Sudden collapse had set in.

David could not speak; but for one moment his dying eyes rested on Elizabeth's face, and his last act of consciousness was to try to put her hand in his father's.
"I understand, David," Elizabeth stooped and whispered into his dull ear.

"Yes, we will take care of each other, and comfort each other;" and then a faint, flickering smile seemed to cross his face, but the next moment unconsciousness set in.

For hours Elizabeth knelt beside him with her arm supporting the pillow under his head, while on the other side the stricken father offered up supplications for his dying son.

When his voice quavered and broke with human weakness, and Dinah begged him to spare himself, he shook his gray head.