r to regard Emily in
the relation of a _sister_.

This last wish seemed like a positive prohibition of the fond hope he
had cherished, of regarding her in a nearer and more tender relation. He
congratulated himself on the decision with which he had resisted the
temptation to avow his love.

This injunction of Emily's father could be interpreted in two ways,--as
a requirement to preserve the present friendly relations, or as a
prohibition against his ever making her his wife. The latter method of
rendering his meaning seemed to him the most in accordance with their
relative positions, and he was compelled to adopt it.

After renewing his thanks to his benefactor, he took his leave with a
sad heart, and departed from the mansion which contained his newly-found
yet now rejected love.

CHAPTER III.

"_Macbeth_.--What is 't ye do?
_Witches_.--A deed without a name."

Shakespeare.

In the management of his estates, Colonel Dumont had, for many years,
been assisted by an only brother. This brother was directly the opposite
of himself in character, in aims, in everything. Even in his childhood
this brother had displayed a waywardness of disposition which gave the
promise of much evil in his future years. As the seed sown so was the
harvest. Parental instruction, counsel and rebuke, were alike
unavailing, and he attained the years of manhood morose and
unsympathizing in his disposition, avaricious and hard with his equals,
and cruel and unjust towards his inferiors. His selfish mind, his low
aims, and his tyrannical character, had long been preparing him for
deeds of villany and injustice.

In the earlier years of his life he had been a merchant in New Orleans;
but, being universally detested for his meanness and duplicity, in a
season of general panic in the financial world he was completely ruined,
by the want of those kind offices which are so freely interchanged in
the mercantile community. In this dilemma, he asked his brother's
assistance. Colonel Dumont examined his affairs, and, considering his
position in the community, with the almost hopeless embarrassment of his
concerns, concluded that success under these circumstances was
impossible. He frankly and kindly informed his brother of his
conclusion, and offered him a share in his planting operations. His
brother--Jaspar--was sorely wounded in his pride by this reply. It
generated in him a sentiment, if not of malignity, at least of hatr