eans of every description of
supposed arts of witchcraft, to enter into compact with the Devil, for
the sake of gain, or for the doing of evil deeds; and _then_, in
conditions of brain-excitement, produced by beverages affecting their
senses, and by terrible oaths and ceremonies of conjuration, _saw_ the
Evil One, and entered into those compacts which were to confer upon
them supernatural powers. The wildest of the fabrications of the brain
which those confessions contain--based upon inward conviction--do not
seem too wild when one considers what strange fancies--nay, what
terrible infatuations--even hysteria itself is capable of producing in
women. Thus the wickedness of the hearts of those putative witches was
often paid for by a fearful death. We cannot reasonably reject the
testimony of those old witch-trials, for they are supported by the
evidence of witnesses, or other clearly recorded facts; and there are
many instances of people who have committed crimes deserving of death.
Remember Tieck's magnificent tale, 'The Love-Spell.' There is a deed
mentioned in the papers I have been speaking of very analogous to the
crime of the horrible woman in Tieck's tale. So that a death on the
funeral pyre was often really the proper punishment for those fearful
misdoings."

"There occurs to my remembrance," Theodore said, "an occasion when an
accursed crime of that description chanced to be brought vividly before
my own eyes, filling me with the profoundest pain and sorrow. When I
was living in W---- I went to see a certain charming country seat,
L----, which you know. It has been justly said of it that it seems to
float like some stately swan mirrored on the beautiful lake which lies
at its feet. I had heard, before, that there were dark rumours to the
effect that the unfortunate possessor of it, who had died but a short
time before, had carried on magical practices, with the help of an old
woman; and that the aged keeper of the chateau could tell a good deal
about this business, could one gain his confidence. As soon as I saw
this man he struck me as a very remarkable person. Imagine to
yourselves a hoary-headed old man with imprints of the profoundest
terror in his face, dressed poorly, like a peasant, but indicating,
by his manner, unusual cultivation. Remark that this man, whom you
would have taken for an ordinary labourer at the first glance, would
talk to you--if you did not happen to understand the patois of the
distri