His voice had changed or she had lost clearness of hearing.
"Kiss me!...

Are you a man?
Kiss me and save me!" "Jane, you never played fair with me.

But now you're blisterin' your lips--blackenin' your soul with lies!" "By the memory of my mother--by my Bible--no! No, I have no Bible! But by my hope of heaven I swear I love you!" Lassiter's gray lips formed soundless words that meant even her love could not avail to bend his will.

As if the hold of her arms was that of a child's he loosened it and stepped away.
"Wait! Don't go! Oh, hear a last word!...

May a more just and merciful God than the God I was taught to worship judge me--forgive me--save me! For I can no longer keep silent!...