majestic face of her son. "To witness against him now were to lie in
the face of God!"

'"I have murdered him!" sobbed the old man, sinking on his knees at his
master's feet "It was I who stole the money."

'"You, Ralph?" and the Doctor tried to shake himself free from the
grasp of the withered hands that clutched his garments. "Oh, my poor
injured boy!"

'"Yes, I did it," continued Ralph, in a tone of despair. "The devil
tempted me, as he did Judas to betray his Master. I have been a
hypocrite all my life. I loved gold--I worshipped it--I lost no
opportunity of obtaining it when I could escape detection; but it has
destroyed my miserable soul."

'"But why lay the robbery of the box on George?" asked Dr. Leatrim.
"You were safe from detection; I never suspected you."

'"But _he_ did," returned the old man bitterly. "He never loved
me. I saw it in his eye. I knew it by his manner. He believed me to be
a rogue, though he dared not express his opinion in words. I hated him
because he knew my character; and to ensure my own safety, I denounced
him."

'"And what do you think of your work?" and the Doctor turned Ralph's
face towards the dead.

'"Mercy! mercy!" shrieked the felon. "I would rather die upon the
gallows than look in that face again."