AVENGED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 238, 13 November 1909, Page 5

AVENGED.

iliy U 0. Andrew.-i. Savcrnake' lliri'W himself down n|.'"i 11... coarse short grass willi a sig relief. 'l'l..' pnlli winding down ""' i"il f m i„ Hi.. house, 'lipiiing '"t" " l'"'l'"'. and ,-i-.'.,,..- again I.) II"' I"" 1 ~]i,i■,„., «... ,i,v|.. mill Hi.. did, in'in „„. „- ; ,s 1....L. JU- lighted ii '•*•'!■. "in.dim mi lininl. lay -luring Willi a n"■'■!. nl Hi., lul.all -a. Hi" ihoiigi.i- dw.H ,-. r-i-n-11l ly uprn Hi.' --'•'Hi' "I la-i '"- " lliud.e II I'l.lll Ol i.ii.l-"il. ~, .!„. ,;„-p..;k.1i.1i Humiliating .1"! ; , lU ,„g fa.-l I here .iiiil'l !«' II" 'l.mi.' i',in'".'t'.'ii now In' I'ailrd to un'li'!' 'laa'l hntt it llll'l '--'IK' il'"'"'' o| ' roiii-e h,' 1.a.l always p"-.-o-ed n l.'in |i„.|. : ],.,,! |„.,.,i in lii- |.|iil.lli'i..d subject j'„ '.-widen lils ~!' ungovernable ran - „ul lit' liml li'iirm 1" '"'Uli'il H"' outbreaks a- hi' grew old'''', '""I <■'"-' y ; i"'- ~(' -mom hue.-* ...nd case ttbieh liml l'ul-j lowed his iirst literary slices-' had s„ lulh'd Liu' 'li'iiii.ii I" --li'i'li Oint Jii' hill noli-ltigli forgotten it. If '"' l«"l "■' iiiii'iiihor.'d it. hi' had, us it wore, hihand ,ip„„ his iii'i-k lu-l night! Hi' ,wore under liis '..rcuiii. I'-i'iim tin' mi.in.'in „f lii.'ii- niUoiliie-.i,:-,i, a week am), he liml di-liked Vim .em. had foil, u soft oi iinlipaOiy towards the small, delieate. ipii''t mam ,vh,> was so sparing "f speech, hut th.; fooling liad never been aelive. lie

.lardlv knew how it had fome about ilia I 'ihey had talked apart in tli" -'i.iiking-room, ilisvussing a subjeet lor whii-h 'he—Siivci'imke—cared not u slraw. lie reiiK'nihcred that. And, Oien what? lie did not know. Dim I hat there had been a sudden exchange uf retort upon relorl, that the oil rii"e had risen and torn in linn, and that in nil instant he had had the man hv the throat! 'The other oceii]>iinls of the room lmd crowded round theni: he inul. Ikm'H dragged away, slruggling', geslieulaliug, a mere madman for the moment- lie '■roiuid his teeth to know it.--vocil'eral fn.r that he would niiirder Wmml Ji't. -Vi°d Vincent, aLsoluiely calm, had P"' up a hand to rearrange his dragge. collar, and spek",. n, lin habiuml Jrvlv-wearv voice, almost sn.ilmg.. ■'.\ir. Savernali.' a hasty temper,' he said. "Happily, b.v Utarle-. it is a fault wlii.-h inuKlly earnes its own pardon. 1 ii.usl-wilhout mientiol„ of course-have irritated ,l-;md hi,,,.. 1 »>» i'-''"'"ly l« nl-l'Vi* I" 1 ' the one oil'i'lice u- he, I 11111 sure, !<• for the other." 'Well, he had al-dogl-Oil I" \meelM, curbing M.iiii'liow O.at devil ol Jury which "the mail'' very ealmness seemed u , kc-li into raisiiiL' its hen.l ujra.il. and evervbodv had concurred in putting aside Oni wreU'lied episode. So far, eo hi,.,!, liiu tliei'e was anotlier aspctt uf the case. W'lw knew that tvffl now, while he pondered and cursed 'lliinsell anew, Oie si'irv was not regaling tliears of \lice iJcl'rov? And, if told, how ii'ii.dit it* not prejudice her? Why had he°n.it. asked her to marry him ji iiiuiitli i.cci'i uiliiim enough! There had. of c"iir.-o\ been other w •lieu iii lii- life—perhaps many. To look back us- to recall more than one ex ..crieii, e lli.ttei'iiig t" his vanity. Tlere

