, even so in
these last days it took woman's love and devotion to sustain man.

Now Omega gazed around on the abode of death with an expression of
disdain. He challenged it and dared it to do its worst. Life still
triumphed, for he had Thalma and Alpha was coming soon. He would not
surrender. He would fight the dark forces of death--even that horrible
monster down there in the lake--and conquer them all. He would again
'gardenize' the world. The stubborn power of hope, that heritage from
his atavistic ancestors, was surging through his blood.

"We will change all this," he went on, waving his hand toward the far
rim of the sky. "We are still masters of life. But now let us descend,"
he added in answer to her approving smile.

So saying again hand in hand they stepped off into space and floated
easily down toward their last home.

Omega knew that his first important task was to get rid of the beast.
The fear-haunted expression in Thalma's eyes brooked no delay.
Accordingly they went to the ship, and each taking a small sack they
filled them with depth bombs. Thus armed they floated out over the lake
in quest of their enemy. But although quite shallow the water was opaque
for the most part being discolored by vegetable matter stirred up by the
monster, and the transparent portions were too deep for them to see
bottom. Long and carefully they searched at a safe distance above the
water, but no sight of the beast could be seen. Then hoping that a
chance shot might reach and destroy him they passed to and fro over the
lake's center and dropped their bombs. Great columns of water were sent
high in air deluging them with spray. That was all. Still, they had no
way of knowing whether a bomb had struck home. In spots the water was so
violently agitated as to suggest that the monster writhed in a death
struggle. But at last all became as quiet as before.

* * * * *

It now occurred to Omega to surround the lake with an invisible wall of
electricity of such power as to electrocute the beast should he attempt
to go over or through it. This was accomplished by increasing the power
of his motors and by automatic controls projecting a high voltage
potential through the air around the lake. And then in addition to other
protective appliances already installed Omega put a similar wall about
the cottage, much to Thalma's relief and delight.

One night they had retired early, Thalma being weary and he