"Stop this foolery!" he said catching hold of her wrist, "I'm in grim earnest--the lives of all three of us are at stake--jeopardized through you--through your infernal greed and selfishness. Do you hear!" "Please let go my wrist," she said quietly. "I won't!" he shouted. "I'll squeeze, crush it, break it! Break you, too, unless you swear to break off your marriage!" "I'll swear nothing," Lilian Rosenberg said faintly. "You're a brute. Let me go or I'll cry for help." She screamed, but before she could repeat the scream, Hamar had her by the throat--and then blind with passion and before he fully realized what he was about, he had shaken her to and fro--like a terrier shakes a rat--and had dashed her on the floor. For some minutes he stood rocking with passion, and then, his eyes falling on the inanimate form at his feet, he gave a great gasping cry and bent over it. "God in Heaven!" he ejaculated, "she's dead! I've killed her!" He was still bending over her--still feeling her lifeless pulse, still trying to resuscitate her--feebly wondering how he had killed her, feverishly debating the best course to pursue--when Curtis and Kelson burst in on him. At the sight of Lilian Rosenberg's lifeless body both men started back. "Great God! Hamar!" Curtis gasped. "What have you done to her?" "Nothing!" Hamar said, turning a ghastly face to them. "I--I found her like this!" "Liar!" Kelson shouted beside himself with fury. "Liar! We heard her scream. Look at your hands--there's blood on them! You've killed her!" Before Curtis could stop him he sprang at Hamar, and the next moment both men were rolling on the floor. "Call for the police, Ed!" Kelson gasped, "the police--or--" But before he could utter another syllable, walls, floor and ceiling shook with loud, devilish laughter. There was then silence--enthralling, impressive, omnipotent silence--the electric light went out--and the room filled with luminous, striped figures. [Illustration: THE ROOM FILLED WITH LUMINOUS, STRIPED FIGURES]