an it will _now_ do. An
accidental homicide, carefully suppressed for four years, and
confessed, at last, for the purpose of accounting for our
intimacy! Your husband will admire the fertility of your
powers of invention, which, by the way, he seems, from the
tenor of his letter, to be pretty well acquainted with."

"Henry, your malice, your wickedness, _cannot_ extend as far
as this. You are not a demon; and it would be diabolical to
refuse your testimony to my confession; besides, there are
other witnesses--"

"In _your_ interest, no doubt," retorted Henry with another
sneer. "I shall certainly not admit that I allowed Edward to
marry a woman whom I saw with my own eyes murder his cousin."

"Murder! murder my cousin! Is it you that speak? Is it I who
hear you? Are there no limits--merciful Heaven!--are there no
limits to this man's wickedness?"

"There are no limits to despair. I struggle for life and
death. You think of nothing but the misery you suffer. You
have no mercy for that which you inflict. If I give way to you
now, I lose you for ever, and--"

He stopped and hid his face in his hands; his breast heaved
with convulsive emotion. I felt he was softened, and I flung
myself on my knees before him.

"You lose your victim, but you gain a friend, who, though she
may never see you, will bless you every day of her life; and,
as she kneels in penitence before God, will mix your name with
hers in every prayer she breathes."

I clasped my hands in supplication, and sought to read into
his soul.

"Never to see you?--never to hear your voice?--No, no--you
_must_ love me,--you _shall_ love me; and even if you hate me
you shall be mine. Your fierce beauty, your pride, your scorn,
have not subdued me; nor shall your streaming eyes and
trembling accents avail you now. I love you more passionately
in your grief than in your pride; and, prostrate before me, I
adore you as I never adored you before. I could kill you if at
this moment you named Edward; and the curse of a broken oath,
the mysterious guilt of perjury, be upon your soul if you play
me false, and place the last barrier of separation between
yourself and me."

"Oh, do not go with such words in your mouth;--do not leave
such a curse behind you: it will fall upon your own head, and
follow you to your death-bed. Henry! cling to your feet!--I
implore your mercy--"

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Was it the angel of death?--was it the vision of judgment th