~,.|| i,.,"otlcii-a man was not „ sum!. |;„, mm-i-ia-e hud remained in the d'- ,;,,„,.. until he uiel Aliee l.efroy. Am! now ilii't-e had arisen-ihi-! If only i„. had ,-i.oken lir,-i it would have Ik'uh ,„>v ,-mrU tli.-n m make her accept hi.' v.-i--ii.it of the .-lory. He lurnc-il „i- head, and -an her coming.. If -he .-aw liini .sin- certainly made a ycriVri loeteui-e of not appealing '-I ~.,. linn her loiti-riiiL' advance was v ualural a- her al»-l raited ,-Nprcs-ion ae 1 absent gaze seaward. Suvrnake. nioe iiiu .-., meet her. admired it all, not thh.r, in. ni- inwiu'd eonvii-tioii that sinhad been aware ol him a.- .piickly as In of her. She looked up. and mere wathe iair.le-i in la-)' ciiin i-xprcs .-ion. She was nol- of. the type to bliisii and llutu-r. although in llie'instatil ll'.til their "lance- met".-he -aid to lierseli -lie will speak." -Wiiel a oei'fn-t ruing," she =ald. -I ihu|o-hi it so liall'-aii-liotii' ago. ,

over praised il illen," he relumed. Hill'.- verv jiretlv of vou," said the girl Hiiilins. ' She liad, of eout'se, eX-pei-led some -iirh reply—it, was su ob-\icius-but -he was nervous enough to irv to feud oil' whin, was coining. "Luey aiiil Hilda will follow me directly,'' see said carelessly, "hi a weak moment J promised to 'let them .show nic some m.-.-H'iioiis cave in tin- dill's and at tlu last moment they rushed back for a l.t il-rn anii matches." She was nti!l moving slowly forward, and he had turned with iicr. lie would seize hichanee: it Wjis too good to lose; but .« was too innately un artist to blurt inln abrupt speeeh with no jirdiiuiiiiir.v phrases. •'l'hirt is tile verv highest point of tile dill's, is it not'.'''' "Is it? I'ossibly. i did not knowit.''' ■1 think so. and frightfully steep,, t bell -vi. 1 once heard Sir Charles saj lli.it i. lull would be certain death; h g0,., shut- down, and the rocks below ale like huge teeth. __ I am going to

"I would not. Von may tuin "l.i.l'h'.' J Jiave uevoi' done r o in ni> life." She advanced to the ednn of I he. dill': 1 white limine elined fnniai-,1 j. .she lr;ii. lo look down. In an inslaul I Savoruake hail i-aueht her back, seeing I lie ehangv in her face, Ik forgot th. preliniinar.y phrases which were .shaping J Lh.'i.i-c've; in his brain -for a nionieni the man forgiil niin.sell': Clie ..111 was 11. ids aims, he, breath quick, her heart Ihilleriiij; under his liand. I'erliaps o. had never in his life spoken so spon laneotisly, earnestly, eajo'i'ly. as he spoke ui'iw. It may be 'that Alice' k: f.-oy iii.d not expecled to liml hei'se.i .\0...'.l villi „o much iinrcniT and pa* sion. She wijiil.l have acccj.led hi,,, ha,l In: been cool; he bore down any presence of hesiialiou in this mood. «hi ' -sii'lr.-.':! tlieionliiitiaiice of his embrace; i -bo almost returned his ki-s ; she caiiu as near responeivc wai'inlli as it was ill! her nature to do. Ilercuol white elieeke i were, almost pink. he t delicali' close lies' y.m .si tremulous wiidi preseiitlv she wa- -eaied up..ii a little Uill.o.k covered' willi ihe -hori cnai-c »i>. of tI K . t .|il)'- ...|.. and he bcs.de hei I,,id |,er s|i.„ hand. >!..■ drew ~ ,«„ v , „iifii,|i,ig ltc r s.-arlci .siiii.-hade behind her Ikixcn head Her pause of ..ilence |,a.| ..eemeil a llioiighlful one, but .lie smiled as „;ie looked down inio Ids iiaud-oin„ face. "I won,!,-,- il i„ii will i,|| me somailiiio;"" she -aid dent, -..nwhb,,...''-' "Doll'l be 100 ..lire." ..he hesila Ui? "1 really waul il answered. llf course J k"..u you race for me I've sec,, it a .on- i one-ion m: mount me to see it. I'"ii now I wain u,e truth, mind!'The lir.-i." Sjvnake eehoe.l. ' n "' »,i- - lallv uiiexj.cct''d Unit on the iii,t„iii j,,. || iM ,|| v „,..,,..,. '''l if- The girl ,b-',l. ' '

