THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 
 
 
 I
 
 FIRST INTERVIEW OF FATHER HUESTACE AND JOSEPH.
 
 MADELON HAWLEY, 
 
 THE JESUIT AND HIS VICTIM. 
 
 of 
 
 WILLIAM EARLE BINDER, 
 
 "Would you pass within 
 The chamber of this mystery and bow 
 Before the awful knowledge that is there'" 
 
 MELLEN. 
 
 H. DAYTON, No. 29 ANN-STREET. 
 1857.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year '", by 
 H. DAYTON, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Statr for the Southern 
 District of Nsw-Ycrk. 
 
 J. J. REED, 
 
 NTEK AND STBRKOTYPH 
 
 168pruco-St.,N. Y.
 
 P5 
 itfti 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IN the city of Philadelphia, and during the forepart of 
 the year 1844, I accidentally made the acquaintance of an 
 old man named Joseph Secor. He was a strange, but yet a 
 kindly being. His intimates, and they numbered but very 
 few, were unacquainted with his real name ; and I only 
 learned it after our chance acquaintance had ripened into a 
 more lasting friendship. If some one, more inquisitive than 
 his fellows, chanced to raise such an inquiry, the old man 
 with a quiet smile would exclaim " why, what's the diffe 
 rence ? call me Uncle Joseph that will do." And there 
 the matter ended. 
 
 He seemed desirous of shunning all unnecessary obser 
 vation, and yet was never discourteous, or rude, or unkind, 
 or ungenerous. He appeared only to seek retirement, and 
 in doing so he did not, by any means, act suspiciously. He 
 was old, and yet not so old as feeble ; he was poor, and yet 
 he was content; or if he was not he seemed so. Somehow 
 I pitied the old 'man's loneliness, and having grown into his 
 good opinion from the beginning, I was frequently in hi> 
 
 1 663237
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 company. It was but very few that he would admit into his 
 privacy, and I soon became the most favored of all. Asso 
 ciation with him soon convinced me that he was educated, 
 well informed, deeply read, and possessed of a most close 
 and tenacious memory. During our interviews he was gene 
 rally cheerful, occasionally thoughtful, but never morbid. 
 He lived in the upper part of a small house in the western 
 outskirts of the city ; and after our casual acquaintance had 
 become confirmed I usually walked out there two or three 
 times a week. I liked to hear him talk, his mind was so 
 extensively stored with interesting facts, and entertaining 
 reminiscences. 
 
 For himself he seldom went abroad, and when he did it- 
 was not far. One of the windows of his room overlooked 
 the gardens of several large dwellings which stood on an 
 opposite street ; and there the old man generally sat and 
 dreamed away his unoccupied hours. He lived solitary and 
 alone ; his little room was kept in order, and his meals 
 cooked by the family that occupied the lower part of the 
 house. Sometimes one sometimes another of his few 
 friends would gladden his old heart with some trifling pre 
 sent, which they fancied he needed, or imagined would grati 
 fy him. In return he never said more than " thank you ;" 
 but the tone of his voice was sufficient to prove the words not 
 idle. As I have said, I was his most frequent visitor ; and 
 the old man seemed pleased with the attention I paid him.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In exchange he entertained me with the fruits of his long 
 experience, and close observation. I was well repaid. 
 
 It was in 1844, it will be remembered, that the terrible 
 and bloody riot between the American Protestants and Irish 
 Catholics occurred in Philadelphia ; and it was shortly after 
 that eventful and exciting period that I happened to make 
 the acquaintance of this isolated old man ; how, precisely, 
 is immaterial to the development of my narrative. I soon 
 noticed that the old man was laboring under some unusual 
 nervous excitement, the secret of which he finally related 
 to me himself. Had I known then all that he afterwards 
 disclosed to me, I should very reasonably have argued that 
 the nature of the scenes which had just passed must neces 
 sarily have exercised a powerful influence over the con 
 dition of his mind. 
 
 Naturally enough, for a long period afterward, our con 
 versation would almost unconsciously turn upon that one 
 engrossing subject. Together we canvassed over and over 
 all the incidents from the beginning to the end, commencing 
 with the meeting of free Americans its material and pur 
 pose continuing on to the unprovoked and murderous 
 attack which the Irish Catholics made upon the citizens 
 the sudden and wilful shooting down of several unoffending 
 persons the retaliation of the Americans the destruction 
 of the Irish quarters, and the burning of the Nunnery, and 
 St. Michael's Churcn the conflagration of St. Augustine's
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the fortifying of St. Mary's by the Romanists the 
 threatened attack upon the building by the infuriated Ame 
 ricans the charge of the military, and the shooting down of 
 the people ; each and all were severally arraigned at the 
 bar of our opinion. And the old man invariably took bold 
 grounds against the Romish Church ; and always lifted up 
 his voice against her iniquities. 
 
 Thus days, and weeks, and months passed away, and mid 
 winter was upon us. The season was intensely and un 
 usually bitter, and by Christmas the river was frozen over 
 with every prospect of remaining so for a very considerable 
 period. Still, however, I continued my visits to the old 
 man and still, somehow, our conversation would almost un 
 consciously turn upon the recent riots upon the rights and 
 immunities of American citizens generally, and upon the 
 high-handed and unwarrantable position which the great 
 mass of Catholic foreigners were fast assuming. 
 
 " It is most unmistakably significant !" he exclaimed one 
 evening, referring to the collision between the Americans 
 and the Irish Catholics. " The wanton attack in the first 
 place, was entirely characteristic of the Romanists ; for to 
 oppose them is always to arouse their bitterest hatred. And 
 what they cannot accomplish by precept or example al 
 ways in their hands powerful instruments they assuredly 
 will by either stratagem or open and undisguised violence 
 I speak advisedly for I know" the old man raised his face
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to mine and emphasized the last word strongly " the ma 
 terial of the Romish Church. The retaliation by the Ame- 
 
 * 
 ricans, so wild, so furious, so destructive, is an everlasting 
 
 evidence of what may be expected at their hands when once 
 they are thoroughly aroused to action by the iron heel of 
 Romish oppression. Both elements are powerful, and there 
 will be more of it yet more of it yet. The time is fast ripen 
 ing ; but I shall not behold the fruition, for the lamp of my 
 life burns dimmer and dimmer. I have seen the seed of 
 contention planted, but the blossoming of the tree is for 
 other times and other men." 
 
 The old man had gradually become abstracted, and his 
 last remarks were uttered as if he was entirely oblivious of 
 my presence. 4 
 
 " Let the day come !" I replied, warmed by his words 
 " And in that hour may this 'mother of Harlots' sink down 
 forever in all her wickedness and shame." 
 
 At the first sound of my voice the old man started as if 
 suddenly awaked from a dream. Lifting his face again to 
 mine, he continued to watch me, with kindling eye, until I 
 had finished my briefly expressed hope. 
 
 " Amen !" he responded earnestly, and his voice grew 
 deep and full. " Amen ; for the day is dark and the night, 
 is filled with crime where ever she abides. Her presence 
 blasts and destroys all that is good all that is noble all 
 that makes life honorable or happy. Free thought free
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 principle free life, cannot exist within the circle of her 
 
 influence. For her pleasure, men, and women, and children, 
 
 * 
 
 are transformed into incarnate fiends for her gratification 
 all law, save her own arbitrary will, is ground into the dust 
 for her aggrandizement individuals, communities, and na 
 tions are pitilessly robbed. She was born in ignorance, and 
 darkness, and crime cradled in iniquity, and fed with the 
 the warm blood of massacred innocents ! What else then can 
 men expect ? What from such a creed of blood, and sin, and 
 shame ? What from a religion which assumes to hold the 
 keys of heaven, and to stand sentinel over the gates of hell ? 
 What ? Nothing but misery ! nothing but crime ! nothing 
 but blood!" 
 
 The old man straightened himself up, and spoke with 
 a power and vehemence I had never before seen him exhibit. 
 He was thrillingly eloquent. It was a new phase in his 
 character, for he was usually quiet and practical. I won 
 dered and looked, but did not break the silence which 
 Mlowed his energetic words. 
 
 In a few moments, and almost imperceptibly, his whole 
 form underwent a change. Once again his body bowed, and 
 the fire of his eye went out; and there gathered upon his 
 brow a heavy cloud a look of agony, of suffering, of sorrow. 
 
 I felt that some terrible memory was rushing through his 
 brain some recollection struggling for the liberty of an 
 utterance. And I was correct as the reader will see.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The struggle in the old man's heart was a stern one, and 
 with a quick, nervous step he paced up and down his little 
 apartment. Let what might be the result of his emotion, 
 I thought it best to allow his own feelings to decide him, 
 and so continued speechless. Suddenly he stopped in the 
 centre of the room, and turning to me he grasped my hand 
 tightly ; not, however, despairingly, but as one who gathers 
 confidence from the clasp of honest friendship. 
 
 "I will speak now! I must tell 'Somebody I feel it 
 and better you than many others !" he exclaimed, in a short, 
 agitated whisper. " I cannot contain myself any longer 
 this concealment is killing me. The truth, terrible and 
 hateful as it is in this case, must be told. The threads of 
 my life are cracking fast, and I cannot, cannot die with such 
 a weight upon my heart." 
 
 I gazed at him curiously. His conduct and his words 
 were at once singular and unusual entirely at variance with 
 his generally quiet and unobtrusive manner. 
 
 " Bend low," said he, without noticing my look of aston 
 ishment " bend low, so that even the walls . may not hear 
 what I say to you. We have talked of Komish bigotry, 
 cruelty and deception, and of priestly enormities, until your 
 young blood has grown hot with anger and indignation, and 
 your soul has revolted at the things which your imagination 
 has pictured. And yet you did not think how could you ?
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 that I had ever been a Papist more, a priest an artful, 
 cunning, wicked priest." 
 
 " No, it cannot be !" I replied, beginning to doubt my 
 companion's sanity. "You jest or know not what you say !" 
 
 "I do not jest!" he exclaimed energetically. "I was 
 never more in earnest never better appreciated my words !" 
 
 "You, a Eomanist! a priest! One of that class who 
 have always rendered themselves obnoxious to every prin 
 ciple of honesty or honor ? Who have been the great pur 
 veyors of crime from the very extreme of ages ?" I ex 
 claimed, incredulously. 
 
 " Yes, yes ; I have been such, and I tell it to you now 
 with shame and horror now that the vail of darkness has 
 been lifted from my soul, and the light of a true faith has 
 rent the thick pall of bigotry, superstition, and crime. But 
 even yet, sometimes, though years have passed away, and I 
 have struggled hard to atone for my sins, a memory of other 
 days, so black, so terrible, so crushing, flits through niy 
 aching brain that I feel as if I should go mad, stark mad, 
 with the thought of it." 
 
