A NEW ALLIANCE Her eyes blinded by a strange mist of tears, Beth Norvell clung to the latch of the closed door, fearful lest the man within might decide to follow, endeavoring to gaze about, while gaining control over her sorely shattered nerves.

Strong as she had appeared when nerved by indignation and despair, that stormy interview with Farnham--his scarcely veiled threats, his heartless scoffing--had left her a wreck, for the moment scarcely mistress of her own mind.

One thing alone stood forth as a rallying point for all her benumbed energies--she must save Winston from a real danger, the nature of which she did not in the least doubt.

The gambler's boast was no idle one; she, who had before tasted of his depravity, felt fully convinced of his intention now.
Yet what could she hope to do?
How best might she accomplish that imperative duty of rescue?
There occurred to her only one feasible plan--a complete surrender of her womanly pride, an immediate acceptance of the young man's proffered aid to Denver, with an insistence that he also accompany her.

Woman enough to realize her power, she could not but have faith in the results.