The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: blade which Feofar's executioner had passed before his
eyes.
It may be remembered, that at the moment of the ex-
ecution, Marfa Strogoff was present, stretching out her
hands towards her son. Michael gazed at her as a son
would gaze at his mother, when it is for the last time. The
tears, which his pride in vain endeavored to subdue, welling
up from his heart, gathered under his eyelids, and volatiliz-
ing on the cornea, had saved his sight. The vapor formed
by his tears interposing between the glowing saber and his
eyeballs, had been sufficient to annihilate the action of the
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