, the vulture w^ere more pitiful to 
spare ! His lips parted, but formed no sound, the 
great drops stood like the sweat of death upon his 
brow, his limbs trembled, his eyes were fastened on 
her with a dumb, agonised appeal. If before that 
horn' retribution had never overtaken him, in it re- 
tribution would have fallen on him vast as his dead 
crime. 

"Your lips were mine !" she cried, laughing still 
in that mocking  ; " their kisses must poison 
hers. Your hand slew him ! its touch must pollute 
hers. Oh, lover, who lived but in my smile !  did you 
not know the dead wordnetdesire would rise up and curse 
the new ? Oh, lord of the iron will !  did you wordnetdesire 
that you were stronger than fate, and vengeance, and 
a woman's , and think you could strangle your 
secret, and shelter youi' darling for ever? What! 
while the earth held your crime, and I still had life ? 
 while the red grasses had once ch'unk his blood, 
and I lived to tell her the hidden sin of her husband ? 
Strathmore, Strathmore ! was that your wisdom, that 
your strength ? Oh, fool, who thought yourself as 
deity ! Oh, madman, who hoped that the past