trine indicate Alan as the murderer of Hopi Jim. There are two routes that form the southern barrier of the desert. The motor car strikes up toward one, the Vigilants toward the others. It is Marrophat that first spies Judith and Alan. Judith snatches Alan's revolver from its holster. She has her own as well. Alan sleeps. When Marrophat, Jim and the butler approach, Judith calmly commands them to throw up their hands. She forces Jim and the butler to carry Alan to the car. When Trine grows turbulent she forces Jim to gag him. Then, jumping into the car with Alan and her father, she orders the chauffeur forward. Marrophat and the butler, left behind, manage, by their howling, to attract the attention of the Vigilants. Taking the two men upon their horses, the Vigilants start in pursuit of the automobile. Steed, his horse swifter than the others, gets within pistol shot, and punctures the rear tire. Judith answers by shooting his horse from under him. The car, now crippled, moves slowly, and the pursuing Vigilants are soon upon them. Rose and Barcus, meanwhile, have made the shelter of a prospector's shack overlooking the pass. They hear the shots and the galloping horses. Realizing trouble, Barcus conceives the notion of blocking the pass when the car has passed. He has found dynamite in the shack, and this he plants in the hillside. He waits to light the fuse when the car passes underneath. There is a terrific explosion, and an avalanche of rock and dirt sweeps down the mountain to cut off the pursuit. Rose, Judith, Alan and Barcus are now temporarily safe.

Episode 13: "The Jaws of Death" After repairing the punctured tire, the chauffeur drives on, the motor-car now containing Alan, Rose and Barcus in addition to Judith and Trine. But it has gone only a short distance when the chauffeur announces he can go no farther. The party prepares to camp for the night, but Rose has learned how Alan owes his life to Judith's defense of him when the motor-car overhauled the two in the desert, and furthermore intuitively divines the deepening interest in Judith which Alan is beginning to feel, but will not acknowledge even to himself. This, together with Judith's apparent contentment with the status of affairs renders the situation intolerable for Rose. She insists that they go on at all costs. Alan returns to the prospector and purchases from him his three burros. Upon these Alan. Rose and Barcus continue their flight through the remainder of the night. At dawn they come to a spot where the chasm is bridged only by a shaky affair of ropes. Out of sight of the suspension bridge they come upon the clearing and outbuildings that surround the shaft of an exhausted abandoned copper mine. They decide to camp here for a few hours of sleep. At dawn, Marrophat, Jimmy and Hicks (the two latter mounted on one horse) ride up to the stalled motor-car. Without rousing Judith, Trine, Marrophat and Jimmy confer. Trine urges them after Alan and Rose, and it is agreed that Marrophat and Jimmie shall pursue. They do so, taking the two horses, leaving Hicks to care for Trine. Judith wakens later, and finding Hicks in attendance, understands what has happened. In a rage, she starts off afoot after Marrophat and Jimmy. Haunted by visions of Alan being shot down by Marrophat, Alan's sleep is broken by a dream; he sees Judith toiling up the mountain afoot, with every indication of desperate haste, then he sees her looking at him steadfastly, her countenance expressing love and for him, as he looks, she draws a Trey o' Hearts from her pocket and holds it out to him; it has "Danger." Alan wakes up, the dream still vivid in his mind. Alan leaves both Rose and Barcus asleep and goes out to reconnoiter. As Marrophat and Jimmy are passing the clearing of the mine, their attention is attracted by the braying of the tethered burros. They investigate, find Rose and Barcus asleep, and bind and gag them, then scout about for Alan. Arrived at the suspension bridge some time after Marrophat and Jimmy have passed, Alan sees nothing to bear out the warning of his dream, but is struck by the idea of cutting down the bridge. Marrophat and Jimmy spy him from the bridge behind. Marrophat makes a flying leap to his shoulders, overcomes him and, with Jimmy's help, binds him. They then start back to the mine with Alan, for, be it known, Marrophat has conceived a hellish design. From the foot of the mine shaft two tunnels strike off, one at a level slightly higher than the other. At the junction the powder room is situated. It contains a half-keg of blasting powder, a few sticks of dynamite, and some fuse. With Jimmy's assistance he lowers Alan. Rose and Barcus to the foot of the shaft, places them in the lower level, and shuts them in with the bulkhead. Then he goes up and opens the sluice gate of the reservoir, diverting the water into the ladder shaft. Meantime, Alan (who is not gagged) has with his teeth, worried loose the bonds about the wrists of Barcus, and the latter, his hands once more freed, has wasted no time in freeing Alan and Rose. Meanwhile, Jimmy has carelessly left a candle burning in the upper level. The candle burns down and drops its flaming wick into a pile of waste. The waters mount rapidly in the lower level. Backing up against the bulkhead, Alan and Barcus sustain Rose between them. They are in water to their chins, their heads against the roof of the tunnel. The fire in the upper level ignites the fuse Marrophat has laid to the powder keg. The explosion follows. But instead of caving in the shaft, it blasts out the rock round the bulkhead and blows the latter in, letting the water out. Alan swarms up the bucket-rope hand over hand, then uses the windlass to draw, first Rose, then Barcus, to safety. Marrophat and Jimmy have mounted and ridden on. Meantime Judith has come to the suspension bridge. When she is in the middle, it falls away beneath her feet. She catches the hand rope, however, and, by its aid, gains the farther side. Then she hurries on, apprehending disaster and blaming the cutting of the ropes on Marrophat. She arrives at the clearing just as Alan and Barcus are assisting Rose to walk away from the shaft. Her unconcealed relief at seeing Alan safe and sound deepening Rose's distrust. She draws aside, first thoughtful, then jealous, then heart-broken.

