pushed open its massive door, stepped inside and saw the way was open."
"The night you came first, you entered alone the secret way?" she interrupted.
"Yes, I meant to use it if necessary."
"But you never did! You never did!" she whispered.
"How could I, dearest! I saw your face that night for the first time, heard the low music of your voice, touched your hand, and I was a new man! Love, not hate, has ruled me since. I disbanded the Klan immediately and ordered my men never again to use its power."
"Disbanded the Klan!" she repeated with choking surprise.
"Yes, and a dastard reorganised it as a local order to further his low ambitions. I've done my best to hold in check their crimes and follies. I warned your father of danger the night those fools came. In a madness of love, fear and jealous rage I came down to the house, sat there in dumb pain and watched your beautiful form whirl past the lighted window until I could endure it no longer."
Stella strangled a sob.
"I've reproached myself a hundred times I didn't prevent that masquerade by force. I might have done it. I had some faithful old soldiers from the foothills in town that day whom I had
