GUARD (crosses and exits L. I. Calling). Pass on. Pass on. No loitering in the corridor. [VICTOR and LISA enter from door L. Start to go off L. when pistol shot stops them. FEDYA (He turns his back to the audience, and from beneath his ragged coat shoots himself in the heart. There is a muffled explosion, smoke. He crumples up in a heap on the floor. All the people in the passage rush to him.) (In a very low voice.) This time--it's well done... Lisa.... [People are crowding in from all the doors, judges, etc. LISA rushes to FEDYA, KARENIN, IVAN PETROVICH and PRINCE SERGIUS follow. LISA. Fedya!... Fedya!... What have you done? Oh why!... why!... FEDYA. Forgive me---- No other way---- Not for you--but for myself---- LISA. You will live. You must live. FEDYA. No--no---- Good-bye---- (He seems to smile, then he mutters just under his breath.) Masha. [In the distance the gypsies are heard singing "No More at Evening." They sing until the curtain. You're too late---- [Suddenly he raises his head from LISA'S knees, and barely utters as if he saw something in front of him. Ah.... Happiness!... [His head falls from LISA'S knees to the ground. She still clings to it, in grief and horror. He dies. [The lights dim and out. CURTAIN END OF _REDEMPTION_ * * * * * THE POWER OF DARKNESS OR IF A CLAW IS CAUGHT THE BIRD IS LOST CHARACTERS PETER IGNATITCH. A well-to-do peasant, 42 years old, married for the second time, and sickly. ANISYA. His wife, 32 years old, fond of dress. AKOULINA. Peter's daughter by his first marriage, 16 years old, hard of hearing, mentally undeveloped. NAN (ANNA PETROVNA). His daughter by his second marriage, 10 years old NIKITA. Their laborer, 25 years old, fond of dress. AKIM. Nikita's father, 50 years old, a plain-looking, God-fearing peasant. MATRYONA. His wife and Nikita's mother, 50 years old. MARINA An orphan girl, 22 years old. MARTHA. Peter's sister. MITRITCH An old laborer, ex-soldier. SIMON. Marina's husband. BRIDEGROOM. Engaged to Akoulina. IVAN. His father. A NEIGHBOR. FIRST GIRL. SECOND GIRL. POLICE OFFICER. DRIVER. BEST MAN MATCHMAKER. VILLAGE ELDER. VISITORS, WOMEN, GIRLS, AND PEOPLE come to see the wedding N.B.--The "oven" mentioned is the usual large, brick, Russian baking-oven. The top of it outside is flat, so that more than one person can lie on it. ACT I The Act takes place in autumn in a large village. The Scene represents PETER'S roomy hut. PETER is sitting on a wooden bench, mending a horse-collar. ANISYA and AKOULINA are spinning, and singing a part-song. PETER (looking out of the window). The horses have got loose again. If we don't look out they'll be killing the colt. Nikita! Hey, Nikita! Is the fellow deaf? (Listens. To the women.) Shut up, one can't hear anything. NIKITA (from outside). What? PETER. Drive the horses in.