"t-if course I know i,,u'm. heon ; n loco that's under, I. With as nianv dill'erenl neiiien „s ~„ hav.. given „"i types in yon.' books. | dare ,-av. I don't 1 1 Unit in the |,.iist, |i'„ ;l sort of ai'iisiic exiieriiiieut ami experience for >»u. Ihal. mi.i'l of thin K , ~.,,'! it; B U( , j shouldn't like to think von hud ever a ''imaged t„ marry am other girl. Thai's what 1 mean. 1,, askiug-aui I I lie lil—t ?

Iraeted her atlenlion. Savemake was not.afraid of any change ii, his expression or complexion, or „f any ■lileiit-ii-ui" in his e.yes--a man of the world lias learnt to control such signals of discoiuliliirc at Ihirly-live; has learnt to lie glibly if lying be his wav -bill he was thankful Unit ui the ii'iiimeiit of her qucsO'nn slie did nol look „( hi,,,, (loud heaven, how it brouglil it all back, how the face it conjured in, blolled her's oul! lie could almost .see Isabel's eves, alinosi feci her kiss (he hiss of a'wo man who has given her very soul. Marriage! Well, he had meant marriage--' for a lhuei hnuuslly meant it. until he had begun to lire, and doing so to understand the absolute social suicide I'll: thing would entail. A slealthv rage -urged ii|. in him, scfling his' loetli. Why had this uglio.-t skeleton of His grave? lie met the girl's gr (!v serene eyes; the lie came verv iiclitlv, "liravely, too, willi almost a hurl lulleelion; few unilerslond (lie subtle values of cadence

and expression more llioroughly than Suvernake.

. "The fii'sl'!" lie repeated. "You are not onlv the lirsl on-. I hut-,. ov( .,- ; ,ske,l. voll are Ihe lirsl [ l„, u , ever II ishl of

Alice nodded her fair head '.villi a smile, sati-licd. Two -mail tignrcs came running uji the slope, ||i|d ; , ,md l.uci. Iwelve and foill'lee ■.. down upon l.lr> I wo. Mis. l.ofroy i-o-e. Savei'iial.e kept her hand.

"Siii-oU- yon mean to let nic conic V iie ie-keil,

! "IVrlaillly It'll. Tin; gills would eun.~i.l.T Oidic-dves ill-lroale.l. Uul wu.l here if von like. J dnn-nv we alltlll l)l' nut more than ill. hum.'" "Will v.ii get riil ol' I In; bints when i i'ii V-olmi back'.'" "ii i; tun lif .luiu- with >lu,. diplu"f ..ill wuii " -aid Savcrnake. Hi: walctic.l her walk aWiIV. 1 lie C-Jlild- ■ ivi, run » ,„i before. Yes she. WHS I 111' ,lifo f,.|- 111 Ml billll, ||ilr.i| itlll, lilt. il"l. disliliclinu, bcillllv Sill' p,«,ses-i".l ili-m nil. sau'inakc ii'iuatod hi s I,l'llail .'il.'-! '.Will I. do.-p Ill'l'llHl Hi' .-ati.sfllClioll. II "ii- I In. i..'.i in link ilia i In. ha.l lii'.'ii ..'■..' i" .i able ii, mviiiv her, lii'f.i.i' -ii- maul "i ilim ....iii'.iiiiuli'it Im-ine--im-i '"flu W'li-ii In' mxt saw \'iumi! il" ll.ul II"! .1'.11.' s„ >in.-o I 1.0 sceneIi".«"iil'l .vp.'l.l 111- apology. Ik. il'nli.'l him bare iii-li,-. 1,, ai'lvliouleilgo'lliut Ik niul .villi) l.rhnw.,l wrv ,I,'iT.ulv. li,' ""'"'d ,l„»k, found |l,;. ~11111 -landing 1...1 i hi.,,.

