In that case the love which Your Highness so suddenly conceived for her would instantly bring you within the sphere of his and her influence and power.

Now, she, as Nitocris Marmion, the mortal, is betrothed to the English officer, Merrill.

She loves him, and therefore, since you are great and powerful in the earth-life, your ruin, or even your death, might seem necessary to remove you from her path." Oscarovitch shivered in spite of all his courage and self-control.

The idea of fearing anything human had never occurred to him after his first battle; but this, if true, was a very different matter.

To be threatened with ruin or death by a power which he could not even see, to contend against enemies who could read his very thoughts, and even be present in a room with him without his knowing it--as Phadrig had assured him more than once that they could be--was totally beyond the power of the bravest or strongest of men.