 " I can not believe what you tell me !" I once more ex 
 claimed, bewildered by his strange words and excited man 
 ner. 
 
 " Cannot ? Right ! It would be a greater wonder if you 
 could. Sometimes," and the old man's look became va 
 cant " sometimes I can scarcely believe it myself. And
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 yet it is so memory, mysterious memory forbids me think 
 ing otherwise. Would I could ! "Would, would the past 
 were but an idle fancy of my weakening brain." 
 
 " And even yet I can scarcely credit your singular ac 
 knowledgment !" I continued, more and more astonished. 
 " Still I am inclined to think that you but jest." 
 
 " Jest !" exclaimed the old man, elevating his voice, and 
 speaking with a sternness which I had hitherto deemed foreign 
 to his nature. " Jest ? Do my words, or my manner, or 
 my subject, imply that I jest ? Would to God that it were 
 bnt a jest, then could I lie down and die, and not have this 
 fear, this dread at my heart. Jest ? It were a sorry jest 
 thus to confess myself so vile and hateful. No, no, young 
 man, I do not jest !" 
 
 I felt the reproach contained in the old man's words, 
 and exclaimed apologetically ; 
 
 " I would not wound your feelings by a doubt, but that " 
 
 " I know it know all you would say guess what you 
 think," the old man broke in. " I was quick in my words, 
 but there is much at my heart. I get querulous some 
 times, and did you know all, you would not much wonder. 
 Much thought, sometimes, makes me unjust. But leave 
 me now, friend, for I am weary in mind and body. Don't 
 think hard that I should bid you go, for I must rest. The 
 secret which I have divulged to you has agitated me ; and 
 
 at the best I am very feeble. Some other time we will talk 
 1*
 
 10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 further upon this subject. I have much to tell you that 
 yet you do not dream of. But leave me now." 
 
 The old man sank down upon a chair, evidently exhausted, 
 and buried his face in his thin white hands. I offered to 
 speak again but he silently beckoned me away Wonder- 
 Lngly I left the room. 
 
 Twenty-four hours after about the same time on the 
 following evening I was suddenly and peremptorily sum 
 moned to his bedside. He was sick sick unto death, it was 
 thought. I hastened to obey the call. I found him much 
 altered even in the little time since we had parted. Death 
 was indeed busy at his life-strings ; and I felt that in a brief 
 time the few straining chords which still bound him to this 
 world would be snapped asunder, and his freed soul would 
 fly away upon its mission to eternity. Hourly and momently 
 the gulf narrowed down which separated his spirit from the 
 great mystery beyond the grave hourly and momently the 
 pains of that second birth became more intense in a little 
 time the last, great, final agony would be over, and I hoped, 
 whatever were his sins, that the spirit of a repentant man 
 would be born again unto God. 
 
 A dim-light was burning in the little solitary room, and 
 its one single occupant was alone, if indeed men are ever 
 alone. He seemed glad, and doubtless was so, when I arrived ; 
 and addressed me kindly, though with a somewhat pre-occu- 
 pied manner. I walked directly to the bedside, took his
 
 INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 attenuated hand in mine, and sat down ; after having, at his 
 request, arranged the pillows so that he could sit up without 
 much exertion. 
 
 A moment of silence ensued, broken only by the long, 
 low, instinctive death-howl of a neighboring watch-dog. I 
 shuddered at the fearful omen, but the old man remained 
 impassively abstracted. 
 
 At length he raised his head, and pointing with his long, 
 lank finger across the room, he whispered ; 
 
 "Bolt the door!" 
 
 Quietly I complied with what seemed to me a very sin 
 gular request, and returned again,to my seat. I could not, 
 however, avoid a look of astonishment at such an unusual 
 and suspicious proceeding. He seemed to understand my 
 thoughts for he said ; 
 
 " When men talk of murder they should be safe from in 
 trusion!" 
 
 Mingling with the words arose again upon the still air the 
 watch-dog's ominous howl. At the best of times a fearful 
 sound, at that moment it ascended up like a wail of agony 
 from the white lips of the murderer's victim. I started and 
 trembled. The sick man observed my momentary agitation, 
 and catching my hand in his cold grasp he exclaimed ; 
 
 " Nay, do not start ! you have nothing to fear ! you are 
 not guilty of any crime ! you have not, like me, stood by and 
 heard men's lives plotted away ! you have not witnessed the
 
 12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 wanton destruction of unoffending, defenceless women, as I 
 have ! why then should you start and tremble at the men 
 tion of murder ?" 
 
 "Merciful Heaven, old man, can you have ever been im 
 plicated in such fearful doings ?" I exclaimed, recoiling from 
 his touch with a feeling of horror. " I would have staked 
 my life to the contrary had it been necessary." 
 
 My kindly words touched his fast withering heart, and he 
 brushed a tear from his sunken and hollow eye. After an 
 other brief period of silence he remarked ; 
 
 "In all men's lives the past has some mystery with 
 many much crime. Mine is surely not an exception. When 
 first I informed you that I had been a Komish priest, you 
 refused to credit my words still less will you be likely to 
 believe the apparently wild narrative which I am now about 
 disclosing, if strength is permitted me. And yet, both decla 
 rations are eminently true. Long since, however, I cast off 
 the dark superstition, and with both heart and lips, confessed 
 myself to the only true and living God. And now I hate 
 it as once I revered it ; and could my curse annihilate the 
 hideous monster, my last breath should pass away in a 
 maledietion. But these are worrisome thoughts, and I must 
 check them. I sent for you that I might redeem my word, 
 and relieve my heart. The occurrence I am about relating 
 I had designed communicating to you on the first favorable 
 opportunity ; death has but hurried on the confession."
 
 INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 Here the old man again paused bade me .replenish the 
 fire, and mix for him a stimulant, as he directed. These 
 things complied with, I trimmed the dimly burning lamp, 
 settled myself down as comfortably as the circumstances 
 would permit, and signified my willingness to receive his 
 revelations. 
 
 The thrilling and almost incredible story which I that 
 night listened to will be revealed in the following pages ; 
 and improbable as the circumstances may at first appear 
 I cannot^ for my own part, doubt the veracity of that poor, 
 old man, standing as he was upon the very outermost brink 
 of eternity. Why should I doubt? why should any refuse 
 to believe ? Things may appear improbable that are not im 
 possible. And why should any one thing, except indeed it 
 be miraculous, be impossible to so tremendous a combination 
 as the Romish Church ?
 
 THE JESUIT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I WAS born in the city of Baltimore, of strictly 
 Catholic parents by them was religiously educat 
 ed for the Church, and at an early age became an 
 assistant priest. From that period until I was nearly 
 thirty years old some ten years I continued to 
 officiate in that capacity in my native city, never 
 leaving it except for an occasional short visit to 
 some of the more southern cities. I had talent, and 
 might have risen higher, but that somehow I did 
 not feel ambitious of preferment, and so remained in 
 a minor position. During that ten years I saw much 
 heard much learned much but it was all dark 
 all sinful. A multitude of crimes, as numerous 
 among the priesthood as the laity, came under my 
 own immediate observation ; and though I partici-
 
 16 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 pated in but little of the deviltry of the forn er, and 
 none of the latter, as a good Catholic I was compelled 
 to close my eyes to all the wickedness and folly that 
 was transpiring around me ; except where it con 
 flicted with the interests of the Church. 
 
 Need I particularize all that I saw and heard? 
 Need I tell of deeds of extortion and robbery? Of 
 how men were quietly murdered, and wronged wo 
 men, wives, and daughters, mysteriously put out of 
 the way? Need I tell of drunken, dissipated priests, 
 or rehearse the particulars of their frequently obscene 
 and blasphemous carousals ? No ! for you have 
 heard many such stories before, and yet can scarcely 
 credit them scarcely believe that such things can 
 be in this enlightened day, and free Protestant land. 
 But you, and such as you, cannot penetrate into the 
 heart of the Church, and until you can, the decep 
 tion, and cruelty, and sinfulness of her acts, though 
 told a thousand times over, will still be looked upon 
 as too monstrous for belief. But once tear away the 
 vail that conceals the inner sanctuary of her deeds, 
 and you will never more need words to convince you. 
 
 Just previous to my thirtieth birth-day I was 
 peremptorily summoned to this city by order of the 
 Vicar General of M d, and through the connivance
 
 The Jesv.it and Jiis Victim. 17 
 
 of one Father Huestace, a scheming Jesuit priest. 
 The reason for this somewhat unusual proceeding 
 was not given at the time. It was only my duty 
 to obey, and like a true Catholic, I did. I came. 
 Whether the Vicar General and the Jesuit were 
 banded together or whether the latter had imposed 
 upon the former to secure my presence why / was 
 selected, or what might be the object in view I knew 
 not, nor did I trouble myself to inquire. My orders 
 were explicit, and as I then thought not to be slighted ; 
 so in due time I arrived here unknown and unknow 
 ing. 
 
 Father Huestace, the Jesuit in question, lived in 
 an o 1 d-fashioned house adjoining to, and connected 
 with, the church over which he presided. The church- 
 building, like the priest's dwelling, was time-worn, 
 but still remarkably substantial; facing upon the 
 front on a large thoroughfare, and extending back to 
 a small street upon the rear. The dwelling-house 
 could be entered from the thoroughfare on the front 
 by a narrow avenue running along the north side of 
 the church ; and from the rear through a grave-yard, 
 which was located on the east side of the church, 
 that was back of it, and on the south side of the house 
 The rear end of the church on the north side, and
 
 18 
 
 the front end of the dwelling-house on the south 
 side, were built up together for several feet; and 
 through these walls a passage-way had been con 
 structed, by which the priest, who only kept the key 
 of the door, could pass from one building to the other. 
 The edifice and all its surroundings were destroyed 
 by fire during the recent disturbance ; but you, 
 doubtless, can remember it well. 
 
 As early as possible after my arrival in this city, 
 I sought an interview with the priest, for so my 
 superior had directed me. 
 
 We met in his library, a room sacred to himself 
 alone. This apartment was in the centre of the 
 building on the first floor. The front room facing 
 towards the public street was used as a general re 
 ception room, and those immediately in the rear or 
 on the east side of the library for domestic purposes 
 The front-door opened into a three-foot hall on the 
 north side, which communicated directly with the 
 rooms in the rear part of the house, and through 
 them the upper stories of the building were reached. 
 The library could not be entered in any other way 
 than through the door opening into the hall, and 
 the one communicating with the church building 
 
 The somewhat peculiar arrangement of the build
 
 The Jesuit a, id his Victim. 19 
 
 ing, and the general massiveness of the walls and 
 partitions rendered it wholly impossible to distin 
 guish any moderate sounds from one room to the 
 other. The library especially seemed designed for 
 secrecy. Under ordinary circumstances its inmates 
 were perfectly secure, as only violent noises could be 
 heard even in the adjoining rooms. That apartment, 
 as you will presently see, was the silent witness to 
 many a deed of injury and crime. 
 
