For the first time Jane Withersteen felt Venters's real spirit.
She wondered if she would love this splendid youth. Then her
emotion cooled to the sobering sense of the issue at stake.

"Venters, will you leave Cottonwoods at once and forever?" asked
Tull, tensely.

"Why?" rejoined the rider.

"Because I order it."

Venters laughed in cool disdain.

The red leaped to Tull's dark cheek.

"If you don't go it means your ruin," he said, sharply.

"Ruin!" exclaimed Venters, passionately. "Haven't you already
ruined me? What do you call ruin? A year ago I was a rider. I had
horses and cattle of my own. I had a good name in Cottonwoods.
And now when I come into the village to see this woman you set
your men on me. You hound me. You trail me as if I were a
rustler. I've no more to lose--except my life."

"Will you leave Utah?"

"Oh! I know," went on Venters, tauntingly, "it galls you, the
idea of beautiful Jane Withersteen being friendly to a poor
Gentile. You want her all yourself. You're a wiving Mormon. You