ctor's soliloquy as
he walked rapidly on. Other thoughts soon occupied his mind, and Hiram
was forgotten. The latter, however, did not forget. The Doctor's rebuke
filled his heart with rage; still he consoled himself with the thought
that his brother was an infidel, and would unquestionably be damned.
Meantime he was forced to hear various encomiums on him from Mrs.
Bennett and her daughters--[Doctor Frank, as we have intimated, was a
brilliant fellow, and in the very prime of life]--and was still further
annoyed by a remark of Mr. Bennett, that 'the Doctor was doing very
well; gaining ground fast; getting some of our best families.' Hiram
departed from the house in an uncomfortable state of mind. All the way
home he indulged in the bitterest feelings: so strong were these that
they found expression in ominous mutterings to himself, among which
were, 'Conceited fool,' 'I hate him,' and the like.

Suddenly Hiram's thoughts appeared to take a new direction. He stopped
short, and exclaimed aloud: 'What have I done? O God, have mercy on me.
God forgive me!'

When he reached his room he hastily struck a light and seized his Bible.
Turning the leaves rapidly in search of something, his eyes were at
length fastened on a verse, and he trembled from head to foot, and his
breath nearly failed him, while he read as follows:

_'But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell
fire.'_

'The very word; oh, the very, very word!' he exclaimed. 'I have said
it--said that word--said 'fool,' and I am in danger of hell fire, if I
do belong to the church. Yes, hell fire--oh-oh--oh, hell fire. I wish
mother was here. I know what I will do. I will write a confession, and
send it to my brother to-morrow. I will abase myself before him. Yes, I
will. Oh, oh, hell fire! What _will_ become of me!' Hiram prayed, a good
portion of the night, for a remission of the awful sentence; the bare
possibility of its being carried out filled him with terror.

At last, overcome by weariness and exhaustion, he fell asleep.

He awoke early. He lay several minutes, revolving the last night's
scene. Presently his countenance brightened. He sprang from the bed, and
again turned to the dreaded text, but not with his previous alarm