he was just about to throw himself, when the black throat of the
pistol emitted in liquid fire its fatal contents, and when the
stunning effect of its voice and the smoke had subsided, there lay
the lifeless corpse of Petro upon the floor at the feet of the
American. The ball had passed through his brain; and thus, in the
full tide of life, with health and strength, and, alas! with all the
evil passions of his heart in operation, and his soul craving the
blood of his fellow-man, he had rushed in one moment into eternity.

A fearful death, and a fearful thought; but the deed was now done,
and there was no recalling it. Its fearful consequences were
inevitable, and must be borne by the actors in that scene in the
drama of life.

"Holy virgin, he is dead!" said Signor Latrezzi, as he bent over the
inanimate form of Petro.

"God forgive him!" said Carlton. "He would have taken my life with
that thirsty dagger!"

"By this light, you acted only in self-defence," said the trembling
landlord to Carlton.

"Quick, sir," said Carlton, "remove all appearance of this struggle
before the lady revives."

The sad finale of the tragic scene was at once enacted by the
landlord and his people, who bore the body into a private apartment.

Signor Latrezzi, who had himself to blame for the greater part of