Savornak.' -,a,i.,|. surpn-cd. The a p I'eni'nnce "i Hi" ,'iliei- ,vii> so ahsolulelv iiimvpcviid: lit a.lvan... ( . must have bci, '".!-'. 'I -'i' il I Inn he was rcgardimliim will, a slrungcly eurious .mile. If s ", 't »"=, g '" il llil.-li. VilH-elll'.. Ol'ii Iniiie w„|-e i| h usual Impression of riiinposeil indiil'crenec: lie spoke in his

"1 I'nr I slart'lod von/' he said. "'•'or th,- inniiieiit. '.■''<-<>y<-'rod ' If - - v < he eould never teel Di a l»-l ii-i- humor t„ n-new kis apology so Oi.'i'e ei.uhl he not better time For doing ii again his luck held good. 'Von gire me nil opportunity" whieli r should have souglil., J|r. Vincent," ll" began. "\dii , v ere goi.d enougii lo ae "''pi my iipoli.gieg f m - mv iiuwarrantable behaviour-to call it no worse!—lust ."gill, but 1 eannot be satisfied to leave the iiiatler willi no further word, Eo-

"'-11'. l'l'iiy !" exclai (1 Vincent. t'l-ay say mi more, Mr. Saveruake, 1, nl least, urn absolutely siitisliuil-abiio-iiilely!" "You are very j,0i,i1." >,,i,l Saveniakc l'o be cheeked in the full tide of speejh wii- a I lung nevi'r pleasant l„ him. but again he told himself ihal the man was really behaving more than deoonllv. \'in,'i'iit repeal,,.] Jjjs f/e-tiirc.

"Hy no means," he said qnictlv. "To "e sahslird is the utmost that'aiiy nl us can a sk." JJi s C yc 6 turned slowly lo iho -pot whore Alice Lel'rov's scarlet sunshade, still showed, a vivid blot ■< -irougoolor against the blue of skv and '-''"■ "'l'll'''''' are j.lea.sanlor topics," lr •uggested. '.May 1 venture to iutrol«<v one-wc lookers-on sec the trend "I Ihegame. you know-hy asking ,vh.'-0"-'i' I -nail b-piviua line in oll'ering my

at nil," ,ai,| Snvoruuke. At an "»''>■ Iniie he might possible have >c. -I'll K'd tin- oucslion fr„ m a ,„.,„ )l( , ,)-,.. -iked, now he was glad l„ accept (•„. ■liiin.i,'e„i siilijctt. |o let ||„, oilier drop "" I'le eniitrni-y, 1 may o |.,j ln t ; ltl|l] •■ .'i'. s!l1 ;'-. "' ( "" l"'"»d I" tell vou leaf ,)J' 5 ,;,, ;;:;,'';,•„ "•'">"■' •"">■* "«■ hk- ii-nu-"■A- I thought." Vincent, eouimcnted. '_'" "lll'.llOlViHS ~„.v . ",M iss [rfroy i, ■ ouii'j. In i,niif.il charming, rieli well. ■'•■;■;■ li- 'aid .-lowly. -K V ,,„ „,„ „,.,.. '■',• ■"' i''"'" l '" "'I" 1 ' I' Wife. It. is the mil „,.,,| t „ ~| l|l]v -> "M-l nrn„,| ami ~,.,-t 1,,,,,, . ■> s . |v ,,, '-'"' ileelared wilh ell'usion. "} „,-, I" 1 "'- myself in nil ways („„ most (1 ,,.. iiiinii- ot men 1 '

"•I '"".K"' 1 'I «* I'" laughed with the "I'l.-i us lug prosperous hands'onn-- '"•- '" ""'" : '"'l lignre I L ,,| „,,,.,.,. k .,„ ■"""■ l:>;"""iim'ed. h seemed that Viu- '. " »■•' - 'us ollered hand. I!,

~'",'■ ,u r " ;ik " ,| . i " ,ii^-

/' l| "">"> !»•• .-a11,,! ,o„„.||,i„ uo ,. s . V' 1 ;;" 1 biluiguonM he brokenlnto a,-! !"' j'"'i;' -n""M say, .iud g i„ K l,v 1,1 "" k "' I'm roeks. || llV( . ° ;

