of the deceased's fearful avowal in his dying moments,
Harold exclaimed, "Edwin has indeed avenged himself on poor Jocelin." And
Edwin was branded as the dastardly wretch who had taken his cousin's life
thus!

Edwin denied the foul deed with indignation and horror; but, when Harold's
words were repeated to him, he hung his head, and blushed scarlet. He
spoke no more, save to affirm his innocence; and, when questioned as to
Jocelin Priestly having been near him on the tower just before he met with
his death, Edwin admitted the fact; but, when further pressed, he became
confused, and painful internal struggles were evident.

Mr. Lovell discarded his son forever. He would not harbor, he said, one
who had vengefully taken the life of his beloved nephew; the law, indeed,
could not reach the criminal, but a father's malediction could! So the
hapless Edwin was disowned and disinherited by his indignant parent, who
granted him a stipend barely sufficient for subsistence, and thrust him
forth as an alien. Harold had not encountered his brother's placid gaze;
he shrank from being alone with him, and when Edwin begged for an
audience, it was refused. Mildred protested her brother's innocence. Edwin
had never swerved from truth in his life; and, strange to say, there was
another who sided with Mildred, and that other, the miserable mother of
the victim. She had scrutinized and watched Harold Lovell closely; and
when Edwin knelt beside her, and said, with quiet, but impressive
calmness, "I am innocent, aunt; I never injured a hair of my cousin's
head," he was believed by that jealous, breaking heart.

"But you were _there_, Edwin," cried the poor lady; "you witnessed it: he
came not to his end by fair means. Speak--your brother--was it _he_ did this
foul deed, for he envied and hated my son--the base, cowardly traitor!"

Passion choked Mrs. Priestly's utterance, and Edwin was mute. Neither
prayers nor entreaties induced him to explain past circumstances connected
with the direful catastrophe. He bore the burden of another's guilt; he
bore in silence the contumely that should have been heaped on another, and
was banished from the parental roof. But conviction found its way to Mrs.
Priestly's heart; and, though Mr. Lovell was implacable, nor would listen
to a suspicion implied that he _might_ be deceived, _the mother_
intuitively shrank from contact with the false-hearted Harold Lovell. As
years progressed, the truth became more an