"My God, man--" He broke off short, and a cruel light of understanding was in his eyes.
"Harrigan," he said quietly, "did Kate tell you she loved me ?" "Ye fool! Why else am I sittin' here singin' for your sake?
Would I not rather be amusin' myself by takin' the hollow of your throat under my thumbs--so ?" McTee laughed softly, and Kate could not meet his eye.
"Well ?" he said.
"Yes, I lied to you." She turned to Harrigan: "And to you.

Don't you see?
I found you on the verge of a fight, and I knew that in it you would both be killed.

What else could I do?
I hoped that for my sake you would spare each other.
Was it wrong of me, Dan?
Angus, will you forgive me ?" Harrigan raised his arms high above his head and stretched like one from whose wrists the manacles have been unlocked after a long imprisonment.
"McTee, are ye ready?
There's a weight gone off my soul!" "Harrigan, I've been a driver of men, but this girl has put me under the whip.

When I'm through with you, I'm coming back to her." "It'll be your ghost that returns." Kate hesitated one instant as if to judge which was the greatest force toward evil.

Then she dropped to her knees and caught the hands of McTee, those strong, cruel hands.
"If you will not fight, I'll--I'll be kind to you, I'll be everything you ask of me--" "You're pleading for him ?" "No, no! For him and for you; for your two souls!" "Bah! Mine was lost long ago, and I'll answer that there's a claim on Harrigan filed away in hell.