most painful thoughts arose from the reflection that he
had formed a criminal connection with such a vile, guilty creature as
Josephine. He had learned to tolerate her licentiousness and her
consummate hypocrisy; he had loved her with passionate fervor, while he
had only regarded her as a frail, beautiful woman, who, having become
enamored of him, had enticed him to her arms. But now she stood before
him as a wretch capable of any crime--as the murderess of her own
father; and all his love and admiration for her were turned into a
loathing hate; and while he had no intention of denouncing her and her
mother to the authorities of justice, he determined to have but one more
interview with her, and at that interview to reproach her for her crime,
and cast her off forever.

'But previous to that interview,' thought he, 'I will make assurance
doubly sure; I will find means to enter the vault wherein Mr. Franklin's
body was interred; I will examine the remains, and as my knowledge of
human anatomy is considerable, I shall have no difficulty in discovering
the evidences of foul play, if such evidences exist. Having thus
satisfied myself beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mr. Franklin was
murdered, I can with confidence accuse Josephine and her mother of the
deed; and from that moment, all connection between me and that wicked
woman shall cease forever. I have been infatuated and enslaved by her
seductive beauty and her fascinating favors; but thank God, I am myself
again, and resolved to atone for the past, by leading a life of purity
and virtue for the future.'

That night the Doctor was called on to perform the marriage ceremony at
the house of a friend, at a distant part of the city; and it was late
when he set out to return to his own home.

It was a dismal night, dark and starless; the sky was laden with
impending storm, and the rector shuddered as he looked forward into the
gloom, and contrasted it with the scene of light and gaiety which he had
just left. His heart was oppressed with a heavy weight; for he could not
shake off the dreadful thought that Josephine--beautiful and
accomplished Josephine--whom he had loved with a fervent though unholy
passion--was a _murderess_!

While hurrying on with rapid strides, his mind tortured by such painful
reflections, a tall figure suddenly stood before him, and a voice
whispered--

'Deliver your money, or die!'

The rector perceived that the robber had his arm raised, and