are armed with crow-bars, coupling-pins and heavy sticks of wood.]
LEADER OF MOB (shouts): Hey, there are Jews here!
[The mob yells triumphantly. Some begin to break into boxes and closets; clock springs sound. A number of rioters go into the sitting-room. LEAH walks backward against the wall towards the farther rooms. BEREZIN tries to defend her by keeping in front of her.. From the farther rooms are heard the shouts of the mob, who break the furniture and other things. LEAH, with the swiftness of a cat, jumps to the door of BORUCH'S room and remains standing there, facing the mob.]
LEISER (to the mob): Have you no fear of God? (He points upward).
BEREZIN (attempts to defend LEAH). What are you doing? Stop your devilish work!
FIRST VOICE FROM MOB: We are killing Jews
SECOND VOICES We are getting square with them.
[Laughter among them.]
THIRD VOICE: Vaska! Just feel around that girl a little. She looks to be a fine one.
FIRST VOICE: Just watch that fellow take care of her! He is trying to defend her for himself, but it won't do, it won't do!
BEREZIN: You rascals!
FIRST VOICE No insults, you blackguard, you!
SECOND VOICE: Just give him one, the rascal! He's insulting us. Do you hear that? He's insulting us.
ONE IN THE MOB (to LEISER): Turn your pockets inside out, you old devil, you! (He approaches LEISER.)
LEISER: Kill me, kill me quick! Your God will feel the better for it.
FIRST VOICE: Shut your mouth, you mass of ugliness! (He strikes LEISER on the back).
[LEISER falls to his knees.]
SECOND VOICE (pointing to SARAH): Break Break that thing open, or she will weep for fear of being hurt. (General laughter).
THIRD VOICE: And this old dog will burstsoon. Don't bother with him; he'll die before you want him. Get hold of the girl,Vaska!
[A gigantic fellow comes to the front.]
BEREZIN (chair in hand): Don't dare touch her!
FIRST VOICE: Hey, boys! Take this fellow away? He defends this girl too much. (General laughter).
SECOND VOICE: Lets get a hold of him, fellows! (The mob moves up to him.. One grasps BEREZIN'S hand, another wrenches the
(A pistol shot is heard.. The mob retreats a step.. For a minute everything is quiet. The giant separates himself from the rest and enters the room.)
FINIS.
chair away from him.. A desperate struggle ensues).
FOURTH VOICE: Give him a couple of whacks! Here, take my coupling-pin!
LEAH (shouts): He is a Christian!
BEREZIN (hoarsely): I am a Christian! (He falls and several of the mob fall upon him). I am a Christian!
FOURTH VOICE: He lies; he wears no cross.
(BEREZIN is dragged into the back room where the struggle continues.)
FOURTH VOICE: Shut his gab. Shove something into his mouth.
LEISER (sobbing): Leah! Leah! Why didn't I die before this?
THIRD VOICE: You are not too late; die now!
(The big fellow makes another approach toward LEAH. LEAH points the revolver at them. They stand back for a minute.)
RED-HEADED FELLOW: The witch has a revolver in her hand.
FOURTH VOICE: Let me have a crow-bar!Don't let a girl frighten you! Show yourcourage; come on!
(The mob rushes towards LEAH. who runs into BORUCH'S room).
LEAH (from the room): Good-bye, father.
THE GIANT: The witch has killed herself!
THIRD VOICE: Go in Vaska! She is still warm. You won't be too late. (laughter).
LEISER (on the floor): My only daughter, my only daughter!
(Somebody shouts in the store. 'Fellows,the Cossacks are coming!' A general alarmamong the ruffians. They run towards therear door, breaking everything on their way.After the last one is out, everything is quiet.The tramping of horses' hoofs mingles withnoise and whistling. Through the brokenfront door, BORUCH comes running in without a hat, his face covered with blood).
BORUCH: Father! Leah! (He runs to LEISER and touches him). Father! Father!! Where is LEAH? For God's sake, tell me!
LEISER (shaking his head): She is no more; she is no more. The wind came from the desert and took away everything.
Bortcus Where is Leah! Tell me, where is Leah!
(NACHMAN runs in with a revolver in his hand and his clothes torn. He remains standing in the doorway and shouts in a loud voice: Be accursed; be accursed. He begins to shoot into the mob. From the street the shouting of ISERSON is heard. Don't shoot! These are Christians, workingmen who are with us. Don't shoot!) z
NACHMAN drops the revolver and, falling on the threshold, bursts into tears.