_was_ the last as well as the first; for at the meeting of their
lips, they were stricken asunder as by the fall of a thunderbolt!

And Sybil, blazing with wrath, like a spirit from the Lake of Fire,
stood between them!

Yes! for she looked not human--with her ashen cheeks, and darkened brow,
and flaming eyes--with her whole face and form heaving, palpitating,
flashing forth the lightnings of anger!

"SYBIL!" exclaimed her husband, thunderstruck, appalled.

She waved her hand towards him, as if to implore or command silence.

"I have nothing to say to you," she muttered, in low and husky tones,
as if ashes were in her throat. "But to YOU!" she said, and her voice
rose clear and strong as she turned and stretched out her arm towards
Rosa, who was leaning in a fainting condition against the wall--"TO YOU,
viper, who has stung to death the bosom that warmed you to life--TO YOU,
traitress, who has come between the true husband and his wife--TO YOU,
thief! who has stolen from your benefactress the sole treasure of her
life--TO YOU I have this to say: I will not drive you forth in dishonor
from my door this night, nor will I publish your infamy to the world
to-morrow, though you have deserved nothing less than these from my
hands; but in the morning you must leave the house you have desecrated!
for if you do not, or if ever I find your false face here again, I will
tread down and crush out your life with less remorse than ever I set
heel upon a spider! I will, as I am a Berners! And now, begone, and
never let me see your form again!"

Rosa Blondelle, who had stood spell-bound by the terrible gaze and
overwhelming words of Sybil, the wronged wife, now suddenly threw up her
hands, and with a low cry, fled from the room.

And Sybil dropped her arm and her voice at the same instant, and stood
dumb and motionless.

And now, at length, Lyon Berners spoke again.

"Sybil! you have uttered words that nothing on the part of that poor
lady should have provoked from you--words that I fear may never be
forgotten or forgiven! But--I know that she has a gentle and easy
nature. When you are cooler and more rational, I wish you to go to her
and be reconciled with her."

"With _her_! I am a Berners!" answered Sybil, haughtily.

"But you bitterly wrong that lady in your thoughts!"

"Bah! I caught her in your arms! on your breast! her lips clinging to
yours!"

"The first and last kiss! I swear it by all my hopes of Heaven,
Sybil-