SCENE 2. _The same. Vasil still lying on the floor. Adrian enters

right, crosses and attempts to rouse him._

_Adr._ You must go to bed, my son. There is nothing for you to do.

_Vasil._ [_Rising_] Nothing for me to do? Why am I in the world then?

_Adr._ To be our light--our song--to find our angels for us.

_Vasil._ [_Looking down at his violin_] It is broken.

_Adr._ [_Picking it up_] You will mend it.

_Vasil._ And the heart too? [_Goes to table, left front, and sits by it, despondent and thoughtful_] We were wrong to-day, Adrian. I was wrong. No one has a right to happiness while others are suffering because of things that are in the _power of man_ to help. The _good_ people who forget what is out of sight, as if misery--or duty--were a question of eyes and ears, they are the most to blame. [_Rises_] If they would all help--just all of the good. [_Goes to door, rear, and stands a moment looking out_] The princess dances at the ball to-night.

_Adr._ My boy!

_Vasil._ [_Coming back to Adrian_] But they will not all help--not yet. Perhaps the world of peace must come before the world of love, not out of it ... as war has come before peace. The law of Moses was once the best law. His race saved itself by it. Has the day of its necessity passed, Adrian? Are we sure?

_Adr._ It has passed for the man.

_Vasil._ But humanity is so far behind the man.

_Adr._ [_Gently_] That is what made Christ.

_Vasil._ And that is what killed him!

[_Enter a priest, street door_]

_Priest._ Blessed be this house.

_Adr._ Welcome, father.

_Priest._ Is death here?

_Adr._ Yes, father. [_Crosses to right and opens door for priest to enter_] You have many visits to make to-night.

_Priest._ Many, my son. [_Stops before Adrian_] I have a message for the Shepherd of Lonz.

_Adr._ [_Taking letter_] Thank you, father.

_Priest._ Thank her that sent it, and God who made her heart. [_Passes into room, right_]

_Adr._ [_After looking over letter_] The princess has danced to some purpose, my boy. Vera is free. She will be on her way to Odessa by morning.

_Vasil._ Free? The princess saved her? My princess! Did she write it? [_Taking letter_] I will read it with kisses!

_Adr._ It must be burnt.

_Vasil._ No, let me keep it--a little while.

_Adr._ We must be careful. Hush--some one is coming.

[_Vasil retreats to table, rear. Enter Korelenko in great agitation_]

_Kore._ Yaltowa is on fire! We are one night too late! They must have heard----

_Adr._ On fire? Now?

_Kore._ I waited with Gregorief at Breshloff's, the others went on to Yaltowa, where----

_Adr._ You waited for Petrizoff?

_Kore._ This ball was only to cover their scheme----

_Adr. You_ waited with Gregorief for Petrizoff?

_Kore._ He will pass through the village about four o'clock.

_Adr._ But now--O, you are saved from that thing!

_Kore._ Yes. If we kill him now the fire will seem only a part of the deed. It will help them fix the lie upon us.

_Adr._ Too late, thank God!

_Kore._ You think of nothing but Petrizoff! What of the people now dying in Yaltowa? Dying because he lives? Go see the horrors there! The reactionists are everywhere in the streets, disguised as revolutionists, looting and murdering! Your Karitz peasants are being turned into beasts----

[_Adrian gives a deep groan and sits overcome, by table front, left_]

_Kore._ It is not too late! Our friends--Russia--freedom--yet may live if you will help us! Your name will justify Petrizoff's death to the world. With the loss of their chief the reactionists will be in confusion, before they can recover you can organize the great leagues into a militia----

_Adr._ You are mad to think such power is in me.

_Kore._ You don't know your power! You can do it--you only--and it must be done now--before the war in the East is over--before the Czar can make new promises--give us the mockery of a constitution, and fool half of us back to allegiance--before----

_Adr._ [_Rising, shaken_] It can not rest with me. One man can not make destiny.

_Kore._ Yes, when that man is you--when the time is now! Absolutism is at its ebb. Will you wait till the tide gathers and flows over us again in waves of blood?

_Adr._ [To _himself, walking_] Are there then two codes? One for the man, one for the race? And when they conflict, the man must yield?

_Kore._ Codes! The question of a man's right to his breath is settled outside of ethics! O, Adrian, brother, be a man to-night and not a preacher! Never in the history of the world has there been a revolution so ripe, so terrible, without a leader to march at its head.

_Adr._ Humanity has dropped the club. It will drop the gun. Even the soldiers are throwing it down. And shall I pick it up----

_Kore._ Only for a day! Petrizoff alone stands between us and the army. Vitelkin, the next in power, is ready to join us. But he is suspected already, and must soon resign--or be poisoned. If we remove Petrizoff _now_ thirty regiments will come to us with Vitelkin, and others will follow until the Czar is without an army. In a month--a fortnight--the revolutionists will be masters of the nation----

_Adr._ _Masters_ of the nation! [_Walks away, and returns, much calmer, to Korelenko_] If it is true that only the life of Petrizoff stands between the revolutionists and triumph, he can not long be the sole barrier. He must see his folly and change his----

_Kore._ [_Furious]_ Were he to turn angel now, he should die for his past sins!