 The only other occupant of the building, besides 
 the priest, was an old and decrepit female attendant 
 who neither saw nor heard anything but as he di 
 rected. 
 
 Father Huestace himself was a tall, dark, iron- 
 looking man one whom only a blind person would 
 have been likely to accuse of much kindness, much 
 pity, or much generosity. And yet to the superficial 
 observer he might have seemed to possess all these 
 qualities, and more, while in reality not one such 
 emotion ever swayed his stony heart. In his soul 
 he was, in fact, an unqualified villain. That I knew 
 not then, you may be sure ; for like the rest, I bent to 
 the influence of his presence. But I had reason 
 afterwards to know his true character, and I will tell 
 you now, what it was. He could rob the orphan
 
 20 Madelon Hcwley, or 
 
 without one remorseful pang pick his friend's pocket 
 with a smile ravish female virtue unscrupulously, and 
 with a depth of rascality and hypocrisy unparalleled, 
 plan a murder, and then say a requium and de pro- 
 fundus for the poor wretch he had been the means of 
 destroying. To him might well have been applied 
 the words of Shakespeare : 
 
 " beware of yonder dog ; 
 
 Look, when he fawns, he bites ; and, when he bites, 
 
 His venom tooth will rankle to the death : 
 
 Have not to do with him, beware of him ; 
 
 Sin, death and hell have set their marks on him ; 
 
 And all their ministers attend on him:" 
 
 Upon entering the apartment I saluted the priest 
 in the customary manner. He responded quietly 
 and kindly ; or at least he seemed to. 
 
 He was dressed at this our first interview in his 
 long, dark, pontifical robes ; and though his face was 
 hard and unintellectual, his stature, thus set off, was 
 lofty and commanding. There was in his whole 
 appearance a singular mixture of good and bad ; and 
 judging by appearance only it was impossible to tell 
 which really predominated, so strangely were they 
 blended. You would have felt him dangerous, and 
 yet insensibly have been drawn towards him ; and 
 you would have known him deceitful, and yet un.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 21 
 
 consciously have trusted him. He was a man marked 
 out for a purpose good or bad as he himself willed 
 it. There was the power to govern apparent in his 
 whole person. 
 
 I had advanced but a couple of paces beyond the 
 door, where I remained standing. After the inter 
 change of greetings a momentary pause ensued. He, 
 probably, was waiting for me to explain my business, 
 and I for him to ask it. At length he broke the si 
 lence by remarking; 
 
 "You look weary, sir; and bear the marks of tra 
 vel on your person. Have you business with me ? 
 and whence come you?" 
 
 l " To your first question, your reverence, if you are 
 Father Huestace as I take it, Yes!" I responded. "To 
 your last, from Baltimore direct. This letter from 
 the Vicar General," and I drew the missive from my 
 pocket, and placed it in his hand "will doubtless 
 explain all." 
 
 " Ah !" he exclaimed, glancing rapidly over my per 
 son, while at the 'same moment his fingers were busy 
 with the letter. " So !" he continued, smoothing out 
 the paper preparatory to making himself acquainted 
 with its contents. " Be seated, sir, be seated !" he still 
 went on, waving me to a chair, without lifting his head.
 
 22 Mad-don Haiuley, or 
 
 After a careful perusal of the documer t he mutter 
 ed a gratified "humph!" and re-folding the paper, 
 placed it in a massive book-case, that occupied nearly 
 the whole of one end of the room. 
 
 " Your name is Joseph Secor !" he exclaimed, as he 
 turned away from the book-case, and directed the 
 glance of his black piercing eyes full upon me. " I 
 have been expecting your arrival, as you, doubtless, 
 well know. At this moment, however, I cannot ex 
 plain why we" and he emphasized the last word, 
 unquestionably to lead me to think, whether it were 
 so or not, that others were associated with himself in 
 the business in view " have sent for you here. I am 
 about to enter the church and perform a peculiar 
 ceremony the excommunication of an apostate 
 and must therefore defer all communications until 
 this evening, at which time you will find me here. 
 It were best, too, for certain reasons, which will 
 hereafter appear, that you should be present on this 
 occasion, so long as you are here ; but only as one 
 of the audience; therefore enter with the throng. 
 One word of caution, however. You are here for a 
 particular purpose one of an expressly secret char 
 acter, and it is essentially necessary that for the time 
 being you comport yourself only as one of the
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 23 
 
 humblest members of the Holy Church. To one like 
 you, I need add nothing further." 
 
 Turning* upon his heel, he opened the door commu 
 nicating with the church, and the pealing notes of 
 the great organ, mingling with the chorus of many 
 voices, struck solemnly upon my ear. 
 
 "Hark! the services are already begun!" continued 
 the priest. " I must enter the church." 
 
 With an humble obeisance I quitted the apart 
 ment; and the priest, with a precaution, seldom at 
 fault, locked the door of his little sanctum, previous 
 to entering the sacred edifice. 
 
 Passing along the avenue I soon emerged into the 
 front street. Some few persons were still making 
 their way into the church. Notwithstanding the bit 
 ing atmosphere, for it was winter, and the season had 
 opened very sharply, I paused to reflect upon the 
 strange position in which I so suddenly found myself. 
 Even bound to my religion as I then was, I yet expe 
 rienced a feeling of repugnance towards Father Hues- 
 tace. Something in his manner made me feel pecu 
 liarly. Nor did I half like my secret mission, though 
 such a thought as disobeying my superiors never once ; 
 at that moment, entered my mind.
 
 24 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 I could not but feel that Father Huestace was 
 powerful powerful in his position, age, and expe 
 rience powerful in the sternness and acuteness of 
 his character, and the determination which was ap 
 parent in every word he uttered. That he was a man 
 of fierce parts, and violent temperament, no one could 
 doubt, who looked upon the deep furrows which 
 ploughed his dark brow. That too, he arrogated to 
 himself the mastership of those beneath ' him, was 
 clearly evident in his commanding tones, and imperi- 
 tive manners. He was a man, in every capacity, to 
 be feared, as events proved. 
 
 I was suddenly startled from these reflections by 
 the close proximity of two gentlemen, who brushed 
 against me as they passed. When but a few steps in 
 advance of me, one whispered to the other ; 
 
 " I am afraid we shall be too late, Charley !" 
 
 "I hope not, Frank!" responded the other. "I 
 should very much like to witness their mummery. 
 Besides, Madelon " 
 
 "Madelon! What of her, Charley?" exclaimed the 
 one who had been addressed as Frank. 
 
 " Nothing ; only she is curious to have an account 
 of the ceremony," responded the other. 
 
 " Ey-the-bye, you have not yet told me how she bears
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 25 
 
 this business; and I have not seen her, as you know, 
 since the fact became public," said Frank. 
 
 "Bear it!" ejaculated the other. "Like an honest 
 and brave Christian lady, as she is. She does not fear, 
 but only pities the presumption that can dictate 
 such a course. Blest with heaven's approving smile, 
 she can defy all human curses." 
 
 At this stage of the conversation the two young men 
 entered the church. I had followed them with no de 
 finite object however and entered the building close 
 behind them. The conversation I had overheard was 
 a blank to me, at that time at least ; consequently I 
 did not feel particularly interested in their discourse, 
 further than that it led me to conclude that the young 
 men were in some wise interested in her who was 
 about incurring the extreme vengeance of the Church 
 of Rome. So far it attracted my momentary atten 
 tion ; just as it would have arrested you or any one 
 else. 
 
 Within the church was a dense mass of people, 
 crowding every available spot from the altar to the 
 door. Mingling together, were old and young rich 
 and poor vicious and virtuous curious and indiffe 
 rent. Many could not obtain seats at all, and were, 
 consequently, crowded together in the vestibule and
 
 26 Model-on Hawley, or 
 
 the aisles. The occasion was an unusual one, and had 
 attracted as well the heretic as the devout believer. 
 
 At the moment of my entrance into the church a 
 deep and painful silence had fallen upon the vast as 
 semblage. Upon the highest platform of the altar, 
 towering up amid burning tapers, and emblazoned 
 images of the crucified Jesus, stood the priest. 
 
 A portion of the ceremony had been gone through 
 with; and now the priest with uplifted hands was 
 about invoking the awful and impious curse of ex 
 communication. A sudden shudder seemed to pass 
 from one to the other of all that host of people. And 
 then the silence, already intense, grew oppressive ; 
 and many fairly gasped for breath. All eyes were 
 intently fixed upon the altar, as if the whole as 
 semblage were fascinated. Suddenly the full, deep, 
 sonorous voice of the priest broke upon the heavy 
 silence ; and he cried aloud with startling distinctness; 
 
 "'By authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghost, and the undefiled Virgin Mary, 
 mother and patroness of our Saviour; and of all ce 
 lestial virtues; Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Domi 
 nions, Powers? Cherubims and Seraphims ; and all the 
 Holy Patriarchs, Prophets, and all the Apostles and 
 Evangelists, of the Holy Innocents, who in the sight
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 27 
 
 of the Holy Lamb are worthy to sing the new song of 
 the Holy Martyrs, and Holy Confessors, and of all the 
 Holy Virgins, and of all Saints together with the 
 Holy elect of God; may she, Madelon Hawley, be 
 damned. Wo excommunicate and anathematize her 
 from the threshold of tfie Holy Church of God Al 
 mighty. Amen !' " 
 
 " Amen ! Amen 1" responded an hundred voices in 
 one voluminous chorus. 
 
 And then the spell was broken which seemed to 
 have bound the audience; and numbers crowded 
 quickly towards the doors, as if only anxious to get 
 away from a scene so terribly painful, so presump 
 tuously wicked. 
 
 Standing as I did so near one of the doors, I was 
 directly in the path of the out-going crowd ; and so 
 was borne along, whether desirable, or otherwise, 
 with the current. I offered no resistance, however, 
 and consequently in a very few minutes found myself 
 outside the door. 
 
 Strange as it may appear I again encountered the 
 young men whom I had met upon entering. Some 
 evil power appeared to throw me in their way. They 
 seemed deeply affected by the ceremony which they 
 had partly witnessed, and the ruddy red of their
 
 28 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 fine faces had given place to an unnatural paleness. 
 As I passed them, one said to the other ; 
 
 "What think you, Frank? Could anything more 
 awful be well imagined ?" 
 
