With Max awaiting trial in jail, Mary is faced with the prospect of years of loneliness and perhaps hardship if Max receives a prison sentence, innocent though he is. Dr John Benson, generously offered to be her protector in the event of Max's prison, for Dr Benson was hounded by the fear that he wanted Max to go to prison, so that his hopeless love for Mary might be realized in Max's absence. Tormented by this, he told Mary that he could not risk betraying Max in that way, and threatened to leave town...