an inch. I have relieved the
world of a monster, and now I am ready to receive my reward, even if it
be the scaffold. But go, my friend--go, and secure your own safety."

"No, I will not leave you, even if I have to share your fate," was my
reply. That was a very foolish determination, I admit; for how could my
remaining with her, do her any good? I was merely placing myself in a
position of the utmost peril. But I thought it wrong to desert Mrs.
Raymond in that dark and trying hour; and therefore, as she refused to
escape, I resolved to remain with her.

Some one softly opened the door, and a female voice said--

"My dear, are you particularly engaged? May I come in?"

Hearing no reply, the fair speaker entered with a smile on her rosy
lips. This lady was the newly-made wife of Livingston. She had been, of
course, in happy ignorance of his true character, and of the fact that
he was already the husband of several wives.

On seeing us, she evinced surprise, for she knew not of her husband
having visitors. Suddenly, her eyes fell upon Livingston's bleeding
corpse, which lay upon the floor. On seeing this horrid spectacle, she
gave utterance to a piercing scream, and fell down insensible.

That shrill, agonizing scream penetrated every part of the house, and
brought all the inmates to the library, to see what had happened. Horror
took possession of the group, as they gazed upon the awful scene. For a
few minutes, there reigned the most profound silence. This was at last
broken by one of the male servants, who demanded--

"Who has done this?"

"I did it," replied Mrs. Raymond, calmly, "I alone am guilty. Here is
the weapon with which I did the deed. This young man here is entirely
innocent; he tried to prevent the act, but I was too quick for him. Let
me be conveyed at once to prison."

Officers being sent for, soon arrived and took us both into custody,
notwithstanding the passionate protestations of Mrs. Raymond that I had
no hand whatever in the affair.

"That must be shown to the satisfaction of higher authorities than we
are," said one of the officers. "At all events, it is our duty to secure
this young man as a witness. If he is innocent, he will doubtless be
able to prove it."

Half an hour afterwards, I was an inmate of the Pittsburg jail, in an
apartment adjoining that occupied by Mrs. Raymond, whose real sex still
remained undiscovered.

CHAPTER VIII

_An Escape, and a Triumph._

After a