Episode 14: "The First Law" Toward the close of the same day whose noon witnessed the affair of the mine, a solitary motorist may be observed slowly approaching the mountain village of Mesquite in a motorcar drawn by two horses. The solitary motorist is none other than Seneca Trine. Repairing to the Mountain house, Mr. Trine finds there his two aides, Marrophat and Jimmy. Seneca's gloom is changed to joy when he is informed of Marrophat's brilliant coup of the abandoned mine. Trine has them make him comfortable for the night. In the act of bidding him goodnight. Marrophat, feeling in his pocket for a match, brings forth a Trey o' Hearts. He laughingly displays it and carelessly sails it out of the open window. In the course of the night, Judith, Rose, Alan and Barcus are to be seen camping by the trailside. Peace has been patched up between the sisters, though Rose is still suspicious and watchful of Judith's attitude in respect of Alan. Judith, divining this, suspicions by starting up a flirtation with Barcus. Waking at an early hour, the party sets out for Mesquite, reaching that village while the shadows are still long. As they approach the hotel, Rose utters a cry of terror, and points down to the trey o' hearts. With this warning, Alan calls Barcus and Judith back from the entrance to the hotel, and the discovery of the stalled motorcar waiting round in some conspicuous place confirms their apprehensions. They promptly set about finding some expeditious way out of town. Barcus unearths two motorcycles. The party sets out. The noise of the motors wakens Seneca Trine. He wheels his chair to the window in time to see Alan and Rose tearing off in a cloud of dust. Marrophat and Jimmy stagger sleepily into Trine's presence. His information drives them out quickly enough, in search of some conveyance in which to pursue. They find nothing until, after sometime, a gentleman of the countryside drives into town in his 80-horsepower racer. This machine, Marrophat proceeds to purchase. Jimmy, meantime, purchases a rifle. In spite of the long lead Alan et al. have gained the racing car is quickly at their heels. After something like an hour of furious racing, Barcus' motorcycle develops trouble and comes to a full stop. This happens when he was perhaps hundred-yard lead of Alan and Rose. To avoid running Barcus and Judith down, Alan steers his cycle too close to the outer edge of the road. It shoots over the edge and down the 90 foot declivity. They roll to the bottom and escape unhurt. Jimmy takes an ineffective shot at Barcus in passing. Judith replies by whipping out her revolver. Barcus, when he has joined Rose and Alan with Judith at the bottom of the declivity, points out that the accident has occurred at the mouth of a canyon, which may afford them a way of escape. They accordingly strike out afoot. Suspecting that they have been tricked, Marrophat and Jimmy halt the racing car until chance favors them with a glimpse of their landscape. They find a side trail which enables them to overcome in a great measure the lead of the fugitives before rough going compel them to abandon the car and continue the pursuit afoot. The discovery that they are closely pursued comes to the fugitives simultaneously with the discovery that the canyon ends abruptly in a steep, sheer rocky cliff. Alan finds two lengths of rope. Barcus and Rose are hitched together with one of these and start the ascent. Alan and Judith follow tied to one another. Jimmy's magazine rifle runs out of ammunition. He has no more. His revolver and Marrophat's as usual fail to do any damage. Finding the prospect of the climb little to their taste, they turn back, regain the racing car, and seek another way of overtaking the fugitives. Barcus and Rose mount without mishap. When Alan is near the top however Judith, below him, loses her foot hold and plunges out over the abyss. Her full weight coming suddenly on the rope, pulls his feet from under him. He falls sprawling and his legs are well out over the ledge, while he grasps in vain for a handhold. Judith appreciating his peril, ships a knife and deliberately severs the rope. She falls about fifty feet and lands on a shelving bank of shale. Alan relieved of her weight, crawls back on the ledge. For a time he lies there, sick with the vision he has of Judith dashed to death. Rose and Barcus witness the accident from the top. Barcus discovers a hydraulic mining outfit at some distance. There is a man in charge of it. He offers Barcus rope and tackle wherewith to rescue Judith. They return to the cliff. When Alan recovers, he looks down and sees Judith safe. He effects the rescue, is drawn to safety with Judith in his arms. As the two gain the top of the cliff, Rose catches sight of Marrophat's car toiling upward. Thus warned, the party runs for the hydraulic mining outfit. The miner swings the hydraulic nozzle directly on the machine. The stream hits the car like a cannon ball, carries it back several feet, and over the edge of the cliff. Exit Marrophat and Jimmy for good.

