ciency,
but now oh! meagre, meagre, compared to the ripe hope that had come of
nourishment strange and opportune as manna from heaven. Then had he
incurred to no purpose expense of blood and sweat and anguish of body and
mind, nay, brought to the crucial hour such an appalling deficiency.

To contest a human soul with powers of darkness required perfect
steadfastness of will and faith; lost, lost, with mere self-control lost
in a useless barter that left him now a clod of effete manhood, with just
life enough for groaning pain. Before conflict was he vanquished.
Diadyomene need but come with a word of anger or derision to break him
into childish sobbings.

Yet driven to last extremity, such man's strength as remained to him
might prevail in sanctified violence for the winning of a soul. He would
hold her by the feet; his hands were bloody, but he would hold her by the
feet; should he have to cling round her, he would not hurt; meek and
gentle could he be, though fury should set her to such savage handling as
a woman's strength may compass.

To win a human soul? O wretched piece of clay, not that! The mere thought
of contact with Diadyomene, close contact with her, cool, soft, naked
there in the cold dark, swept the bright delirium of sea-magic over him
again, stung his blood to a burning fever, set him writhing as pain had
never. At the fiery blast, in this nadir hour the place of pure love was
assaulted and taken by base lust; his desire was most strong, not for
the winning of a human soul, but for the wicked winning of a human body,
ay, maugre her will--any way.

Yet, oh for the fair way of her favour! Had she not allowed him very
gracious hints?--'lay your hand upon my breast, set your lips to mine.'
Thrice she had said it--once when a touch on her hand had brought magical
vision, once at her kindest, once at her cruelest. Though her command was
against him, though her anger might not be overpast, a hope kindled that
dread of the dark hour of her fate might urge her to his arms, there to
find such gladness and consolation as might leave no place for horror to
come into possession.

'And give up your soul.' Thrice too had that been said. He was loath to
give it remembrance, but it entered, whenever faint bells tolled on his
ear it entered.

Very strangely, while good and evil fought equal-handed for his will, he
perceived that his body had risen to hands and knees, and was going
forward very fitly like a beast.