Neither Tiny Paul, nor any
other human being, would have made Sam a better man than he was. It was
his own evil heart was to blame; that wasn't right with God.

The miller was one evening looking out from the window of his mill, when
he saw in the distance a bright light in the sky. It grew brighter and
brighter, and now flames could be seen darting up out of the dark
ground, as it were. "It is a house on fire," said the miller; "whose
can it be?" He thought over all the houses in that direction. In the
day he would not have gone out, but at night no one would know him. He
was curious to learn whose house was burning. It was not his way to
think how he might best assist the sufferers. So, saddling his horse,
he rode out towards where he saw the fire burning. The flames lessened
as he got nearer. It was clearly only a cottage. He thought of turning
back; still he went on. He soon after reached a cottage, the walls only
of which were standing. A number of people were gathered round it. He
heard cries and exclamations of sorrow. A man had been burnt to death,
and another had been much hurt. Then he heard his own name mentioned.
He went a little nearer.

"It was all that wild young Page's fault," said some one. "If he hadn't
wounded poor Thomas Harvey, so that he could not help himself, Thomas
would have fled from the cottage and not have been burnt to death. And
his poor wife, too; they say she'll not recover." The miller durst ask
nothing further, but, turning his horse's head, rode back to his home.

The day of Ben's trial came at last. He was well defended, but one of
those who were with him turned king's evidence, and swore to his having
fired the shot which struck Thomas Harvey. It was proved, however, that
Thomas Harvey did not die of his wound, as the surgeon was of opinion
that he was getting well when the cottage in which he lived had caught
fire and he was burned to death. Did he then die of his wound, or was
his death caused by the fire? Had he been well, it was argued, he might
have escaped, as did the rest of those living in the cottage; but as it
was, his wife and a friend nearly lost their lives in trying to save
him.

The trial took up the whole day. Some were of opinion that Ben Page was
guilty, and that he would be condemned to be hung. Still, as it was not
quite certain that Thomas Harvey died by his hand, he gained the benefit
of the doubt, and was condemned to be transporte