 " No !" responded the other. " Satan himself could 
 not have concocted a greater piece of blasphemy. 
 And yet such things are tolerated in a Christian com 
 munity, and by Christian people. It is a wonder that 
 God does not visibly demonstrate his abhorrence of 
 such arrogant impiety." 
 
 Here the crowd separated us, and I lost the re 
 mainder of their conversation. I looked for them 
 a few moments after, but they were no where to be 
 seen.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 
 
 SOME few hours subsequent, and Father Huestace 
 again admitted me within the sacred precincts of 
 his library. After securing the door he directed me 
 to a seat upon one side of a heavy table, which stood 
 in the centre of the room. He then seated himself 
 opposite me upon the other side. A swinging lamp 
 overhead cast a dim-light upon our faces, and the 
 table between us. Once again he fixed his keen 
 black eyes upon me, and this time as if he would 
 penetrate into my very soul. 
 
 I have often wondered since, whether he did not 
 recognize something in my face or appearance or 
 at least imagine that he did which created in him 
 an undefined doubt a kind of presentiment that 
 evil would spring up between us. However, after 
 carefully scrutinizing me for several moments he
 
 30 
 
 appeared to gather confidence, and proceeded to com 
 municate to me the substance of that business, for 
 the more certain transaction of which my presence 
 had been invoked. Few preliminaries were had. 
 We did not need them. I felt that I was there to 
 obey the will of the man before me, and was then 
 prepared to do so. He, too, knew the same, and what 
 more was needed ? Resting both arms upon the edge 
 of the table, he said : 
 
 " About sixteen years since, Robert Hawley, a good 
 Catholic, died in this city of an epidemical fever, 
 leaving his daughter, an only child, then about six 
 years of age, the sole heiress of a most princely 
 estate." 
 
 " She that was excommunicated to-day !" I ob 
 served, casting an inquiring glance at the priest. 
 
 "The same!" he replied. "We could no longer 
 bear with her open heresy. But to continue. In 
 consequence of the child's extreme youth, her reli 
 gious preferences and inclinations were not very 
 deeply engrafted; and thus through her incom- 
 petency to judge of what was right and proper, 
 some Protestant relatives managed to obtain posses 
 sion of her person before we were aware of any such 
 intention. A triumph, you, doubtless, think, for the
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 31 
 
 meddling heretics. It was, and the Church here 
 abouts felt it. "Well, we peaceably claimed the child, 
 and were denied asserted our rights, and were 
 mocked threatened maledictions ! and were laugh 
 ed at. All this, you will admit, was enough to arouse 
 the indignant zeal of those who, like myself, were 
 interested in securing the benefit, and prosperity, and 
 in maintaining the supremacy of our dear Mother, 
 the true and Holy Church. In that hour, Joseph, 
 I solemnly pledged myself to defeat these heretical 
 meddlers at all hazards. The affair was entrusted 
 to me. For sixteen years I have sought to obtain 
 possession of this girl ; and for sixteen years, strange 
 as it may seem, have all my plots been successfully 
 defeated by these accursed Protestants. Such a thing 
 is unparalleled in the history of the Church, and 
 I blush at my ill-success. 
 
 Now, the girl has completed the measure of her 
 apostacy, by publicly and openly renouncing the 
 faith of her ancestors, and associating herself with 
 a Protestant community. "We have hitherto sought 
 to believe, if possible, that she was held in re 
 straint ; but this act of voluntary heresy has dis 
 sipated every such delusion, though not the hope
 
 32 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 that she maj' yet see her folly, and seek again the 
 bosom she has stnng." 
 
 The priest's words had grown hopefully soft. 
 
 " She is also, it is whispered, about to marry a 
 Protestant husband. 0, but we do owe these here 
 tics much! It is to prevent the complete loss of 
 this girl, and to save her immense fortune from 
 some day passing into the hands of these natural 
 enemies of our Church, that I have solicited your 
 services. I did this for two reasons. First, because 
 you were unknown in this city ; and secondly, because 
 you must necessarily feel interested in a successful 
 issue to the affair. As an humble citizen, and a 
 Protestant, you can serve the Church largely. I 
 dare not trust one who lives here any longer 
 these heretics are too lynx-eyed." 
 
 Here the priest paused, as if expecting me to say 
 something ; but not perceiving any such intention 
 upon my part, he resumed his communication. 
 
 " The estate should Madelon die without issue- 
 is left for the sole benefit of the Church. To pre 
 vent her marriage must then be one of our prin 
 cipal objects. Strange as it may appear, upon that 
 score, she has hitherto given us no trouble. But 
 the character of events is now undergoing a change,
 
 The Jesuit and liis Victim. 
 
 and we are likely soon to have another foe to en 
 counter who, however, I have as yet been entirely 
 unable to discover. The heretics are suspicious, and 
 keep his name as profoundly secret as the grave. 
 Sometimes I have almost been led to doubt the 
 existence of a marriage project and yet my informer 
 is reliable. But if it is so, we must be beforehand. 
 If she marries, our chance becomes desperate. To ob 
 tain possession of her person is then our principal ob 
 ject if defeated in that, we must at least prevent the 
 marriage, if one is contemplated. And above all, we 
 must find out, who this lover is this heretic, who 
 doubtless congratulates himself upon his success in 
 robbing the Church at once of her servant and her 
 just inheritance. He must be known to us, and then 
 carefully watched, Joseph. Should he attempt to 
 bite, we must muzzle him." 
 
 A peculiarly meaning smile flitted across the Je 
 suit's dark and wrinkled countenance. I could not 
 then, however, interpret it. 
 
 " But we must be very cautious very quiet very 
 
 cat-like, Brother Joseph ; for this girl and her heretic 
 
 friends fed, if they do not actually know, that we 
 
 are' plotting. A constant and careful watch is kept 
 
 2*
 
 34 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 over her day and night ; and not one, nor a half a 
 dozen only, are enlisted in her cause, hut a large and 
 powerful comhination of the heretics is enthusias 
 tically arrayed against us. Were it otherwise she had 
 long ere this been far beyond their reach. Under 
 ordinary circumstances I should have found no dif 
 ficulty ; but the excessive caution which these people 
 have exhibited, has been impenetrable. Year after 
 year have all my finest schemes crumbled away before 
 the superior cunning of these quick and far-seeing 
 heretics ; and I have grown gray in this unsuccessful 
 battle for the Church. Mark! I do not grumble, 
 except at my ill-success. It is a pleasure to me 
 even to annoy the heretics ; for I hate them all, and 
 am sworn 'in the presence of Almighty God, the 
 blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints and hosts 
 of heaven to lend my aid and do my utmost in 
 whatever country I shall be, to extirpate the here 
 tical Protestant doctrine, and to destroy all their 
 pretended powers, regal or otherwise.' " 
 
 The priest's increasing passion entirely carried him 
 away. It was but for a moment, however ; when he 
 next addressed me all traces of it had vanished. 
 
 His last words, which were but an embodiment 
 of the Jesuit's oath, left no doubt on my mind
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 35 
 
 I had previously but conjectured as to his position 
 in the Church. 
 
 "I can bear this humiliation no longer, Joseph!" 
 continued the priest after a pause. "We must 
 have the girl. They have already triumphed too 
 long too long. In any other than this land of free 
 dom their temerity had long since cost them their 
 lives ; but here the Church is not yet omniscient, 
 though it daily spreads and gains greater strength 
 here there are laws beyond our influence laws 
 that will effect us as quickly, and as thoroughly, 
 as the commonest vagrant in the land. Therefore 
 what is done must be done cautiously ; and without 
 bungling ; and so secretly that the accursed heretics 
 may never be able to discover the means that we 
 employ. This is what lies before us. "We under 
 stand each other, I presume ?" he inquired in con 
 clusion. 
 
 "Undoubtedly!" I replied. "Your reverence is 
 too explicit to admit of any misapprehension." 
 
 "It is needless then to prolong our present con 
 ference. We have an intricate game to play ; one 
 that will require consummate address to carry us 
 successfully through. It is cunning opposed to cun 
 ning scheme opposed to scheme ; and but one trick
 
 36 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 lost endangers the game. We are but two, but our 
 resources are inexhaustible. With your help, my 
 good Joseph, for I have heard of your ability I 
 feel confident of achieving a flattering triumph. 
 And in that hour your merit shall not be over 
 looked. I have influence, and can advance you in 
 the good opinion of those, whose good will is worth 
 possessing." 
 
 Little did the priest imagine how indifferent I 
 was to such a bribe. He fancied me like the rest, 
 calculating and ambitious. But I was not so. I 
 had entered upon the discharge of the business on 
 which I had been directed whatever it might be 
 from the same principle which had always ac 
 tuated my conduct in everything pertaining to the 
 Church a sense of duty. And if that duty was 
 not always according to honesty or honor, I saw it 
 not so. My eyes were yet to be opened. 
 
 " And now, Joseph, your hand !" he continued, 
 rising from the table ; " your hand !" 
 
 Without speaking I extended my right arm. The 
 Jesuit clasped my hand firmly, and pointing to a 
 crucifix, he said; 
 
 "For the Holy Church, and Christ's Vicar Gene 
 ral upon earth. May we prove ourselves worthy
 
 The Jesuit and Tiis Victim. 
 
 the Master in whom we trust, and great shall be 
 our reward." 
 
 I knew not then how deep was that man's hy 
 pocrisy. 
 
 I turned to depart, deeming our interview over ; 
 but the voice of the Jesuit arrested my feet. 
 
 " A moment longer, Joseph !" he exclaimed, turn 
 ing towards the massive book-case ; " we cannot part, 
 after our first meeting, at least, so unsociably. " A 
 generous smile spread over his hard features, and 
 his voice mellowed down into the kindliest tone. 
 " We must drink success to our common cause, and 
 confusion to all renegades and heretics." 
 
 As he uttered the last word he reached down 
 from a corner of one of the upper shelves, a small 
 black bottle, and placed it before me. 
 
 " Drink !" said he pleasantly ; " and remember our 
 sentiment." 
 
 I was not accustomed to drinking, and when I 
 did indulge, which was not often, it overpowered 
 me quickly. On this occasion, however, but from 
 what cause I cannot imagine, I placed the bottle 
 to my lips, and took a long draught. The Jesuit 
 followed me, but drank sparingly. He was not an
 
 38 
 
 intemperate man, as far too many of our cloth were, 
 and are, and doubtless, always will be. 
 
