ourt that condemned the soldier, will now be better understood.
He had cast eyes of licentious desire upon the blooming Prudence, who
was, at the same time, beloved by Philip, and was solicitous to remove
him out of the way. Bold in all his plans, neither honoring God nor
fearing man, unscrupulous in regard to the means, to effect a purpose,
and esteeming the gratification of his evil wishes the highest
happiness, it was yet necessary to the achievement of his objects that
a specious outside at least should be preserved, and this he had
succeeded in doing up to the present time. In pursuance of his cunning
policy, he was unwilling that even Joy should suspect him of
unfriendliness, and for that reason had, in the course of the
examination, excited the temporary vexation of Deputy Governor Dudley,
by an observation which, to the unsuspecting Deputy, seemed indicative
of a desire to screen Joy from punishment, and to Joy himself the
interference of a friend; while, in fact, it was intended to entrap
the prisoner into rash speeches, which would be prejudicial to his
cause. How effectually he undeceived Dudley, after Joy had been
removed, we have seen.

The Assistant had attained his object. Philip was in the first place
to be imprisoned and fined, and afterwards banished, and the field was
henceforth to be left free to himself. With his rival out of the way,
he did not doubt of succeeding with the girl by means of such
arguments and temptations as it would be in his power to employ. How
he had begun by endeavoring to use the very affection of Prudence for
her lover to make her betray herself, has been told; but thus far her
simplicity and good fortune had been quite a match for his craft. In
the hope to obtain some advantage for Philip, she had granted the
Assistant the interview which we have just witnessed, and wherein he
disclosed his character in a manner he had never done to her before.
She now understood his designs thoroughly, but the knowledge was a
secret which her fears suggested that she had better lock up in her
own heart. What chance would a poor unprotected girl have in a contest
with the rich and powerful Assistant? Who would take her word in
opposition to his? Spikeman well appreciated his advantage, and
calculating with absolute certainty upon her silence, was, in
consequence, the more audacious.

When the spy of the Assistant found him at his store-house, he was
meditating upon the approaching interview