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silence。 Her moodiness seemed to have increased； and； what was
most remarkable； in proportion as she grew more and more reserved；
the intenser were the bursts of affection which she exhibited for
me。 She would strain me to her bosom and kiss me； as if she and I
were about to be parted forever。 Then for hours she would remain
sitting at her window； silently gazing； with that terrible； wistful
gaze of hers； at the west。
I will confess to having watched my wife at this time。 I could not
help it。 That some mystery hung about her I felt convinced。 I
must fathom it or die。 Her honor I never for a moment doubted； yet
there seemed to weigh continually upon me the prophecy of some
awful domestic calamity。 This time the prophecy was not in vain。
About three weeks after I had forbidden Brake my house； I was
strolling over my farm in the evening apparently inspecting my
agriculture； but in reality speculating on that topic which
latterly was ever present to me。
There was a little knoll covered with evergreen oaks at the end of
the lawn。 It was a picturesque spot； for on one side the bank went
off into a sheer precipice of about eighty feet in depth； at the
bottom of which a pretty pool lay； that in the summer time was
fringed with white water…lilies。 I had thought of building a
summer…house in this spot； and now my steps mechanically directed
themselves toward the place。 As I approached I heard voices。 I
stopped and listened eagerly。 A few seconds enabled me to
ascertain that Hammond Brake and my wife were in the copse talking
together。 She still followed him； then； and he； scoundrel that he
was； had broken his promise。 A fury seemed to fill my veins as I
made this discovery。 I felt the impulse strong upon me to rush
into the grove； and then and there strangle the villain who was
poisoning my peace。 But with a powerful effort I restrained
myself。 It was necessary that I should overhear what was said。 I
threw myself flat on the grass； and so glided silently into the
copse until I was completely within earshot。 This was what I
heard。
My wife was sobbing。 〃So soonso soon？ IHammond； give me a
little time！〃
〃I cannot； Elsie。 My chief orders me to join him。 You must
prepare to accompany me。〃
〃No； no！〃 murmured Elsie。 〃He loves me so！ And I love him。 Our
child； toohow can I rob him of our unborn babe？〃
〃Another sheep for our flock；〃 answered Brake solemnly。 〃Elsie； do
you forget your oath？ Are you one of us； or are you a common
hypocrite； who will be of us until the hour of self…sacrifice； and
then fly like a coward？ Elsie； you must leave to…night。〃
〃Ah！ my husband； my husband！〃 sobbed the unhappy woman。
〃You have no husband； woman；〃 cried Brake harshly。 〃I promised
Dayton not to speak to you as long as you were his wife； but the
vow was annulled before it was made。 Your husband in God yet
awaits you。 You will yet be blessed with the true spouse。〃
〃I feel as if I were going to die；〃 cried Elsie。 〃How can I ever
forsake himhe who was so good to me？〃
〃Nonsense！ no weakness。 He is not worthy of you。 Go home and
prepare for your journey。 You know where to meet me。 I will have
everything ready； and by daybreak there shall be no trace of us
left。 Beware of permitting your husband to suspect anything。 He
is not very shrewd at such thingshe thought I was a Jesuit in
disguisebut we had better be careful。 Now go。 You have been too
long here already。 Bless you； sister。〃
A few faint sobs； a rustling of leaves； and I knew that Brake was
alone。 I rose； and stepped silently into the open space in which
he stood。 His back was toward me。 His arms were lifted high over
his head with an exultant gesture； and I could see his profile； as
it slightly turned toward me； illuminated with a smile of scornful
triumph。 I put my hand suddenly on his throat from behind； and
flung him on the ground before he could utter a cry。
〃Not a word；〃 I said； unclasping a short…bladed knife which I
carried； 〃answer my questions； or； by heaven； I will cut your
throat from ear to ear！〃
He looked up into my face with an unflinching eye； and set his lips
as if resolved to suffer all。
〃What are you？ Who are you？ What object have you in the seduction
of my wife？〃
He smiled； but was silent。
〃Ah！ you won't answer。 We'll see。〃
I pressed the knife slowly against his throat。 His face contracted
spasmodically； but although a thin red thread of blood sprang out
along the edge of the blade； Brake remained mute。 An idea suddenly
seized me。 This sort of death had no terrors for him。 I would try
another。 There was the precipice。 I was twice as powerful as he
was； so I seized him in my arms； and in a moment transported him to
the margin of the steep； smooth cliff； the edge of which was
garnished with the tough stems of the wild vine。 He seemed to feel
it was useless to struggle with me； so allowed me passively to roll
him over the edge。 When he was suspended in the air； I gave him a
vine stem to cling to and let him go。 He swung at a height of
eighty feet； with face upturned and pale。 He dared not look down。
I seated myself on the edge of the cliff； and with my knife began
to cut into the thick vine a foot or two above the place of his
grasp。 I was correct in my calculation。 This terror was too much
for him。 As he saw the notch in the vine getting deeper and
deeper； his determination gave way。
〃I'll answer you；〃 he gasped out； gazing at me with starting
eyeballs； 〃what do you ask？〃
〃What are you？〃 was my question； as I ceased cutting at the stem。
〃A Mormon；〃 was the answer； uttered with a groan。 〃Take me up。 My
hands are slipping。 Quick！〃
〃And you wanted my wife to follow you to that infernal Salt Lake；
City； I suppose？〃
〃For God's sake； release me！ I'll quit the place； never to come
back。 Do help me up； DaytonI'm falling！〃
I felt mightily inclined to let the villain drop； but it did not
suit my purpose to be hung for murder； so I swung him back again on
the sward； where he fell panting and exhausted。
〃Will you quit the place to…night？〃 I said。 〃You'd better。 By
heaven； if you don't； I'll tell all the men in the village； and
we'll lynch you； as sure as your name is Brake。〃
〃I'll goI'll go；〃 he groaned。 〃I swear never to trouble you
again。〃
〃You ought to be hanged； you villain。 Be off！〃
He slunk away through the trees like a beaten dog； and I went home
in a state bordering on despair。 I found Elsie crying。 She was
sitting by the window as of old。 I knew now why she gazed so
constantly at the west。 It was her Mecca。 Something in my face； I
suppose； told her that I was laboring under great excitement。 She
rose startled as soon as I entered the room。
〃Elsie；〃 said I； 〃I am come to take you home。〃
〃Home？ Why； I AM at home； am I not？ What do you mean？〃
〃No。 This is n