 The Romish priesthood generally, have, from 
 time immemorial, been notoriously eminent for 
 three things a love of eating, of drinking, and of 
 pretty women. And the great world little knows 
 to what an extent these appetites are indulged. 
 People may conjecture, and conjecture the worst ; 
 but even then the reality, could they penetrate 
 beneath the surface, would astonish and horrify 
 them. I have seen hundreds in whom the gratifi 
 cation of the sensual absorbed every feeling of ho 
 nesty, honor, and religion ; who were but one re 
 move, and that only in the outward form, above 
 the beast? of the field.
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 39 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 FOR several days after my arrival here, and sub- 
 sequent to my interview with the Jesuit, which I 
 have just described, I was occupied in obtaining a 
 better knowledge of localities. My perceptions in 
 many respects being quick, I soon became familiar 
 with the streets, and so forth. During this period 
 I was, of course, in constant communication with 
 Father Huestace. 
 
 After advising me particularly of what he ex 
 pected at my hands, he proffered many suggestions 
 as to my future line of conduct; but still left me 
 at liberty to adopt what measures I saw fit, so long 
 as they were likely to further the object in view. 
 I was only to watch Madelon Hawley, and her friends 
 learn what was being said and done, and dis 
 cover, if possible, sonn opportunity to trapan the
 
 40 
 
 former. How I accomplished this was immaterial 
 to the priest. With this assurance I set my wits 
 to work. 
 
 At that time my mind was so powerfully imbued 
 with the infallible Oneness of the Church, that 
 every act perpetrated in her name, in my eyes, 
 assumed the character of a right. There was no 
 
 Church but the Catholic Church no God but her 
 
 ? 
 God no atoning power but what emanated from 
 
 her heart. So I thought. Do not misunderstand 
 me. I was not ignorant, but blind ; my mental 
 vision was obscured; and only when the Great 
 Oculist touched my eyes could I behold my delusion. 
 But to proceed. From Father Huestace I under 
 stood that Madelon was residing, at that time, with 
 her widowed aunt, a Protestant lady, who had mar 
 ried into the family, and one of those who had been 
 mainly instrumental in securing the person of the 
 child at her father's death. She was a strong, shrewd, 
 determined woman. This, you will remember, was in 
 the early part of the winter. During the summer 
 season Madelon usually resided with some other por 
 tion of the family in the country. The city aunt, 
 like her relatives generally for it was a wealthy fa 
 mily throughout was independent ; and consequent-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 41 
 
 ly lived in a costly manner, and in one of the most 
 fashionable quarters of the city. To her residence 
 I finally directed my steps, having first assumed a 
 dress adapted to the part I contemplated playing. 
 I understood the position of matters well enough 
 to know that the best, and almost only chance to ob 
 tain information, or be of service, was to get into the 
 house, if possible ; for to the general eye everything 
 was well guarded. From the moment of her fathers 
 death the girl had been watched and protected with 
 a vigilance, that only an intense fear of violence and 
 wrong could have engendered. At home she was ne 
 ver suffered to be alone with any person, unless well 
 known ; and when she went abroad to the theatre, 
 the concert-room, the ball, or the promenade, she was 
 invariably accompanied by either her cousin, the son 
 of the aunt with whom she resided ; by his wife, for 
 he was married ; by both ; or by the aunt herself. In 
 the country the same unflagging espionage was main 
 tained. The servants had been thoroughly sounded 
 by other emissaries of the crafty priest, but without 
 success. All of them were Catholic-hating Protes 
 tants ; for Madelon's relatives were far too wary to re 
 ceive any others into the house ; and while some really 
 knew nothing, those who probably did, were much too
 
 42 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 cunning to be played upon, and too honest to enact the 
 traitor. The neighbors had ^Iso been indirectly tamper 
 ed with; but still the priest had been unable to obtain 
 any information that would assist him in carrying off 
 the girl. Thus was Madelon entrenched ; and thus year 
 by year had the priest schemed and schemed in vain. 
 
 It was under such circumstances that I made my 
 first venture in that ocean of dissimulation. 
 
 Mounting the lofty marble steps, I modestly rang 
 the bell. A very pretty young woman, who will 
 appear more prominently hereafter, answered my 
 summons. To her I briefly, and in chosen terms, 
 stated my business. I was an American, I said ; and 
 having in vain sought more suitable employment, I 
 was induced to apply for a situation as coachman, for 
 which position I thought myself amply qualified. 
 The times were dull, and business difficult to obtain. 
 The girl heard me through, and seemed interested in 
 my appearance ; still she did not think in fact, she 
 was certain that my application would not be success 
 ful. Why she thought so she did not state. Had I 
 any recommendations ? Mrs. Hawley always required 
 such assurances of former good conduct. I had not. 
 It was unfortunate ; but still she would inform the 
 lady. With that she d 'sappeared.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 43 
 
 It may be well enough to state what induced me 
 to make this application. My object was, of course, 
 admission into the house ; and besides the coachmen, 
 few men-servants were employed about private es 
 tablishments. Under such circumstances I had but 
 little choice. And understanding that Mrs. Hawley 
 generally kept two coachmen, and that recently one 
 had left with the view of settling in the western 
 country, I hoped that my statement, particularly as 
 American coachmen were difficult to obtain, would 
 for once induce her to break through her hitherto 
 undeviating rule. 
 
 In a few moments the girl returned. She was 
 sorry, but Mrs. Hawley never employed a stranger 
 about the premises. She hoped that I would meet 
 with better success elsewhere. 
 
 Not having built much upon my success though 
 failure in this respect made my path far more diffi 
 cult I was very little astonished. To have admitted 
 a strange servant into the house might have been 
 throwing the doors wide open to death ! And they 
 knew it had ample reasons for knowing it, as I short 
 ly learned. Apologizing for the trouble I had occa 
 sioned, I took my leave.
 
 44 
 
 That same evening Father Huestace and myself 
 met again in secret conference. A darker frown 
 gathered upon his always dark brow as I related to 
 him my first attempt, and the little success that had 
 crowned my efforts. 
 
 "Maledictions on them! are they invulnerable?" 
 he exclaimed, and his face suddenly worked with 
 passion. 
 
 " I did not expect much from this !" I replied. u I 
 have, however, another plan to suggest. It is very 
 plain that they will not, by any chance or mistake, 
 admit a foreigner or a Catholic into the house. They 
 fear a plot too much." 
 
 "And with reason!" muttered the Jesuit, fixing 
 his dark eyes upon me, and speaking with measured 
 slowness. " Hark you, Joseph ! for it is proper that you 
 should know all, so that you may be the better pre 
 pared for any emergency that may arise. Shortly after 
 the death of Madelon's father some twelve months, I 
 think and while yet my hatred for the accursed 
 heretics who had stolen her was still burning fiercely, 
 an attempt was made by one of the house-servants, 
 an ignorant Irish woman, to poison the child. They 
 were not then so suspicious as afterwards ; nor so par 
 ticular in the selection of their menials. The bun-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 45 
 
 gling woman, however, performed the job so badly, 
 that the presence of the drug was detected in time 
 to save Madelon's life. You wonder ! but at that mo 
 ment I had the heart to kill them all, whether the 
 act were wise or not. But let that pass. The un 
 fortunate conclusion of the affair placed me in a 
 rather critical position, for the crime was easily fixed 
 upon the girl, and I feared that in her ignorance and 
 fright she might inadvertently implicate me. ' Dead 
 men tell no tales,' Joseph ; nor do dead women either. 
 The woman disappeared very suddenly her where 
 abouts was never discovered ; and though I was sus 
 pected by the heretics of being the head and front of 
 the whole transaction, they could not prove any 
 thing against me, and so dare not openly accuse me. 
 Since then, however, they have feared, and shunned, 
 all foreigners Catholics especially. For a long pe 
 riod after I remained perfectly passive in the hope 
 of allaying their suspicions. But, you perceive, it 
 has all been in vain." 
 
 "But the woman! what became of her?" I inquir 
 ed with a shudder. 
 
 "Out yonder," said the Jesuit, pointing through a 
 
 small window into the sombre looking graveyard, 
 
 in an obscure corner is a nameless grave 'tis her's,
 
 46 
 
 The death Madelon escaped, she died ; and here too 
 in this very room." 
 
 I glanced over my shoulder nervously, almost ex 
 pecting to behold the ghost of the murdered -woman 
 gazing in at the window. The voice of the priest re 
 called me. He continued ; 
 
 "To me her priest she hastened, wild with fright, 
 for absolution and protection. I gave her both full 
 forgiveness, and eternal protection the protection of 
 the grave. Did I not do right ?" 
 
 Hardly knowing what I replied, for I was excessive 
 ly confused, I stammered forth 'Yes.' 
 
 "My safety my power," he still continued "and 
 the position of the Church demanded her death. With 
 my own hands I administered the potent drug. She 
 did not suspect me, and drank it. Five minutes after, 
 her wri things, and torturings, and groanings,were over. 
 One whom I could trust buried her out there, before 
 morning. The curtain of night hid us from the eyes 
 of the world, and all went well. There was a wonder 
 at her absence some little inquiry by the authori 
 ties, and the thing was dropped." 
 
 The priest paused ; and a silence of several mcr 
 ments brooded over the room. He did not seem to 
 be at all disturbed ; but my heart beat quick with a
 
 T/ie Jesuit and his Victim. 47 
 
 great inward dread ; for murder is murder, gloss it 
 over as men may. 
 
 " But you were about making a suggestion, Joseph !" 
 lie continued, turning the conversation and speaking 
 quite calmly. " Continue !" 
 
 It was only with a strong effort that I resumed my 
 usual manner, and managed to say that I had contem 
 plated seeking employment in some other Protestant 
 family in the immediate neighborhood of Mrs. Haw- 
 ley's residence ; by that means as it was unquestion 
 ably impossible to establish a footing in the house 
 I should better be enabled to keep watch upon all 
 that was transpiring, and probably succeed in gaining 
 some practical information. 
 
 The Jesuit contracted his brow in thought. 
 
 "It is tedious work," he said ; "and yet appears to 
 be the only feasible plan. The law the accursed 
 law, Joseph, holds us its slaves. Precipitation might 
 fasten us in its meshes ; and then would follow expo 
 sure and ruin perhaps worse. Like the mole, we 
 must burrow our way along in the dark. Information 
 we must have, and the clearest way to obtain it is in 
 the manner you suggest. But I fear that even to reach 
 that point you will be compelled to carry a Protestant 
 recommendation in your pocket, for these heretics
 
 48 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 are daily becoming more suspicious. Some already 
 cry out openly against us, and bid their fellows be 
 ware. But the time is not yet ripe, Joseph, and we 
 must not chafe them. "We might forge the paper, it 
 is true ; but the pen is too frequently a cheat, and be 
 trays to destruction. I'll have none of it. There must 
 be nothing that can rise up against us. To-morrow 
 carry out your suggestion ; and if it prove unsuccess 
 ful, we must speedily adopt some other plan. The girl 
 must be secured !" 
 
