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 Elvin's grip relaxed completely as he passed into unconsciousness. Bennet laid the hands over his head and began working them back and forth, as in the case of a drowning man. Lida stood still at the tree her body half bending over toward the pair transfixed in horror at what she was beholding. Bennet leaned over the prostrate form of his victim, slowly moving the arms back and forth at the same time pressing in and out with his knees at the sides of the man. After a few moments of this he listened at the heart. There were faint heart beats.

"Thank God," he breathed. "Thank God, I'm no murderer." He leaned over and listened again. The heart beats were stronger. "He'll live," he said aloud. At the words Lida came out of her trance of horror and fell prostrate on the ground again. The hoise of her fall brought Bennet to his senses of her presence. He turned to her. "My God," he exclaimed.

"Lida,—Lida—Lida, Dear," he exclaimed as he rushed to her side, bent over and lifted her into his arms. "Lida, Lida." He shook her gently. "Lida—Lida, wake dear."

He shook her gently again and at the third time she opened her eyes.

"Truman,—Oh, Truman—Yov've killed him.—You've killed him."

"No," he said, lifting her to her feet. "Brace up. He's not dead."

"And to think that he tried to kill you.—It was horrible—horrible, horrible," she continued. "Are you sure he's not dead?" she asked.