her mother, whom she heard already
stirring. Nearly every one in Salem was awake and up on this awful
morning, though few were out of doors, as Lois passed along the
streets. Here was the hastily erected gallows, the black shadow of
which fell across the street with ghastly significance; now she had to
pass the iron-barred gaol, through the unglazed windows of which she
heard the fearful cry of a woman, and the sound of many footsteps. On
she sped, sick almost to faintness, to the widow woman's where Mr.
Nolan lodged. He was already up and abroad, gone, his hostess believed,
to the gaol. Thither Lois, repeating the words 'for life and for
death!' was forced to go. Retracing her steps, she was thankful to see
him come out of those dismal portals, rendered more dismal for being in
heavy shadow, just as she approached. What his errand had been she knew
not; but he looked grave and sad, as she put Faith's letter into his
hands, and stood before him quietly waiting, until he should read it,
and deliver the expected answer. But, instead of opening it, he held it
in his hand, apparently absorbed in thought. At last he spoke aloud,
but more to himself than to her:

'My God! and is she then to die in this fearful delirium? It must
be--can be--only delirium, that prompts such wild and horrible
confessions. Mistress Barclay, I come from the presence of the Indian
woman appointed to die. It seems, she considered herself betrayed last
evening by her sentence not being respited, even after she had made
confession of sin enough to bring down fire from heaven; and, it seems
to me, the passionate, impotent anger of this helpless creature has
turned to madness, for she appalls me by the additional revelations she
has made to the keepers during the night--to me this morning. I could
almost fancy that she thinks, by deepening the guilt she confesses, to
escape this last dread punishment of all, as if, were a tithe of what
she say true, one could suffer such a sinner to live. Yet to send her
to death in such a state of mad terror! What is to be done?'

'Yet Scripture says that we are not to suffer witches in the land,'
said Lois, slowly.

'True; I would but ask for a respite till the prayers of God's people
had gone up for His mercy. Some would pray for her, poor wretch as she
is. You would, Mistress Barclay, I am sure?' But he said it in a
questioning tone.

'I have been praying for her in the night many a time,' said Lois, in a
low v