in.
After the usual formalities, the foreman arose and announced the
following verdict:

"We find the prisoner, Dr. Emanuel Medjora, not guilty."

The words were received almost in silence by all present. Above the
stillness a deep sob was heard at the farther end of the room. This
had escaped from the tightly compressed lips of Madame Cora Corona.

BOOK SECOND.

CHAPTER I.

ONE NIGHT.

"Leon! Leon!"

The cry was low and weak, and the suffering woman fell back upon her
pillow. The youth, though asleep, heard, and quickly responded to the
call. He had been sitting in the large arm-chair, beside a rude wooden
table, upon which stood a common glass lamp, with red wick, whose
flickering flame shed but a dim ray across the well-thumbed pages of a
book which lay open. While reading under such unfavorable
circumstances, the boy had slumbered, his mind drifting slowly toward
dream-land, yet not beyond the voice of the sufferer. She had scarcely
repeated his name, when he was kneeling beside her, speaking in a
voice that was tender and solicitous.

"What is it, mother?" he asked.

"Nothing," was the reply.

"Do you wish to drink?"

"No."

"Are you in pain?"

"Yes. But no matter."

"Will you take your medicine?"

"No. Leon, I want to tell you something."

"Not to-night, mother. You must sleep to-night. To-morrow you may
talk."

"Leon, when I sleep to-night, it will be forever."

"Do not talk so, mother. You are nervous. Perhaps the darkness
oppresses you. I will turn up the light."

He did so, but the lamp only spluttered, flaring up brighter for a
moment, only to burn as dull as before.

"You see," said the old woman, with a ghastly smile, "there will be no
more light in my life."

"Indeed there will be."

"I tell you no!" She spoke fiercely, and summoned all her waning
energy to her aid, as she struggled to raise herself upon her elbow.
Then, extending a bony finger in his direction and shaking it in
emphasis of her words, she continued: "I tell you I am dying. Death is
here; in this room; I see his form, and I feel his cold fingers on my
forehead. Sh! Sh! Listen! Do you not hear? A voice from the darkness
is calling--'Confess! Confess!'" Then with a feeble cry she dropped
back, moaning and groaning as in anguish.

"Mother! Mother! Lie still! Do not talk so." Leon was much agitated by
the scene which had just transpired. The woman was quiet for a time,
except that she sobbed, but