natural
agents had been the actors, what had she to fear from them? The night
passed away without any alarming circumstances, and when daylight
appeared she flung herself upon the bed, and slept until the morning was
considerably advanced. She now felt convinced that her former
conjectures were right; that it was her aunt, her father, or both, who
had caused the alarming sounds she had heard, a repetition of which had
only been prevented by the precautions she had taken.

When she awoke, the horizon was overclouded, and it began to rain. It
continued to rain until towards evening, when it cleared away. She went
to the gate, and found all things as she had left them: She returned,
fastened the doors as usual, examined all parts of the house, and again
went to her chamber.

She sat up until a late hour, when growing very drowsy, and convinced
that she was safe and secure, she went to bed; leaving, however, two
candles burning in the room. As she, for two nights, had been deprived
of her usual rest, she soon fell into a slumber.

She had not long been asleep before she was suddenly aroused by the
apparent report of a pistol, seemingly discharged close to her head.
Awakened so instantaneously, her recollection, for a time, was confused
and imperfect. She was only sensible of a strong, sulphureous scent: but
she soon remembered that she had left two candles burning, and every
object was now shrouded in darkness. This alarmed her exceedingly. What
could have become of the candles? They must have been blown out or taken
away. What was the sound she had just heard?----What the sulphureous
stench which had pervaded the room?----While she was thus musing in
perplexity, a broad flash like lightning, transiently illuminated the
chamber, followed by a long, loud, and deep roar, which seemed to shake
the building to its centre. It did not appear like thunder; the sounds
seemed to be in the rooms directly over her head. Perhaps, however,
it was thunder.

Perhaps a preceding clap had struck near the building, broken the
windows, put out the lights, and filled the house with the electric
effluvium. She listened for a repetition of the thunder--but a very
different sound soon grated on her ear. A hollow, horrible groan echoed
through her apartment, passing off in a faint dying murmur. It was
evident that the groan proceeded from some person in the chamber.
Melissa raised herself up in the bed; a tall white form moved from the
upper