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"That's a pretty ingenious simile," said Anstice slowly "But it's a false premise all the same The diamond would naturally have no voice in the ht reasonably be expected to have the power of choice"

"But that's just what I'm anxious to avoid" So much in earnest was the speaker that he did not realize the fatuity of his words till they were out of hisit all, don't let's stand here arguing You see the point, that's enough I honestly feel that since it was through you that I lost Hilda Ryder"--even though he was prepared to woo another woman his voice softened over the name--"it will be doubly hard if you are to coirl I've ever put in Miss Ryder's place"

"I see the point, as I said before," returned Anstice deliberately "But what I don't see is the justice of it You've ad what I did that day; yet in the same breath in which you acquit me of the criical argument took Cheniston aback Then, for his heart was set on winning Iris Wayne, he condescended to plead

"Yes I ad to stand on But--morally--or in a spiritual sense so to speak, don't you think yourself that I have just the shadow of a right to ask you to stand aside?"

"Yes" His assent was unflinching, though his lips hite "You have that right, and that's why I'ht But--don't you think we are both taking a wrong view of theMiss Wayne will listen to either of us?"

"Oh, that's not an insurmountable obstacle" Cheniston saw the victory on, and in an instant he ake to the expediency of clinching the matter finally "We don't know, of course, that she will listen either to me or to you But for my part I am ready to take my chance And"--at the last moment the inherent honesty of the ain he was driving--"my chance is a hundred times better if you withdraw from the contest"

"I see" With an effort Anstice crushed down the tide of revolt which swept over his heart "As you say, I owe you soly, in India And if you fix this as the price offor me to do but to pay that price"