His fears grew to terror as the life seemed to ebb away from the white face.

In the agony of his apprehension, Marzio inadvertently laid his hand upon the injured shoulder, unconsciously pressing his weight upon the place.
With a faint sigh the priest's eyes opened and seemed to gaze for a moment on the crucifix standing in the bright light of the lamp.

An expression of wonderful gentleness and calm overspread the refined features.
"_Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis_." The words came faintly from the dying man's lips, the last syllables scarcely audible in the intense stillness.

A deathly pallor crept quickly over the smooth forehead and thin cheeks.

Marzio looked for one instant more, and then with a loud cry fell upon his knees by the bedside, his long arms extended across his brother's body.