had fallen on his shoulder and had fainted. As soon as she was in
the arms of her lover, all her power had gone from her. The spirit
and passion of the tiger had gone, and she was again a weak woman
shuddering at the thought of what she had suffered. She remembered
that she had had the man's hand between her teeth, and by degrees
she found his hair still clinging to her fingers; but even then she
could hardly call to mind the nature of the struggle she had
undergone. His hot breath close to her own cheek she did remember,
and his glaring eyes, and even the roughness of his beard as he
pressed his face against her own; but she could not say whence had
come the blood, nor till her arm became stiff and motionless did she
know that she had been wounded.

It was all joy with her now, as she sat motionless without speaking,
while he administered to her wants and spoke words of love into her
ears. She remembered the man's horrid threat, and knew that by
God's mercy she had been saved. And he was there caressing her,
loving her, comforting her! As she thought of the fate that had
threatened her, of the evil that had been so imminent, she fell
forward on her knees, and with incoherent sobs uttered her
thanksgivings, while her head was still supported on his arms.

It was almost morning before she could induce herself to leave him
and lie down. With him she seemed to be so perfectly safe; but the
moment he was away she could see Aaron Trow's eyes gleaming at her
across the room. At last, however, she slept; and when he saw that
she was at rest, he told himself that his work must then begin.
Hitherto Caleb Morton had lived in all respects the life of a man of
peace; but now, asking himself no questions as to the propriety of
what he would do, using no inward arguments as to this or that line