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 from town. The Captain thought a thousand men were on him, and surrendered without a shot."

At twelve o'clock, Ben stood at the gate with Elsie.

"Your fate hangs in the balance of this election to-night," she said. "I'll share it with you, success or failure, life or death."

"Success, not failure," he answered, firmly. "The Grand Dragons of six states have already wired victory. Look at our lights on the mountains! They are ablaze—range on range our signals gleam until the Fiery Cross is lost among the stars!"

"What does it mean?" she whispered.

"That I am a successful revolutionist—that Civilisation has been saved, and the South redeemed from shame."