meantime john, who doesn't know that evie knows, is trying to figure out how to break the news to her. just released from the army hospital with a wounded leg, he decides to protect both wolf's honor and evie's faith by telling her that john is dead, and that he died loving her. he gives evie the gift of his purple heart. evie then realizes that all along it was this man who had loved her, and this man whom she had fallen in love with. she is delighted, and they unite in a kiss.