 The Jesuit's emphatic words, and heavy brow sud 
 denly assumed, to me, a more portentous aspect. All 
 that he had not said, my busy brain began to conjec 
 ture. He had once, by his own confession, attempted 
 the life of this girl, and from private pique more than 
 anything else ; might he not, should circumstances 
 arise, do so again? I was willing to lend my assis 
 tance in saving Madelon from her heresy, and pre 
 venting the Church from being robbed ; but I never 
 had, and could not then, make up my mind to the com 
 mission of a murder. I resolved to sound him, if that 
 were possible. With that view I propounded an art 
 fully contrived question, in which I hinted at the pro 
 bable fate of Madelon, when she should be in his 
 charge. The priest seemed to understand what was
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 49 
 
 passing- in my mind, and doubtless shaped his answer 
 in accordance. He did not intend her any harm, he 
 said ; to that he would be willing to pledge himself 
 if needful ; he but looked forward to the advancement 
 of that faith in the defence of which he had spent his 
 life. It was toot Madelon's life he coveted it was 
 her soul. True, he had once, in a moment of deep 
 disappointment and rage attempted to deprive her of 
 the former ; but that was long past, together with the 
 feelings that prompted it. Madelon once in his power, 
 would be entirely safe, and should be properly cared 
 for. That he would promise. 
 
 Thus that man heaped lie upon lie, and even blind 
 ed me with his well-chosen terms. I did not see 
 how he was gradually subduing me to his purpose 
 how he was coiling himself around my very being. 
 
 Every interview between the priest and myself de 
 veloped more fully the hidden springs of his life. 
 Thus, in the one I have just described he confessed 
 himself a murderer, but justified the deed by the exi 
 gency of the occasion, and the revelations involved. 
 And though I shuddered at the dark recital, I was not 
 prepared to deny the truth of what he asserted. I 
 still thought "there is no God but my God!" 
 
 The succeeding day I was early abroad. According
 
 50 Madelon Haivley, or 
 
 to what I had contemplated I applied to nearly every 
 Protestant family residing in the vicinity of Mrs. Haw- 
 ley's residence, but without meeting with the least suc 
 cess. I offered myself in any capacity but somehow 
 the chances appeared, for a long while, to be against 
 me. Many were not in want of male-servants, being 
 supplied with all that were necessary ; while several 
 who were, could not think of receiving me into their 
 service, without a written recommendation from some 
 reliable person who was acquainted with my character. 
 I began to think the priest's assertion really correct. 
 At the eleventh hour, however, I happened upon a 
 hale and rosy old gentleman named Ellis ; upon whose 
 pleasant face there rested the light of an everlasting 
 smile, and in whose voice there was the music of a 
 heart all at peace with itself; a man whose life had 
 been spent in doing good, and who believed all men 
 as honest as himself. He had thought of employing 
 a sort of secretary and collector he liked my unas 
 suming and genteel appearance pitied the ill-luck 
 that could reduce one so evidently intended for higher 
 purposes, and would employ me, if I liked to accept, 
 upon my own recommendation. The credulous old 
 man played the traitor to himself; but I had gained 
 my object. Of course I accepted, and forthwith was
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 51 
 
 installed in my new position. Little did the good 
 gentleman imagine that he harbored a spy. 
 
 In a very brief period I contrived to make the ac 
 quaintance of the upper domestics in the house of 
 Mrs. Hawley all, with the exception of the butler 
 and coachman, females. My manners were rather 
 pleasing and my condescension I was Mr. Ellis' secre 
 tary, you will remember properly appreciated ; con 
 sequently I was not long ingratiating myself into their 
 esteem. With all I assumed to be very free, very un 
 reserved, and very much opposed to the Catholic re 
 ligion, and Papists generally. That pleased them 
 hugely, for they thoroughly abominated the Romanists, 
 
 I soon grew to be a favorite ; particularly with one 
 Winnie, an extremely handsome, and rather intelligent 
 young girl Madelon's dressing-maid and demi-com- 
 panion. The same, you will remember, who replied 
 to my summons, when I had the effrontery a few days 
 previous, to apply directly to Mrs. Hawley for employ 
 ment. Her close attendance upon Madelon made me 
 especially anxious to cultivate her friendship if 
 possible, her confidence. Women generally are rather 
 weak-minded ; and therein I fancied would prove an 
 opening to the citadel. Through the maid I might
 
 52 
 
 some day reach the mistress. With that thought in 
 view I labored hard to secure the girl's good opinion. 
 
 Thus passed several weeks, to all appearance most 
 unprofitably. Father Huestace, in the mean time, 
 was growing more and more impatient more and 
 more ungovernable in his desire to possess Madelon, 
 and to triumph over those, who had so long triumph 
 ed over him. He could scarcely wait for the accom 
 plishment of those details which were absolutely 
 necessary to any degree of success. Cool, cunning, 
 calculating, he yet chafed at a restraint which his 
 own judgment should have taught him was not un 
 reasonable. Much was to be done, on my part much 
 information, which required a certain coaxing, ob 
 tained, before anything could be attempted. And 
 yet the Jesuit, in his selfish eagerness, gave me no 
 credit for the patient perseverance with which I pro 
 secuted my part of the enterprise. 
 
 You will perceive, however, what the Jesuit would 
 not that much time had necessarily to be expended 
 in making acquaintance in obtaining a proper footing 
 with those who were likely to subserve my purpose ; 
 and in the various other minutia3 which the pecu 
 liarity of my object imperiously demanded. To this 
 climax matters had then arrived.
 
 The Jesuit and Jiis Victim. 53 
 
 I see you wonder that I have not spoken of Miss 
 Hawley's personal appearance ; feeling, as you doubt 
 less do, that during the time past I must have fre 
 quently seen her. My reason is simple. I have felt 
 the task beyond my powers ; for her's was a beauty 
 that is almost indescribable. A Hebe in loveliness 
 an angel in goodness, was Madelon Hawley. What 
 more need I say ? Shall I vainly endeavor to portray 
 the shining purity of "her complexion; the soft lustre 
 of her great black eyes ; the queenly redundance of 
 her raven ringlets, and the voluptuousness of her 
 flowing and graceful form? It would indeed be a 
 vain task, for. Ah ! 
 
 "Her's was the beauty that though seen but once, 
 Dwells long within the memory, like a strain 
 Of sad sweet music that will linger oft, 
 When the light hand that waked the cord lies low, 
 And moulders in the dust." 
 
 It is useless to describe how I watched the house 
 which contained the apostate girl how I lingered 
 day after day around the premises how I followed 
 Madelon and her friends, on every suitable oppor 
 tunity how I finally ventured to tamper with the 
 domestics ; and how, through all, I endeavored to 
 console myself with the poor reflection that the 
 Church had an unbounded right alike to life and
 
 54 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 limb to all property in those who cherished her 
 saving grace. I was watchful, vigilant, quick; but 
 still I made no apparent progress, and my master 
 for the Jesuit had, to all intents and purposes, 
 become my master began almost to question my 
 ability to assist him. I could see it in his con 
 tracted brow, and compressed lips. But I could not 
 manufacture opportunities ; and though now well 
 established with the majority of Mrs. Hawley's 
 household, I might as well not have been, for all 
 the definite or useful information that I was able 
 to obtain. I never met with a number of people 
 more united in their secresy more completely in 
 vulnerable. From the mistress in the parlor, to the 
 scullion in the kitchen, they were as a sealed book. 
 These things taken in consideration, Father Huestace 
 had little occasion to reflect on me. 
 
 All Madelon's excursions abroad, as far as I could 
 discover, were invariably made in company with 
 others ; and neither gave any clue to what was 
 transpiring, or afforded the slightest opportunity of 
 securing her person. Doubtless they still retained a 
 vivid recollection of the attempt which had, years 
 before, been made upon the IMe of their charge
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 55 
 
 CHAP TEE IV. 
 
 THE Jesuit and myself, you perceive, were in the 
 habit of meeting daily ; the impatient priest being 
 too much on the tenter hooks to remain long un 
 acquainted with my proceedings. The disappoint 
 ment of sixteen years had made him unnaturally 
 anxious upon this subject. He fancied the long- 
 coveted prize within his grasp, and with difficulty 
 could endure the delay of a few weeks. In one in 
 stance at least the adventure which I am about de 
 scribing his impatience, in my opinion, far overleap 
 ed his discretion. The ill-success which had so far 
 attended all my efforts to obtain real practical in 
 formation chafed his hard and passionate spirit al 
 most beyond endurance, and he was not slow in ex 
 pressing his chagrin. Frequently would he jump up 
 from his seat, as I recounted to him my continued 
 discomfiture, and exclaim bitterly ;
 
 56 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 " Maledictions ! shall this apostate girl, and ' her 
 heretic allies be forever triumphant? Is the Church 
 become impotent and powerless, or are her enemies 
 mightier than they were centuries since ? Joseph !'' 
 he continued very abruptly, one morning about this 
 time, pausing in his violent tramping up and down 
 the room, and facing me " Joseph, something must 
 be done we must make a venture. Days and weeks 
 pass away, and yet we accomplish absolutely nothing. 
 We plot, and plot, and yet our ploiting never reaches 
 a focus. We must make a venture, I say !" 
 
 "I have done all that man could do under the cir 
 cumstances," I replied. "Environed as we are, aught 
 but the extremest caution would prove our complete 
 destruction. As I tell your reverence, I have done my 
 best," 
 
 "Doubtless, my good Joseph, doubtless!" rejoined 
 the crafty Jesuit. " But still I weary at this continued 
 procrastination. Something must be done, forthwith !" 
 
 "But what?" I inquired, satisfied that the priest 
 had some scheme working in his brain. 
 
 " I have been reflecting upon a plan which may suc 
 ceed, and you know, Joseph, we have no real certainty 
 in any one thing that we undertake. Should it fail, 
 if managed properly, it cannot involve us. Listen !
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 57 
 
 You have been long enough in this city to have seen 
 that a great degree of noise and confusion prevails 
 at the scene of a fire. My plan is simply this, and it 
 is more feasible than at a first glance it would appear. 
 We can fire the house in which Madelon resides, and 
 in the consequent confusion we may there is at least 
 a great chance secure the girl." 
 
 I looked up at the Jesuit astonished ; the utter reck 
 lessness of the proposition almost, at first, startling 
 me from my propriety. By dwelling upon the sug 
 gestion, however, it gradually became more familiar 
 less amazing. 
 
 There was a moment of silence, and we two men 
 sat gazing fixedly at each other. 
 
 " Admit every chance there may be ;" I at length 
 replied slowly ; " who will set the conflagration ?" 
 
 " You will, my good Joseph, when once you are con 
 vinced that the deed is lawful, and that the Church 
 demands and expects such acts of obedience at your 
 hands!" he rejoined distinctly and firmly. 
 
