of Magdalena. Her own immunity from pain confirmed the fatal
supposition.

"Good God!" she cried, in tones of unutterable anguish, "I have killed
her!"

The exclamation caught the keen ear of the malignant hag, suffering as
she was. She raised herself up on her elbow, and pointing with her
skinny finger to the horror-stricken girl, she screamed,--

"Yes, yes; you have murdered me! Send for a leech, a priest, an
officer of justice! Do not let that wretch escape! She gave me a
poisoned draught! she knew it--she confesses it! Ha, ha! I shall not
die unavenged!"

These fearful words caught the ear of Don Antonio, as, having hastily
dressed himself, he rushed into the room. They caught the ear, too, of
a curious servitor, who flew to the alguazil before he summoned priest
and chirurgeon.

In less than an hour afterwards, the old beldam had breathed her last,
but not before she had made her false deposition to the officer of
justice; not before she had learned that a paper containing evidence
of poison had been found in Magdalena's room; not before she had seen
the hapless girl arrested; and then she died with a lie and a smile of
hideous triumph on her lips.

We cannot attempt to describe the anguish of the old goldsmith, and
the despair of Juanita, as they beheld Magdalena torn from their arms
to be carried before a judge for examination, and thence to be cast