And placing his hand upon her heart, it instantly ceased to beat.
"Mother, thou art saved—saved!" exclaimed Alizon, throwing out her arms.
And gazing at her for an instant with a seraphic look, she fell backwards, and expired.
"Thou art mine," roared the demon, seizing Mistress Nutter by the hair, and dragging her from her daughter's body, to which she clung desperately.
"Help!—help!" she cried.
"Thou mayst call, but thy cries will be unheeded," rejoined the familiar with mocking laughter.
"Thou liest, false fiend!" said Mistress Nutter. "Heaven will help me now."
And, as she spoke, the Cistertian monk stood before them.
"Hence!" he cried with an imperious gesture to the demon. "She is no longer in thy power. Hence!"
And with a howl of rage and disappointment the familiar vanished.