 I did not reply; but already my bigotry was beat 
 ing responsive to what the Jesuit said already I be 
 gan to feel it my duty. Strange strange infatuation- 
 
 "Reflect, Joseph, reflect!" he continued, penetrating 
 my hesitation. "We are but executing the obligations
 
 58 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 which we voluntarily assumed but fighting the good 
 fight the Holy Church enjoins upon all her children, 
 high and low. This is essentially our duty one 
 which there is no evading, no tampering with, no 
 putting off. We are authorized and instructed to ex 
 tirpate the enemies of the Church in whatever land 
 we may be as well here as in the papal dominions. 
 Besides, no serious damage is likely to result from this 
 attempt nothing further, at least, than the mere 
 burning of the building and furniture, which a little 
 of their surplus gold will easily and quickly replace. 
 It can be done at such an hour neither too early nor 
 too late that the inmates can all safely escape. In 
 fact I should not wish it otherwise. It is not their 
 lives I seek; only the possession of this mis-led girl." 
 
 "But how can it be done?" I again inquired, more 
 than half convinced by the Jesuit's specious argu 
 ments. 
 
 "How? my good Joseph," rejoined the Jesuit, lifting 
 his eye-brows with a glance of astonishment. "How? 
 Do you ask that simple question ? / could scarcely 
 Have mingled so much with these people as you have, 
 without being familiar enough with the premises to 
 enter them at anv time. Think it over a few mo 
 ments, my good Joseph."
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 59 
 
 There was another slight pause in our conversation 
 
 " Well, Joseph !" said the Jesuit, breaking the si 
 lence ; "what is the result?" 
 
 " I think," I began, carried away by the priest's 
 manner and my own convictions ; "that the building 
 could be entered through the back way, provided the 
 servants were either out or abed, and the family also 
 retired." My answer, you perceive, implied obedience 
 to his suggestion. 
 
 " That is a risk, Joseph, we must necessarily run ;" 
 broke in Father Huestace. 
 
 After a pause I continued, all my scruples, for the 
 moment,. vanished ; 
 
 "The yards of these houses, as your reverence well 
 knows, extend to an alley on the rear, and facing the 
 alley are the carriage-houses of the various establish 
 ments. I have frequently been in the one attached 
 to the residence of Mrs. Hawley, having become quite 
 a favorite with the coachman, from so heartily admir 
 ing his horses and vehicles. 
 
 "The very thing, Joseph!" the Jesuit exclaimed. 
 "Through the carriage-house you can readily pene 
 trate to the mansion. It wants but the effort, I know. 
 Now go your way, and return here early this evening. 
 In the mean time I will work out all the particulars,
 
 60 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 and provide everything that is necessary for the fur 
 therance of our contemplated adventure." 
 
 This interview occurred during the forenoon of a 
 cold day in the beginning of January. 
 
 With the setting of the sun that same day there 
 sprang up a slight wind. At first it but soughed up 
 and down the streets, and moaned round the corners 
 with a soft wailing sound ; but as daylight deepened 
 into darkness its force increased ; and as night's black 
 pall settled over the city, it shrieked, and yelled, and 
 tore, with all the wildness and madness of a hurricane. 
 It was an unusual blow, and people looked aghast 
 with terror. The streets were soon deserted, for it 
 was dangerous, from falling objects, to be abroad. Bu 
 siness and pleasure were foregone, and few ventured 
 forth, save upon some compulsory mission. It was a 
 night long to be remembered. 
 
 Notwithstanding the danger and the horror that 
 prevailed everywhere out of doors, some irresistible 
 influence, above and beyond our simple engagement, 
 directed my steps towards the habitation of the Jesuit. 
 
 "Ah, my good Joseph !" he exclaimed, as I entered 
 the library and joined him. "What a night! The 
 wind blows as if it would uproot the very foundations 
 of the earth."
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 61 
 
 "A fearful night!" I responded, as a terrible blast 
 of wind encircled the house, and seemed to shake even 
 its firm walls. 
 
 "Yes, terrible indeed," rejoined the Jesuit, draw 
 ing close to my side; "but admirable for our purpose, 
 Joseph. Inquisitive people will be compelled to keep 
 within doors. But time flies," he continued, striking 
 the hour upon his jewelled watch ; "'tis nine o'clock 
 
 by ten we must be in the vicinity of Square. 
 
 The condition of the weather will induce people to 
 seek their beds at an earlier hour than usual. Here, 
 take a glass of this" the black bottle and a tumbler 
 stood upon the table "and then to business." 
 
 While I was following his directions concerning 
 the black bottle, the Jesuit 'knolt down upon the floor, 
 and unlocked a small double door in the bottom of 
 the book-case. From within he soon extracted a bun 
 dle, with which he arose to his feet. 
 
 "Here are disguises !'' caidhe. "It is only now neces 
 sary that we should black our hands and faces to pass for 
 veritable woolly heads. On with the toggery, Joseph !" 
 
 In a little time we were completely metamorphosed 
 changed transformed into the dingiest black-a- 
 moors. Human eye could scarcely have penetrated 
 our disguise - it was so thorough.
 
 62 Madelon Haiuley, or 
 
 "And now, Joseph, for the balance of our equip 
 ments," the Jesuit said, again stooping down in 
 front of the book-case. "Here are some combus 
 tible materials, which I have prepared, together 
 with some matches, and a bottle of spirits, to help 
 in igniting the fire. Here, too, is an iron wedge, 
 which may be of service in opening an unyielding 
 door. Put them in your pockets you will find them 
 capacious and then let us on." 
 
 " But should we be detected, what then ?" I in 
 quired, with some slight misgivings. 
 
 " But we must not be detected, Joseph !" the priest 
 rejoined, with confidence. " Think not of such an 
 issue harbor not such a thought. Now unlock the 
 door here is the key and step into the hall." 
 
 I immediately complied with his directions. As 
 soon as I was outside, he proceeded to arrange a small 
 night-lamp and matches upon the table, so as to be 
 ready at hand when he should return ; then extin 
 guishing the swinging lamp, and groping his way to 
 the entrance, he soon emerged into the hall, locking 
 the door after him. 
 
 " Come along, Joseph !" he exclaimed, seizing me 
 by the arm, and bending his steps towards the front 
 of the house.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 63 
 
 Once in the street, we hastily wended our way to 
 wards Square. The wind had subsided somewhat 
 
 by this time, though it was still blowing roughly. 
 
 Just as we reached Square, the various clocks of 
 
 the city pealed forth the hour of ten. We passed 
 quickly through the fashionable locality, merely 
 pausing long enough to listen at the windows of 
 Mrs. Hawley's residence, to ascertain if any of the 
 family were still stirring. The absence of any lights 
 betokened that the family had retired. 
 
 "All a-bed, Joseph, but doubtless not asleep," 
 whispered Father Huestace. " They cannot have re 
 tired long. This way, now." 
 
 The Jesuit still kept the lead. After traversing 
 some two or three squares in a circle, we arrived at 
 the rear of Mrs. Hawley's mansion. We now stood 
 in front of the carriage-house belonging to the pre 
 mises. 
 
 "Now, Joseph," said Father Huestace, "I resign 
 to you. But let your movements be as quick as they 
 must be cautious. Have you reflected ? If so, what 
 now do you purpose doing ?" 
 
 " Stand close to the wall, your reverence," I whis 
 pered in reply, "so that I may mount upon your 
 shoulders to the second story windows. It is in that
 
 64 Madelon Hawkey, or 
 
 way that I must get in. I know that they are never 
 locked." 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, I placed the Jesuit 
 with his face close against the wall mounted upon 
 his broad shoulders raised the window, and drew 
 myself into the room. Cautioning the priest to re 
 main where he was, so that he might give me 
 warning in case of danger, and assist me in making 
 my exit. I groped my way across the room and 
 descended the steps into the lower apartment. 
 From thence I passed out into the yard ; and final 
 ly crawled along in the shadow of the walls until 
 I reached the Lack of the house. Here I paused 
 for awhile to think what next I should do, and to 
 listen whether any one was stirring. All, however, 
 was quiet; no sound disturbed the silence of the 
 night nothing save the surging of the wind, and 
 the creaking of the window-shutters. 
 
 From the first floor of the portly mansion, which 
 was elevated some five feet above the level of the 
 ground, projected a balcony. Beneath this, front 
 and back, were small flights of steps leading into 
 the basements and cellars. Down those near which 
 I was standing I quickly descended, and placed my 
 ear to the door there was no key-hole to listen.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 65 
 
 All was silent as the grave. I listened some mo 
 ments, and then knocked slightly. There was no 
 response no movement. Withdrawing the iron bar 
 from my pocket, which the Jesuit had wisely pro 
 vided me with, I placed it between the door and 
 the jam, and soon pried the former open, and with 
 but slight noise. What I did make, if heard, was 
 doubtless attributed to the wind, and thought no 
 thing of. 
 
 Within the apartment, which was a wood cellar, 
 all was still and dark. Beyond was the servants' 
 hall. Quietly I groped my way across the former, 
 and at length succeeded in finding the door of 
 communication with the latter. I listened again. 
 All continued painfully still. 
 
 After some further groping around I managed to 
 find the bin which contained the shavings, and other 
 light materials used in manufacturing fires. Quick 
 ly scattering the fluid contained in the bottle over 
 these, and placing the other combustible materials 
 I had about me in the best situation for burning, 
 I struck a light, and kindled the fire. 
 
 A moment sufficed to convince me of the impos 
 sibility of easily extinguishing the flames ; and then 
 I glided from the cellar into the yard, closing the
 
 66 
 
 door behind me. Noiselessly as a cat I again crept 
 along close to the wall, reaching the carriage-house 
 in safety, and passing up-stairs and out of the win 
 dow upon the Jesuit's shoulders, without, apparently, 
 creating the least alarm. 
 
 " The word, Joseph, the word ?" whispered the 
 priest, anxiously. " Is it done ?" 
 
 "Yes!" I muttered, more than half frightened at 
 the incendiary act which I had committed. "Let 
 us get away for awhile." 
 
 With hasty steps we quitted the vicinity, and for 
 some half hour continued to wander around, anx 
 iously expecting the conflagration. 
 
 At length a lurid light shot up athwart the 
 darkened sky, and arrested our attention. As if 
 each comprehended the other's thoughts, we simul 
 taneously directed our steps towards Square. 
 
