r beauty, miss! Why do you act the
prude with me--_you_, a shameless hussey, who has numbered more amours
than years?'

'Odious ruffian!' exclaimed Josephine, no longer able to control her
indignation--'I view you with contempt and loathing. Sooner than submit
to your filthy embraces, I will dare exposure, and death itself! Think
not to force me to a compliance with your wishes--I will resist you
while life animates my frame. I fear you not, low villain that you are.'

The Dead Man raised his _iron hand_ as if to dash out her brains for her
temerity.--But he checked himself, and surveyed her with a sort of calm
ferocity, as he said--'Young lady, since you are determined to oppose
my wishes, I will not force you. Neither will I kill you; yet my
vengeance shall be more terrible than death. You are beautiful and you
pride yourself upon that beauty--but I will deprive you of your
loveliness. You call me hideous--I will make you hideous as I am. Your
cheeks shall become ghastly, your complexion livid, and your brilliant
eyes shall become sightless orbs--for the curse of _blindness_ shall be
added to your other miseries. Obstinate girl, bid an eternal farewell to
eyesight and beauty, for from this moment you are deprived of both,
forever!'

He drew from his pocket a small phial, and with the quickness of
lightning dashed it in the face of the unfortunate Josephine. It was
shattered in a hundred pieces, and the contents--VITRIOL--ran in her
eyes and down her face, burning her flesh in the most horrible manner.
She shrieked with agony the most intense, and the Doctor rushed into the
room, followed by Mrs. Franklin. They both stood aghast when they beheld
the awful spectacle.

The Doctor was the first to recover his presence of mind; he rushed to
the aid of the burning wretch, and saved her life, though he could not
restore her lost eyesight, or remove the horrible disfigurement of her
burned and scarred visage. Mrs. Franklin was so overcome at her
daughter's misfortune and sufferings that she fell upon the floor
insensible.

At that moment the door of the apartment was violently thrown open, and
a young gentleman entered. The Dead Man and the Doctor turned, and in
the newcomer recognised Frank Sydney!

It will be necessary to explain the mystery of Frank's sudden appearance
at that emergency. A day or two after the suicide of Julia, the body of
that wretched woman was picked up by some fisherman, and conveyed to the
cit