Involuntarilyhestretchedhishandstowardsit，feltapangofgriefwhenitvanished，leavingonlythegreylight。Hedrewtherustybolts，flungopenthegreatdoor。Astrangeworldlaybeforehim，anewworldoflightsandshadows，thatwooedhimwiththeirbeauty——aworldoflow，softvoicesthatcalledtohim。Therecametohimagainthatbittersenseofhavingbeenrobbed。
\"Icouldhavebeensohappyalltheseyears，\"murmuredoldNicholastohimself。\"ItisjustthelittletownIcouldhaveloved——soquaint，soquiet，sohomelike。Imighthavehadfriends，oldcronies，childrenofmyownmaybe——\"
AvisionofthesleepingChristinaflashedbeforehiseyes。Shehadcometohimachild，feelingonlygratitudetowardshim。Hadhehadeyeswithwhichtoseeher，allthingsmighthavebeendifferent。
Wasittoolate？Heisnotsoold——notsoveryold。Newlifeisinhisveins。ShestilllovesJan，butthatwastheJanofyesterday。
Inthefuture，Jan’severywordanddeedwillbepromptedbytheevilsoulthatwasoncethesoulofNicholasSnyders——thatNicholasSnydersrememberswell。Cananywomanlovethat，letthecasebeashandsomeasyouwill？