;;; l ;; , f^;'»^Vyo,„' l m,«.s l V''];, )u :: l 'd"-e yon not ,„ ]tmk lhwn _ My uh ■•wnyiji- ,i,i,| ,|,-,|e..i„j,- dj, i , j l ' *>"■ - -»■ i the forec „( U,c „;, . ' 'V l l„ a were'"i!'l^"'' l e" , " ' K ' Sui<l hl °" 1 - „.i,.|,i ;- ~', , ! u "'' frt " ll Sl 'i"ii .i -.rouges! teerve""' '"'' a,U ' bl ' l Ule

"Evidently," Sa.crnal.e returned ~ I :'MH".v«l: as i„„,.|, ~,,s t^,v '^ i '£ Aid-to quote ii l .v S ..Jr... < . n „l I( . d •.In »>'<' »'i;n suflicicnt to'dra-, v<m over ;™. M hu.l [ d 0.*,,,,, i,," £j "i^J- , Ul'll,J ],,,„ llk a fl . I '.,,,ir' 'f, ' "!'' ',' W, '" ,l<|l : ""1 'ear „, '" ,, ' l '" , '""''^' ,l 'r.i"iinM?,iT;t« o ''^ ianilll ' ,l '''^N!.iOl„.l' I . ,' ,'r' I '' ''' li'iiirli, "and il,-,. ; ! " lUn " "'" win«',,-,' ;,„,.'"" , ' o i' a "' wl ' " .n,'.' S ,"iw"'-' l,i " • vu " "■''" l'l'i'liaps sp.ro iir,;" | .| |o|l( | r ""■ -» lew 111 III"ll'-(""" "W'l- —MI 0„0,„d»" "'"'' " ,| ' li,i "-'.'-" Hi'i I menisci -!;,,„[ '.V,,',', ',!.',' | | l '"|, L ''!' 1 '"' V ' - u '« imilor:/ii„ |,li..|,i '■' ■ L J ''''' sfuim- ■« ■'K\h,';M- ~„..„. ... ii.-,,nv,|„-„, ~;■:'"', ( '"t iii iiis , '""'iii ;'l''.'~imv he ,;,i!| VVI,S v0lll '"SV Vi,,'?,,;' '"'"' iil " 1 '' «">.ii'u," v.-i.j.t on "And i./'a "I" oed '.■ ml. ""' """• added \'i„.

n„c,'n, }! > , | , ,' 1 ,„| , ;. 1, -...|" , " i i ''«'." voniinued j '"' , '' ''"Uiap's',l,' ','"• ~ "1 «uor.-d|l hi,,, llM ,re He],, '-'y- Urn ' "'herein hi I ' '":-: perliun's ,!,' !.""''"'•!' l"'"' l, i'K «f feel-(' v 11,,.'; : r , ,, ;;;.^'<';'i.iiu.p-., )1 , '.'•■aul,i ~,w l i( i, ,s "a^/ij(!"'"' " f ll ' l ' ■ m:,, '''^"''s,id l; :,,|!!red , ' ,i I . il '"'"- , '- b "''« : "•'"': --".I and 1,1 '''V,'' W ' rL <""' : "'ore inlenseiv f" ',, [ "" M > ""'.>' the ■»■••"•■■ l'l'i'-i-aiivni 1,,,', !r;|;';". I,iii( ' .;."''-i"" li: ' ;i -' li'i'ik' a ;;r7 u - m '- "readilv f ,"r,ect! l !lt,r '«'l a'wonr,;;'."" 11 " 1 «ill „,-, nll „,„ '"".;;; *•« Mm unsoh;;;'"'""'" 1 '" '"' V'"' s . '"' h's own si,;,,.,''"'"'•''"'""-''i •■.vor'"'.'.'...'.'".^".];""*-' ~r j'-i'i-iiV.'" '"'"I „,, ',", ~n '"' wllt.i.i peo',,l |i,!",'".' , '~ l1 " w,,s " ; "r.'>""« -mnio a ';,/""■ '* *-» liome." '"" fir) j,.|, ,„,,. ''f S "S' K ,, 1, h.!!!""', "'"PP-'I in ()„. a,, f;l " ,ss "I what ii !!!',;•'. , 1 ""' l,; 'l"< fnlnl.lv «»««,:, kl .-; ;,;'". ~ '" V " h " 011 '" ' li's' lir 1'0r01,.,,! ' '" fl l ,arl - On .-.",»-'-;;' irss *?* ■ 111 Uii l nnii who ~-• • , sl,l, .l"Rnlion ~„."' ' ,im """I'l'ff her love, had 1,1 ; ''ode and 5,,,,). ~, , ' ' -worn, bv all 1,,, h,.|,i . Il "' , Save,,,;,;, ~ rolavinjf hj,,,,,, ~, ' l '»wlltt, ,rt "

