ond time, he
fell backward with a startled cry, as though he had come in contact with
an electric wire. The back of his head struck the ground, and he lay
there motionless.

Corpang sprang forward to his assistance. But, when he saw what had
happened, he left him where he was.

"Maskull, come here quickly!"

The light was perceptibly fading from Haunte's skin, as Maskull bent
over. The man was dead. His face was unrecognisable. The head had
been split from the top downward into two halves, streaming with
strange-coloured blood, as though it had received a terrible blow from
an axe.

"This couldn't be from the fall," said Maskull.

"No, Sullenbode did it."

Maskull turned quickly to look at the woman. She had resumed her former
attitude on the ground. The momentary intelligence had vanished from her
face, and she was again smiling.

Chapter 19. SULLENBODE

Sullenbode's naked skin glowed softly through the darkness, but the
clothed part of her person was invisible. Maskull watched her senseless,
smiling face, and shivered. Strange feelings ran through his body.

Corpang spoke out of the night. "She looks like an evil spirit filled
with deadliness."

"It was like deliberately kissing lightning."

"Haunte was insane with passion."

"So am I," said Maskull quietly. "My body seems full of rocks, all
grinding against one another."

"This is what I was afraid of."

"It appears I shall have to kiss her too."

Corpang pulled his arm. "Have you lost all manliness?"

But Maskull impatiently shook himself free. He plucked nervously at his
beard, and stared at Sullenbode. His lips kept twitching. After this had
gone on for a few minutes, he stepped forward, bent over the woman, and
lifted her bodily in his arms. Setting her upright against the rugged
tree trunk, he kissed her.

A cold, knifelike shock passed down his frame. He thought that it was
death, and lost consciousness.

When his sense returned, Sullenbode was holding him by the shoulder with
one hand at arm's length, searching his face with gloomy eyes. At first
he failed to recognise her; it was not the woman he had kissed, but
another. Then he gradually realised that her face was identical with
that which Haunte's action had called into existence. A great calmness
came upon him; his bad sensations had disappeared.

Sullenbode was transformed into a living soul. Her skin was firm, her
features were strong, her eyes gleamed with the consciousness