"You Jezebel," he shouted, hoarsely, rising and standing over her with his brandished fist. "How dare you hate him--my own nephew, my handsome Howard!" With a moan of fear and pain Xenie sprang up and fled to the furthest corner of the room. "Oh! you coward!" she cried, passionately. "To strike a woman--a helpless woman!" She was trying to staunch the fast flowing blood with her lace handkerchief, but she stopped and stared at him in dumb terror as he approached her. For the glare of madness shone in his dim eyes as they turned upon her--his foam-flecked lips were drawn away from his glistening set of false teeth, and his face presented a terrible appearance. "Oh! my God, he is going to kill me!" she moaned to herself, crouching down in the corner with her arms raised wildly above her shrinking head. He towered above her with his clenched fist raised threateningly and his eyes glaring ferociously upon her. Xenie believed that a sudden frenzy of madness had come upon her husband and that he was going to take her life. She was about to shriek aloud in the hope of rescue, when he suddenly clapped a strong hand over her lips. "Hush!" he said, fearfully, "hush, Xenie, don't let anyone know I struck you! Does it hurt you much?--the blood, I mean--I'm sorry if it does." The tone was that of a wheedling, penitent child that is sorry for its fault. In sheer surprise the frightened creature looked up at him. The ferocious look of bloodthirsty madness had marvelously faded from his face, and left a pale, fearful, childish expression instead. He dropped his hand and wiped the blood from it, shivering all over. "Oh! the blood, how red it is!" he whined. "Did I hurt you, my love? I'm sorry--very sorry. Don't tell anyone I struck you." "I'll tell the whole world," she flashed forth, speaking with difficulty, for her lips were bruised and swollen. "I'll tell them that you are mad, and I'll have you put into an asylum for dangerous lunatics, you base coward!" Mr. St. John's face grew livid at her angry threat. He trembled with fear. "No, no, Xenie, you won't, you mustn't do it," he gasped forth. "I will never do so again. I'll be your slave if you won't tell!" "I will tell it everywhere!" cried his young wife, rushing to the door, her whole passionate spirit aglow with the keenest resentment. But with unlooked-for strength in one of his age, he ran forward, and stood with his back against the door. "You shall not go till you promise to keep silent," he said, firmly; "I will do anything you ask me, Xenie, if you will only not tell on me!" "Anything?" she exclaimed, turning quickly. "Yes, anything," he reiterated, with a weak, imploring look, full of craven fear. "Very well," she answered firmly; "make your will to-day, and cut Howard Templeton off with a shilling, and I'll keep your secret--otherwise the city shall ring with the story of your cruelty!" "Won't you let me leave him ten thousand dollars, dear?" he asked, pitifully.