thieves that enables them to recognize each
other even at a first meeting.

Blondelle and his band no sooner reached the neighborhood of the Black
Mountain, than they strengthened their forces by the addition of all the
local outlaws who were at large.

They made their head-quarters first at the old deserted "Haunted
Chapel." They penetrated into the vault beneath it, and there discovered
the clue to the labyrinth of caverns under the mountain that henceforth
became their stronghold.

Thence they sallied out at night upon their predatory errands.

On the night of the mask ball, two members of the band determined to
attend it in disguise, for the double purpose of espionage and robbery.
Mr. Blondelle had learned to his chagrin that his deserted wife was in
the neighborhood, at Black Hall, where her presence of course would
defeat his plan of marrying the little Dubarry heiress.

He arrived as an ordinary traveller at the Blackville Inn, where he
assumed the ghastly and fantastic character of "Death," and went to the
ball.

His companion, known in the band as "Belial," took the character of
Satan, and met him there.

With great dexterity, they had lightened several ladies and gentlemen of
valuable jewels before supper was announced. And then they went and
concealed themselves in the heavy folds of the bed-curtains in Mrs.
Blondelle's room, intending to rob the house that night.

An accident revealed the presence of Belial to Mrs. Blondelle, who, on
catching sight of him, screamed loudly for help. The robber was at her
throat in an instant; in another instant his dagger was buried in her
bosom; and then, as Sybil's steps were heard hurrying to the help of her
guest, he jumped out of the low window, followed instantly by Blondelle.
They clapped the shutter to, and fled.

Subsequently, when Mr. Blondelle discovered that the beautiful Sybil
Berners was accused of the murder, he sought to save her in every manner
but the only sure one--confession. He could not confess, for two
reasons. He was bound by the mutual compact of the band, never to betray
a comrade; and also he was resolved now that he was free, to marry the
Dubarry heiress and claim the manor, which he could never do, if once
he were known as an outlaw.

The death of Belial and the disbanding of the robbers released him from
his compact; but still self-preservation kept him silent until the hour
of his death, when he made this confession as an act of tar