"No--no!" she said again, almost running. A blind desire to escape, from herself as much as from him, dominated her. "I--I can't."
"Can't? Why not? You are free. I know you were engaged. But he is--gone. We live in a world of flesh and blood. You can't exist on a memory. Besides," the words came like a slave-driver's whip--she almost obeyed it--"you never loved him as you love me!"
She revolted, stung to burning resentment against herself equally as against this masterful, crude male. She stopped and faced him.
"Captain Lavering, you talk like a sick man." She triumphed in the steadiness of her words. "You have insulted me in the most uncalled-for manner. Let that be enough."
His eyes looked into hers, challenged her sincerity, were assured of it. He went red, looked awkward.
She went on without a word, ignored the fact that he accompanied her. They breasted an upward smooth slope of snow that stretched up to a crisp, clear outline against the blue sky. He ventured a sidelong glance at her, a little light of primitive cunning in his eyes.
As intended--his tone implied a resumption of ordinary commonplace relationship--the words took her off her guard. But he was ignorant of their esoteric significance. In a flash, in a deep convulsion of the soul, she saw the Alpine picture, vivid with symbolism, of her other life. "--On the heights!" In the full poignancy of the emotion it unlocked--her own vow of fidelity ringing in her ears from another world--she found herself struggling in a man's tight grasp, hot breath upon her face, lips seeking her own. "You must! You shall!" he muttered, straining forward to her. She stiffened, fought in a frenzy. "Ronald! Ronald!" she cried.
An icy wind swept down the slope, smote upon them like a breath from the grave, shudderingly cold. Captain Lavering uttered a little cry, relaxed his grip, and fell sideways upon the snow.
Sister Braithwaite stared at him in horror. A great fear came upon her, an awe in the presence of unearthly power. _She knew!_ Her soul slipped back into its dream-state, confronted the visage of her lover, stern as destiny. The eyes judged her, forgave. Then, weeping hysterically, she ran towards the hospital. It was not far distant.