That done, silent as she, with his eyes set hard, he would have gone by her.

The sight of her _there_, guarding the door of him who had stolen her from him, exasperated his worst passions.
But she moved to hinder him, and barred the way.

With her hand raised she pointed to the trapdoor.
"Go!" she whispered, her tone stern and low, "you have what you want! Go!" "No!" And he tried to pass her.
"Go!" she repeated in the same tone.

"You have what you need." And still she held her hand extended; still without faltering she faced the five men, while the thunder, growing more distant, rolled sullenly eastward, and the midnight rain, pouring from every spout and dripping eave about the house, wrapped the passage in its sibilant hush.

Gradually her eyes dominated his, gradually her nobler nature and nobler aim subdued his weaker parts.