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"A shadow," he answered, passing a shaking hand up over his face

and brow, "a ghost--a phantom--as you are; but my name was

Strickland once, as yours was Devil Vibart I ahed You don't laugh

now, Devil Vibart, you remeer!" I exclaimed, "the madman who

followed and shot at me in a wood--"

"Followed? Yes, I was a shadow that was always behind you

--following and following you, Satan Vibart, tracking and

tracking you to hell and damnation And you fled here, and you

fled there, but I was always behind you; you hid fro

lowly folk, but you could not escape the shadow Many times I

would have killed you--but she was between--the Woht, and the door opened beneath

trees, as I did once before, and I told you ela, and cried her name

--and shot you--just here, above the brow; and so you died,

Devil Vibart, as soon I must, for my mission is accomplished--"