That helped Bryce in no way--so far as he could see.

And therefore it was necessary to re-state his case to himself; to take stock; to see where he stood--and more than all, to put plainly before his own mind exactly what he wanted.
And just before Mitchington and the detective came up the path to his door, Bryce had put his notions into clear phraseology.

His aim was definite--he wanted to get Ransford completely into his power, through suspicion of Ransford's guilt in the affairs of Braden and Collishaw.

He wanted, at the same time, to have the means of exonerating him--whether by fact or by craft--so that, as an ultimate method of success for his own projects he would be able to go to Mary Bewery and say "Ransford's very life is at my mercy: if I keep silence, he's lost: if I speak, he's saved: it's now for you to say whether I'm to speak or hold my tongue--and you're the price I want for my speaking to save him!" It was in accordance with his views of human nature that Mary Bewery would accede to his terms: he had not known her and Ransford for nothing, and he was aware that she had a profound gratitude for her guardian, which might even be akin to a yet unawakened warmer feeling.

The probability was that she would willingly sacrifice herself to save Ransford--and Bryce cared little by what means he won her, fair or foul, so long as he was successful.