ude to the actual crime) tell very greatly against you, and I
am sure not one in the court but must have turned from them with
abhorrence. You were pursuing the daughter of this man with no honorable
purpose--and in this point your conduct contrasts badly with the avowal
of Richard Hare, equally a gentleman with yourself. In this pursuit
you killed her father; and not content with that, you still pursued the
girl--and pursued her to ruin, basely deceiving her as to the actual
facts, and laying the crime upon another. I cannot trust myself to speak
further upon this point, nor is it necessary that I should; it is not to
answer for that, that you stand before me. Uncalled, unprepared, and by
you unpitied, you hurried that unfortunate man into eternity, and you
must now expiate the crime with your own life. The jury have recommended
you to mercy, and the recommendation will be forwarded in due course to
the proper quarter, but you must be aware how frequently this clause is
appended to a verdict, and how very rarely it is attended to, just cause
being wanting. I can but enjoin you, and I do so most earnestly, to
pass the little time that probably remains to you on earth in seeking
repentance and forgiveness. You are best aware, yourself, what your past
life has been; the world knows somewhat of it; but there is pardon above
for the most guilty, when it is earnestly sought. It now only remains
for me to pass the sentence of the law. It is, that you, Francis
Levison, be taken back to the place from whence you came, and thence to
the place of execution, and that you be there hanged by the neck until
you are dead. And may the Lord God Almighty have mercy on your soul!"

"Amen!"

The court was cleared. The day's excitement was over, and the next case
was inquired for. Not quite over, however, yet, the excitement, and
the audience crowded in again. For the next case proved to be the
arraignment of Richard Hare the younger. A formal proceeding merely,
in pursuance of the verdict of the coroner's inquest. No evidence
was offered against him, and the judge ordered him to be discharged.
Richard, poor, ill-used, baited Richard was a free man again.

Then ensued the scene of all scenes. Half, at least, of those present,
were residents of, or from near West Lynne. They had known Richard Hare
from infancy--they had admired the boy in his pretty childhood--they had
liked him in his unoffending boyhood, but they had been none the les