I am commandant here, with power of life and death, and I tell you that he shall certainly die--and his blood will be on your head." Bessie grasped at the tree for support.

"You dare not," she said; "you dare not murder an innocent old man." "Dare not!" he answered; "you must understand me very ill, Bessie Croft, when you talk of what I dare not do for you.

There is nothing," he added, with a thrill of his rich voice, "that I dare not do to gain you.
Listen: promise to marry me to-morrow morning.

I will bring a clergyman here from Wakkerstroom, and your uncle shall go free as air, though he is a traitor to the land, and though he has tried to shoot a burgher after the declaration of peace.

Refuse, and he dies.