s and unjust; and tho' I did not
immediately forsake the evil of my ways, yet your kindness softened me,
and laid the foundation of my present reformation.--Noble young man, I
accept the offer of your friendship with gratitude, but I will not share
your fortune. No--my ambition is, to build up a fortune of my own, by
laboring in my profession, in which I am skilled. By following a course
of strict honor and integrity, I may partially retrieve the errors of my
past life.'

'I cannot but commend your resolution,' remarked Frank--'but you must
not refuse to accept from me such pecuniary aid as will be necessary to
establish you in a respectable and creditable manner.--But in regard to
this miscreant here; you actually intend to kill him by slow torture?'

'I do,' replied the Doctor, in a determined manner--'and my only regret
is that I cannot protract his sufferings a year. Do not think me
cold-blooded or cruel, my dear friend; that villain merits the worst
death that man can inflict upon him. If we were to hand him over to the
grasp of the law, for his numerous crimes, his infernal ingenuity might
enable him to escape. Our only security lies in crushing the reptile
while we have him in our trap.'

'I shall not interfere with you in your just punishment of the villain,'
said our hero--'but I must decline being present. The enormous crimes he
had committed, and the wrongs which I have sustained at his hands, will
not allow me to say a single word in his behalf--yet I will not witness
his torments.'

'I understand and respect your scruples; I being a physician, such a
spectacle cannot affect my nerves.--You will please assist me to place
the _subject_ upon this table, and then you can retire.'

They raised the Dead Man from the floor, and placed him on a large table
which stood in the centre of the room. Frank then bade the Doctor a
temporary farewell, and passing through the hall was about to leave the
house, when a servant informed him that Miss Sophia Franklin wished to
see him. He joyfully obeyed the summons, and found the young lady in
deep distress at the condition of her sister Josephine, and very anxious
for an explanation of the terrible cause. Frank stated all he knew of
the matter, and we leave him to the task of consoling her, while we
witness the operations of the Doctor upon his living _subject_.

In the first place, he tied the Dead Man down upon the table so firmly,
that he could not move a hair's bread