I- |.ivy. He Jiegleeted, left, deserted lici I Why not, when he was weary, and sli e was bankrupt? Then! is no need to g' into delaiis. Your imagination cai ii doubtless >npi)l.y I hem well. sjavernake's' tongue clicked against hi, • palate. His lliront was \rry dry. "Sonic women might have found eour age lo live dmni Oieir shiniie; ol hers thiiisi m. low, might have j-nuk deeper. 5 She niuW do neiiher. Xol strong enoiojh in die. .She diil mi l,\ her own luiiul."' I "(ii....! Coil!" exclaimed Savernake "I ha\e not nientioueil her name- 1 i ,|„ -„ now. Il was Isabel I'lankliu. ' \ii.l I, von forsworn hound, :un lii , ■ «!.„ was l„ have been her husband:" I'-'.r perhaps a full minute I here win ulier .-ileuee upon the clili-l'.p. Saveriiakc'.-. 11.,r ; d eolorii.g hail faded inli, a ve!l"wi-!i puller: lie s u'd to liav ■ shrunk in si a I nre n» lie slareil al the ligiir,. which -1,",.! belween him ami Oie ~ki. \'illee.il had made Il„ "clnre. had no', i-ui-ed hi- voice, bin hi- eyes glow I'd like poilll- of lii'.' .-el ill .1 11111-k ". si lii hi- pa-ioule-siie-. his i in I "I swore," he -aid, "that I would, in : the I'uine- of lime, put invself in your war and 101 l vmi Ibi-, and' Hint lulling told vim llier'e should forthwith he a' reckoning between u-. I have 101.l yon,' and the til f reckoning is now.' ' j He turned his head a iii lie in giance. it s lied, beyond the oilier, and nmv lie smiled. Savcrn.ike, struggling, found his tongue, "I understand, of course." he muttered thickly. "You will tell .Mis-' l,efrov." "That!'' Vincent ejaculated. "You iiniilteralile fool!" ho said, and now he laughed. "You think that would satisfy mi—Unit a winnau should jilt you—von who have hunted and tired of a score! You think, yon bat-blind fool, il was for such ail ending lli.it I foreed 01.. ipiarrel upon you last night, goaded von into threatening niv life, and have followed you here- I I'il.tle hoped thai von would walk into an unbailed '■ trap!' Yon murdered Isabel, and .-hall pav Ihe murderer's price. Il shall lie life for life!" "What- what do you mean:'" Savernake ua-ped. lie .started forward a pace, stumbling, Vincent drew hack. He stood rigid: as

iron. I There live people i;i the valley," lie said slowly. "1 have been watchi ig—il. nil happens ns 1 would hiiv« it Implien, in ii few moments they will l»' here, mill liml you iiliini'. Look at yourself, look at this, remember last iiighl, ami swear till your tongue rots that vou did not liuirdur mel— Help - help! ' Murder-help!" His raised hands wrenched ainl torslim ainl collar away ;.s his frenzied scream rang ""I: f"v "» "'slant his licMiri' lotiei-ed mi -tin- dill'-edgo. ami was gone 1 iU.- n -tunc in water! Saveruakc siii.ul still. II ulil nut stir his fettered feet; hi' vouhl mil nioii- his pavalvsed tongue; lie felt nutliin-', realised nothing hut that hi- was trapped, doomed, helpless, l-'rom the n.'i that iniini'slii'd him there was no escape: iln- gallows was building, the rope w:iitin«s for his neck, lfc elutehed at hi- throat, ga.-ping as though to tear il ,i\vnv. And'ulKJve the Imrry of upproiichiii" fed Hurt tile elnnior of alarm-i-d voices there rung in his ears the lust shriek of Hie self-shun man, for whow nmrili-r the n'pe was to strangle out his life.