Part 3 (2/2)

'”Leave that to me. I have a solemn duty to perform for my murdered son. May G.o.d give me strength for the task. Call Ralph Wilson, but do not tell him what has happened.”

'Humbled and subdued, but still unconvinced of his son's innocence, the Doctor left the room, and shortly returned, followed by the old man.

'Mrs. Leatrim motioned to him to approach the bed.

'Rigid and immoveable, the Doctor resumed his place, still grasping the bed-post to support him from falling. Mrs. Leatrim spoke slowly and with some effort, but every word fell distinctly upon his ear.

'”Ralph Wilson, this is your work!”

'”I, my lady? I did not kill him! I did not strike him hard enough for that. It was the Doctor that ordered me to do it. I begged him to have mercy on the lad. O Lord! who would have thought of his taking a little beating so to heart?”

'The old man turned from the bed, and cried aloud.

'”A slanderous tongue is sharper than a two-edged sword; to n.o.ble natures like his, it strikes home to the heart. Ralph Wilson, you are an old man standing on the very verge of the grave. You accused my son of theft, and declared on your word of honour as a Christian that you saw him commit the robbery!”

'”Yes, my lady. A dreadful business, my lady, but too true.”

'”I demand, in proof of this, that you come here and lay your hands upon the brow of your victim, and swear by the living G.o.d, by your hopes of salvation through the blood of Christ, that you saw George Leatrim commit this crime.”

'The man made a few steps forward. His face became livid, large drops of perspiration trickled down his forehead, his teeth chattered together, and a universal spasm convulsed his features.

'”You dare not do it!” said Mrs. Leatrim, pointing to the calm, majestic face of her son. ”To witness against him now were to lie in the face of G.o.d!”

'”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 wors.h.i.+pped 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.”

'”You will have to meet it once more, and that before long, Ralph Wilson, to answer for this foul murder at the judgment-seat of Christ.”

'With a heavy groan the old man fell down in a swoon at his master's feet.

'”Deal gently with Ralph,” said a low voice from the bed. ”George made it his dying request. He not only forgave him his sin against himself, but charged you to do so for his sake. My dear afflicted husband,”

continued Mrs. Leatrim, ”let us be thankful to the heavenly Father that He has cleared the stain of guilt from the memory of a beloved son, and placed him beyond the power of sin and temptation for ever.”'

'And what became of the wicked old man?' said I eagerly.

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