weapon from the mountaineer's grasp the latter was standing rigid,
with horror-stricken eyes fixed upon the smoke, in which Easter's
white face showed like an apparition. As the smoke drifted aside,
the girl was seen with both hands at her breast. Then, while a
silent terror held every one, she turned, and, with outstretched
hands, tottered toward Clayton; and as he caught her in his arms, a
low moan broke from her lips.

Some one hurried away for a physician, but the death-watch was
over before he came.

For a long time the wounded girl lay apparently unconscious, her
face white and quiet. Only when a wood-thrush called from the
woods close by were her lids half raised, and as Clayton pushed
the shutter open above her and lifted her gently, she opened her
eyes with a grateful look and turned her face eagerly to the cool
air.

The dawn was breaking. The east was already aflame with bars of
rosy light, gradually widening. Above them a single star was
poised, and in the valley below great white mists were stirring
from sleep. For a moment she seemed to be listlessly watching the
white, shapeless things, trembling as with life, and creeping
silently into wood and up glen; and then her lashes drooped
wearily together.

The door opened as Clayton let her sink upon the bed, breathing as
if asleep, and he turned, expecting the physician. Raines, too,
rose eagerly, stopped suddenly, and shrank back with a shudder of
repulsion as the figure of the wretched father crept, half crouching,