_Adr._ [_Sadly_] I see. We should unfetter the avenging lion, not loosen the dove of peace, with Petrizoff's death.

_Kore._ I did not mean that. You know it was the anger of a moment. [_Kneeling_] For the last time I beg you--in the name of all that redeems man from the beast----

_Adr._ [_Very pale_] Rise, Korelenko. Heal ye first yourselves. Out of your differences, your divisions, you make your master. If for one day enmity should sleep, if for one day every lover of freedom should love his neighbor, in that day the oppressor would fall. Rise! I will not do it.

_Kore._ [_Springing up_] You will!

_Adr._ Will?

_Kore._ Yes. The princess Sophie Travinski is betrayed to Petrizoff. I hoped to prevail without telling you, and spare your heart what mine suffers.

_Adr._ Betrayed?

_Kore._ She has aided to-night in the escape of a prisoner taken by Petrizoff's order. He will know all by morning _if he lives_.

_Adr._ This lie will not tempt me, Sasha. I can hardly believe you have uttered it. [_Fearfully_] I might have believed you.

_Kore._ I am prepared for your doubt. Gregorief waits outside. He will support my word [_going to door_].

_Adr._ No! I will not see him again. It is true. [_Crosses uncertainly and sits on bench before loom_] O, is there no end to this night?

_Kore._ A princess Ghedimin went to Yakutsk for a lesser offence.

_Adr._ Don't--don't speak.

_Kore._ [_After watching him a moment_] If Petrizoff dies he will never know.

_Adr._ There is no time to warn her.

_Kore._ Then the evidence will go to Petrizoff at once.

_Adr._ You would do that?

_Kore._ No, but Gregorief would. He is waiting for your answer.

_Adr._ My answer?

_Kore._ You know how to save her.

_Adr._ [_Rising_] How?

_Kore._ Join us.

_Adr._ [_Sinking down again_] You might be merciful now, Korelenko.

_Kore._ [_Unbelievingly_] You will not save her?

_Adr._ Not that way.

_Kore._ There is no other.

_Adr._ Then she----

_Kore._ Adrian, I can not believe you. You will save her!

_Adr._ How can I now? The struggle is over. For a heavenly motive I refused to join you; I can not consent now for an earthly one. O, if you had not told me! If you had pleaded a little longer--[_Realizes what he is saying, and looks at Korelenko with a bitter smile_] You see it is impossible.

_Kore._ [_Raging_] I will kill you!

_Adr._ Do, Sasha.

_Kore._ [_Turning from him_] Vera! My little girl!

_Adr._ [_Rising suddenly_] O, I have not told you----

_Kore._ What? Quick!

_Adr._ Vera is free. Read this--where--Vasil, the letter!

[_Vasil, who sits by the small table, silently lays the letter upon it. Korelenko crosses and snatches it up_]

_Adr._ [_As Korelenko reads_] You see they will wait for you on the Petoff road until two o'clock. You must go at once. The princess has arranged for you to journey with Vera if you wish, and you must now, for to remain here means imprisonment on the Yaltowa charge. [_Korelenko is dumb, looking at the letter_] Don't lose hope, Sasha. You can still help us in America--perhaps do more for the cause there than here--and you will have Vera----

_Kore._ [_Strangely_] You _must_ save her now, Adrian.

_Adr._ She is saved. Haven't you read? Don't you see?

_Kore._ Not Vera, the princess. It was I who betrayed her. And it was Vera she saved. I was so sure of you. You said----

_Adr._ I am sorry for you, Korelenko. You have sold the angel in your service.

_Kore._ No! You did it! You deceived me! You swore you loved her!

_Adr._ I swore the truth.

_Kore._ Bah! Such love! Prove it! Prove it! [_Hurries to the little cabinet in wall, rear, unlocks it, takes out a bomb from his pocket, places it in the cabinet, locks the door and returns to Adrian with key_] Prove it! I am going to Vera. Gregorief will wait at Breshloff's. Send him this key within an hour and he will know what to do. [_Offers key to Adrian, who looks at him silently. Korelenko throws key to the floor_] There it is! Send it, or her fate will be on your soul, not mine! [_Exit_]

_Adr._ O, Infinite Love, why didst make us as men to try us as gods?... And I might have saved her. Might? ... [_Goes slowly to the key, stoops and picks it up. As he raises his head his glance falls on the portrait of the Saviour on wall in front of him_] Unto seventy times seven. [_He drops the key and takes a step or two toward the picture_] Thou too wert man!... [_As he gazes at the portrait Vasil comes softly forward, takes up the key, returns to table, and sits looking at the key as if fascinated. Curtain_]