Futile, hopeless, vain her love had been to influence him.

But there had flashed over me with subtle, overwhelming suggestion that not futile, not vain was _my_ love to save him! Therefore, beyond and above all other claims, and by reason of my wrong to him, his claim came first.
It was then there was something cold and deathlike in my soul; it was then I bade farewell to Sally Langdon.

For I knew, whatever happened, of one thing I was sure--I would have to kill either Sampson or Wright.
Snecker could be managed; Sampson might be trapped into arrest; but Wright had no sense, no control, no fear.

He would snarl like a panther and go for his gun, and he would have to be killed.

This, of all consummations, was the one to be calculated upon.