Episode 15: "The Last Trump" The miners, together with Judith, Barcus and Alan, crowd to the edge of the cliff to see what has happened to the motor car containing Jimmy and Marrophat. Rose lingers behind, afraid of what she may see. Her fears are justified, for the car lies overturned and a total wreck at the foot of the cliff, the bodies of Marrophat and Jimmy visible amid the wreckage. Back in the mountain town of Mesquite, the chauffeur contrives to effect temporary repairs on his motor car and starts out with Trine, following the road taken by Marrophat and Jimmy in pursuit of the fugitives. Judith and Rose are about all in with reaction from the strain of the last days added to their fatigue. The miners offer them the hospitality of the bunk house. They accept and retire. Alan enters the bunk house, sits down at a table, and falls asleep, his head on his folded arms. The miners make the trip down into the canyon and recover the bodies of Marrophat and Jimmy, bringing them up to camp, where they lay them out and cover them with canvas. Late in the afternoon Judith wakes, rises with care not to disturb Rose, and steals out of the room, her purpose being to bid a last farewell to Alan. Finding him asleep, she bends over and kisses his cheek. She is surprised by Rose, who has been awakened by Judith's leaving the room, and who has, on rising, half frantic with jealousy, snatched up the revolver which Judith has thoughtlessly placed on the chair besides the bed. Judith mistakes the thought in Rose's mind and, turning to her, tears open her shirt-waist and bids her shoot. Life, she indicates, is no more worth to her, since a life without love is a thing unthinkable. Momentarily tempted, Rose lifts the revolver, but before she levels it at her sister, suddenly turns it on herself. Suicide is averted only by Alan, wakened by the sound of their voices, who springs upon Rose. Judith pockets the weapon with "a strange smile," indicating that Rose's attempted suicide has suggested one way out. As she leaves the bunk-house, Trine's car rounds the bend in the cliff road. Judith informs him of the death of Marrophat and Jimmy. Rose and Alan come out of the cabin. Alan promptly commandeers the car. Barcus has gone for another. They start off, Judith in the middle of the rear seat, between her father and Rose, Alan in the front seat with the driver. Thus disposed, the pocket in which Judith carries her pistol, is next to Trine's left hand. The butt of the pistol protrudes temptingly. He sees. The car proceeds down a canyon road. Judith lapses into sad preoccupation. Trine takes advantage of this abstraction to snatch the revolver from its holster and level it at the back of Alan's head. Judith interferes in time to divert the shot. It enters the shoulder of the chauffeur, who loses control of the machine. It dashes over the edge of an embankment, spilling the entire party, but not injuring anybody seriously, save Trine. Barcus arrives on the scene with a seven-passenger car, and hurries the party to the nearest town and hotel. Trine remains in a coma all the way. Arriving, they transfer him to a room and summon physicians. The consensus is that, if he lives, it will be only as an even more helpless cripple than before, requiring unremitting attention. To this task, Judith dedicates her life. Two days pass and Trine is pronounced out of danger. Alan goes down to the hotel office and telegraphs Digby, in New York, announcing his whereabouts, Trine's confusion and helplessness, and the fact that he means to marry Rose that night. Judith has intended to stop by her father's side through the ceremony, but at the last moment, she finds that she can as little endure not to see her happiness destroyed as to see it. Her father is apparently asleep as she steals from the room. As soon as Judith leaves the room. Trine rouses, lifts himself out of his chair with both arms, and discovers that his leg will not only support him but walk as well. The accident has cured him. Dressed in dressing gown he goes to the bureau, secures the revolver, and leaves the room, moving feebly, but surely, negotiating the stairs and gaining the entrance to the chapel. In the telegraph office a message is received: "Allan Law, Mission Inn, Riverside, Cal. Marriage to Rose impossible. Rev. Mr. Wright advises me that your marriage to Judith last week was performed before interrupted by Marrophat. Judith is legally your wife. Would have advised you sooner had I known where to address you. Digby." A terrific storm breaks as a messenger boy sets out to deliver the telegram. He arrives at the inn just as the ceremony, uniting Alan and Rose, is concluded. The manager of the hotel takes the message and calls Barcus. He reads it and starts to interrupt, but is forestalled. A cry brings everybody to face about and Judith out of hiding. Trine is seen slowly tottering up the aisle. As Alan faces him, Trine draws the revolver and levels it. At the same instant, a flash of lightning breaks one of the windows, kills Trine instantly, kills Rose and all but kills Alan. Immediately after the accident, Barcus takes Judith aside and tells her that she must never let Alan know that Rose is dead. Judith refuses point blank. Barcus shows her the telegram, proving that she is already Alan's wife. She then yields. When Alan at length comes to himself, she tells him, "Judith is no more." She kneels beside him, puts her arms round his head, says, "I am your wife. I love you." They kiss, but after a long embrace Alan lifts her head and holds her so that he can look deep into her eyes. He says quietly, "I know." They embrace again.

END