was left to claim the
inheritance. Men guessed that those dark years of seclusion and
self-repression had been spent in wrestling with memories of a sinful
and perhaps a criminal past, and predicted that Amos Trenoweth could
not die without confession. They were partly right, from knowledge
of human nature; and partly wrong, from ignorance of my grandfather's
character.

The Will was dated "June 15th, 1837," and ran as follows:--

"I, Amos Trenoweth, of Lantrig, in the Parish of Polkimbra and
County of Cornwall, feeling, in this year of Grace Eighteen
hundred and thirty-seven, that my Bodily Powers are failing and
the Hour drawing near when I shall be called to account for my
Many and Grievous Sins, do hereby make Provision for my Death
and also for my son Ezekiel, together with such Descendants as
may hereafter be born to him. To this my son Ezekiel I give and
bequeath the Farm and House of Lantrig, with all my Worldly
Goods, and add my earnest hope that this may suffice to support
both him and his Descendants in Godliness and Contentment,
knowing how greatly these excell the Wealth of this World and
the Lusts of the Flesh. But, knowing also the mutability of
earthly things, I do hereby command and enjoin that, if at any
time He or his Descendants be in stress and tribulation of
poverty, the Head of our Family of Trenoweth shall strictly and
faithfully obey these my Latest Directions. He shall take ship
and go unto Bombay in India, to the house of Elihu Sanderson,
Esquire, or his Heirs, and there, presenting in person this my
last Will and Testament, together with the Holy Bible now lying
in the third drawer of my Writing Desk, shall duly and
scrupulously execute such instructions as the said Elihu
Sanderson or his Heirs shall lay upon him.

"Also I command and enjoin, under pain of my Dying Curse, that
the Iron Key now hanging from the Middle Beam in the Front
Parlour be not touched or moved, until he who undertakes this
Task shall have returned and have crossed the threshold of
Lantrig, having duly performed all the said Instructions.
And furthermore that the said Task be not undertaken lightly or
except in direst Need, under pain of Grievous and Sore
Affliction. This I say, knowing well the Spiritual and worldly
Perils that shall beset such an one, and ha