sly and her sobs almost impeded her utterance; but this evidence
of extreme distress, in lieu of subduing, only tended to kindle more
warmly the fierce desires of the Moor. In his hot distempered veins
raged the fever of passion, as he saw that lovely picture of female
helplessness prostrate at his feet; her clustering hair floating in
loose profusion, and her charms acquiring additional interest from the
wild disorder of her situation.

Caneri glutted his eyes with her beauty, and his whole frame thrilled in
a ferment of anticipated raptures. He snatched the fainting Theodora
from the ground, almost overpowered with the conflict of her
feelings.--As he clasped her in his arms, the unfortunate girl beheld
his savage features glistening with joy. She shuddered at their glowing
expression, and with a sudden and violent effort burst from his hold.

The heart of the miscreant swelled with indignation and disappointment.
He cast a threatening look on the trembling victim, and no longer
restrained by any consideration, he again violently seized her.

"Who will protect thee now?" cried the Moor, exultingly.

"Death!" replied Theodora, with the courage of despair.

"Death!" retorted Caneri, with a mocking laugh; "Death! Surely thou must
fancy that I am to be intimidated by the ravings of a woman. No, thou
canst not die, even if that were truly thy desire. Thou _shalt_ not die,
at least till I think thee no longer worthy of contributing to my joys."
Theodora clasped her hands in agony; her fate appeared now inevitable.
Her unmanly enemy furiously mastered her remaining efforts; her feeble
struggles were almost overpowered, and as her senses were about to
forsake her, she wildly shrieked aloud for help. At this moment a noise
was heard at the entrance of the room; the door, as if by a tremendous
exertion of strength, was wrenched from its hinges, and a tall
mysterious figure stalked into the apartment and stood motionless with
amazement. Theodora uttered a scream of joy at this timely deliverance,
while the enraged and disappointed Moor turned fiercely round to
ascertain who had the temerity to venture upon such an intrusion.

The towering figure that stood before him seemed a stranger to his eyes.
He was enveloped in a long and ample Spanish cloak, and his countenance
was almost hidden by a dark clustering feather that fell from his
slouched hat.

Caneri shook with ire.

"What treason is this?" he exclaimed. "A cursed Ch