Then he made two swift strides forward and caught her fiercely in his embrace.

His triumph was brief.

Scarcely had his strong arm clasped her waist, when it fell numb and powerless--scarcely had his eager lips stooped towards hers, when he reeled and sank heavily on the ground, senseless! The spell that had held me a silent spectator of the scene was broken.

Terrified, I rushed into the room, crying out: "Zara, Zara! What have you done ?" Zara turned her eyes gently upon me--they were soft and humid as though recently filled with tears.

All the burning scorn and indignation had gone out of her face--she looked pityingly at the prostrate form of her admirer.
"He is not dead," she said quietly.