"You had your choice," the man answered. "It is true that you are one unique among the millions of your fellow-creatures. The blackness of your heart is concealed by the purity of your face, and your real being so disguised that none suspect. If your real identity were discovered some prophets would declare that the end of the world was near." And he laughed coarsely. "Yes, yes," she cried quickly. "But do not taunt me. I know too well the far-reaching influence which emanates from me, and the fatal effect of my touch upon all that is held sacred by those who believe in the Supreme. I have striven to do good, and have only wrought evil; I have been charitable, and my efforts have only resulted in bringing disaster upon the needy. Those whom I thought to benefit have rewarded me by curses, because all that I do is the work of the wicked. I have struggled to lead a double life, and have failed. I have tried to counterbalance the evil I am compelled to achieve by doing good works such as might endear me in the eyes of those who believe in the Supreme; but all, alas, has been in vain--all futile. I am now convinced that in my heart there can remain no good feeling, no womanly love, no charitableness towards my fellows." "It is only what might be expected," he said in a dry tone. "Your great beauty is given you to cover your heart. You are soulless." "Yes," she cried. "That is true--only too true. I have no soul, no conscience, no regret!" She spoke in a hard tone, as though utterly wearied of life. Her voice had lost its music, and her speech was of one in blank despair. "If you are without regret, then what I have suggested is the more easy of accomplishment," he said, in a low intense voice. "Remember that no power on earth can withstand your influence." "I will not!" she cried, starting up in fierce determination. "Through your evil counsel I have already wrought that which I shall ever regret," she went on. "I have placed myself beneath the thraldom irrevocably, and have brought upon those who admired me a doom which has destroyed their happiness and wrecked their lives. I have now a lover-- a man who, because of my good looks, is infatuated, as others have been." "It has been decided!" her companion said, with a calmness that was appalling. "But I love him!" she declared. "I myself will be his protector!" "You intend to defy the resolution which has been arrived at?" "I have no intention of committing further sin," she said. "I may be an evil-doer and one of the accursed, but none shall say that I deliberately acted in such manner towards one who became fascinated by my beauty. Rather would I disfigure my face by burns or acid in order to render myself ugly and unattractive." "No woman would do that of her own free will," he laughed.