 The scene which met our gaze was one of un 
 paralleled consternation and confusion. The fire 
 had obtained good head-way, and aided by the 
 high winds, the flames were already spreading with 
 furious rapidity. Vast volumes of thick black 
 smoke, through which shot streaks of livid fire, 
 were belching forth from several windows; while 
 the roaring of the flames, the whistling of the
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 
 
 wind, and the shouts of the assembled crowd for 
 already the street was full of people rendered the 
 scene at once startling and terrible. Every moment 
 the crowd became denser, and the excitement more 
 intense. Soon the booming of the heavy alarm-bells 
 added to the confusion, and startled the city from its 
 propriety. 
 
 Father Huestace and myself took up a position 
 close to the burning mansion. For several moments 
 we stood intently watching the doomed house. 
 
 " Can they have already escaped from the build 
 ing ?" the priest at length whispered in my ear. 
 
 " I think not," I w y hispered back. " The fire can 
 not have been discovered long, and is only now mak 
 ing its way into the front of the house. Look !" I 
 continued, as my attention was arrested by the appear 
 ance of several females, who were emerging from 
 the front-door, all evidently in a high state of excite 
 ment. 
 
 " I see !" said the Jesuit. h Yonder is Made- 
 Ion ; and notwithstanding their evident alarm, 
 they are yet cautious enough to keep the girl sur 
 rounded. Maledictions on them ! their presence 
 of mind is astonishing. We cannot reach her 
 now, Joseph ; we must watch whither they go, and
 
 68 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 then decoy her hence. Let us follow. Carefully 
 now." 
 
 Cautiously threading our way through the crowd, 
 we watched the retreating women, until they entered 
 a neighboring mansion, some half dozen doors off. 
 Young Hawley, who accompanied them, then turned 
 and retraced his steps towards the burning house. 
 
 " Now is our time," said the Jesuit. " Mrs. Haw 
 ley, and her household, are in such a state of excite 
 ment that we shall be able to accomplish what other 
 wise we could not. My plan is this, and a little spirit 
 will render our trick eminently successful. You shall 
 entice Mrs. Hawley and her daughter-in-law away 
 from the house where they have taken refuge by stat 
 ing that young Hawley has been severely injured, and 
 conveyed to the adjacent druggist's. The story is 
 probable such a thing might well be and they are 
 just in the condition of mind to credit it without 
 questioning. With them out of the way I will find 
 means to entice Madelon into the street ; and once 
 there, circumstances must decide my future course. 
 I have a hack near at hand, and the driver is prepared 
 to act promptly in case of emergency. In the crowd 
 and confusion you can easily lose the two women. 
 Sufficient time has now elapsed to put this scheme in
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 69 
 
 execution. Away now, Joseph, and boldly beard 
 them. I will stand aside and take my cue from the 
 character of your company when you issue forth." 
 
 The priest immediately withdrew a short distance. 
 Summoning up all my audacity, I hastily ran up the 
 steps of the house designated. With a violent ring I 
 brought a servant quickly to the door, and upon in 
 quiring for Mrs. Hawley, in a somewhat loud and ex 
 cited manner, that lady accompanied by her daughter- 
 in-law, hastened into the hall. 
 
 "What is it?" inquired both ladies, in a breath, 
 and staring wildly at me. " Has anything happened ?" 
 
 Their fears assumed the very shape that would 
 deceive themselves. 
 
 T briefly communicated to them my nicely con 
 cocted story about the accident which had (not) 
 happened to young Hawley. My earnest manner de 
 ceived them ; and their sorrow, which they openly 
 expressed, was dreadful to witness. 
 
 "0, my poor, poor, son!" moaned the almost dis 
 tracted mother. 
 
 "My dear husband hurt, dying may-be! 0, what 
 a terrible night!" almost screamed the agonized 
 wife. 
 
 You may be sure that I could not look upon
 
 'TO Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 their grief unmoved ; indeed I was almost tempted 
 to declare my story the base fabrication that it was. 
 Would that I had done so! would that I had ne 
 ver again come within the compass of the Jesuit's 
 influence! But I wavered, and finally smothered 
 out the heavenly influence, endeavoring to console 
 my lacerated feelings with the reflection, that they 
 were but heretics, and I had no right to pity them. 
 
 "What has happened?" inquired the lady of the 
 house, anxiously, as she stepped into the hall. 
 
 "My poor Charles has been injured at the fire!'' 
 cried Mrs. Hawley. 
 
 The wife groaned deeply. Her's must indeed have 
 been an aching heart. 
 
 " Can you conduct us to where he is ?" she contin 
 ued, appealing to me. 
 
 I replied in the affirmative, though at first with a 
 slight hesitation. I was still rather undecided. 
 
 " Quick, my dear friend !" she went on, turning ex 
 citedly to her hostess: "let our bonnets and cloaks 
 be procured. We will not lose an instant in hasten 
 ing to the dear boy. Heaven grant that his danger 
 may be exaggerated !" 
 
 The articles demanded by Mrs. Hawley were quickly 
 produced by Winnie, who, it seems had been within

 
 TIIE CONFLAGRATION; DEFEAT OP THE JESUIT.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 71 
 
 hearing, and had hastened for the garments instantly 
 upon their heing demanded. At the same moment 
 Madelon also made her appearance, alarm depicted 
 upon every lineament of her fair face. 
 
 "What do I hear, my dear aunt? Is cousin Charles 
 much hurt ?" she demanded, anxiously. 
 
 "I fear so, Madelon!" her aunt replied, with a moan. 
 
 "And you are going to him! 0, let me accompany 
 you!" she plead. 
 
 If she does, I thought to myself, the priest is again 
 defeated. 
 
 "No, no, it must not be, child! Stay within doors 
 until we return !" Mrs. Hawley replied. 
 
 "Do let me go, aunt!" persisted Madelon. 
 
 "I must not, Madelon!" rejoined her aunt. "There 
 may be danger abroad. Do not urge me more it 
 will pain me. There" and she kissed her marble 
 brow "wait patiently until we return. Come, Alice!" 
 she continued, turning to her daughter-in-law, and 
 seizing her by the hand. 
 
 Together with the three women for Winnie, doubt 
 less, participating in the unwonted excitement, had 
 hooded and shawled herself, and joined Mrs. Hawley 
 and Alice I descended the marble steps, and led the 
 way towards the scene of conflagration, with diffi-
 
 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 culty, however, elbowing a passage through the dense 
 crowd. As we emerged from the door of the house, 
 I recognized the Jesuit closely watching us. 
 
 We had proceeded slowly and safely to within a 
 trifling distance of Mrs. Hawley's former residence, 
 when my steps were arrested by an exclamation from 
 some one in the crowd, near the burning building. 
 
 "Mother! Alice! whither do you go?" cried the 
 voice. 
 
 " Son ! husband!" screamed the women, rushing into 
 the outstretched arms of young Hawley, who at that 
 moment made his appearance. 
 
 I did not tarry to witness the explanation, which 
 I knew must ensue ; but turning upon my heel, while 
 they were yet embracing each other, I hastened back 
 in the direction we had come. 
 
 Father Huestace was no where in sight, and my 
 safety forbade me loitering any longer in the neigh 
 borhood. Whether successful or otherwise, I conclud 
 ed that I should find the Jesuit at his residence, and 
 accordingly I directed my steps towards the church. 
 In the hurry we had neglected making any provision 
 as to where we should meet in case we became sepa 
 rated. To the church, however, I took my way. 
 
 In a brief period I was standing in the Jesuit's
 
 The Jesuit and liis Victim. 73 
 
 sanctum. All trace of his disguise now removed, the 
 man of many plots was traversing the apartment with 
 rapid and uneven steps. His brow was troubled, and 
 betokened disappointment. I seated myself unasked 
 for I was weary and looked at the priest inquir 
 ingly. 
 
 "A failure, Joseph, a failure!" he exclaimed, be 
 tween his set teeth. "Another move lost; but yet 
 the game is not up. We are headed off, but not beat 
 not beat! I'll make another venture for the girl, 
 'ere many suns shall rise and set. 
 
 A pause ensued ; and then the priest continued in 
 quite a business-like tone for at times he could mas 
 ter his passion quickly 
 
 " All, however is safe ; though, doubtless, the whole 
 affair will be laid at the door of the Church. They 
 cannot, however, I fancy, accuse with any certainty ; 
 and so long as that is the case, we may laugh at them. 
 This attempted trapanning of the girl, however, will 
 act as a stimulant to renewed caution on the part of 
 her friends. That may annoy, but still cannot, defeat 
 us. Personally we cannot be accused in this trans 
 action, as nothing occurred, with me at least, to be 
 tray our identity. You, Joseph, can answer for your 
 self." 
 
 4
 
 "Nor with me," I replied. "I had led the women as 
 far as the burning house, when consternation ! who 
 should cry out to them but young Hawley. The re 
 cognition was instantaneous, and I took to my heels." 
 
 "Maledictions! How everything seems to cross 
 our purpose !" muttered the Jesuit, his breast again 
 surging with passion. " The girl seems to be surround 
 ed by a charmed circle, more potent than any the 
 Church could create. At one time to night I fancied 
 that our triumph was certain ; but in a single instant 
 my hopes were dashed rudely from their pinnacle. 
 I had succeeded in enticing Madelon into the street, 
 by telling her that her cousin Charles was mortally 
 wounded, and under the circumstances her aunt had 
 thought best to require her presence ; we had got 
 some distance from the house in a contrary direction 
 to the fire, when from some cause- an intuitive sense 
 of danger, probably she grew uneasy, and finally 
 took alarm. Turning suddenly upon me, she brand 
 ed me as the hireling of a baser one than myself, 
 and demanded the privilege to return to her friends. 
 For a moment I was confounded. But the night was 
 dark the portion of the street we were in deserted, 
 and my faithful hackman near at hand with his ve 
 hicle. Seizing the girl in my arms, I clapped my
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 
 
 hand upon her mouth, and hastened towards the car 
 riage, having first signalled the driver to be ready. 
 I had scarcely taken a half dozen steps, when by a 
 powerful effort she contrived to release her mouth, 
 and screamed for help. With a brief expression of 
 disappointment I was about seizing her again, when 
 a blow from an unseen hand felled me to the earth, 
 but did not render me wholly insensible. "0, Frank, 
 Frank!" I heard the girl exclaim; and then beheld 
 her clasped in the arms of the man, who, unquestiona 
 bly, had just struck me down. Whence he came I 
 know not. While they were thus engaged, I sprang 
 to my feet, and made for the Rack. Once in, the arch 
 fiend himself would scarcely have prevented my es 
 cape, much less this Frank. Frank! the name is 
 burnt into my heart !" 
 
 "Frank! Strange, that I should hear that name 
 twice repeated under such peculiar circumstances," 
 I muttered, in a half unconscious musing. 
 
 "What mean you, my good Joseph?" demanded the 
 Jesuit, eagerly. "Know you the ready heretic ? Who 
 is he ? His name ? his condition ?" 
 
 I replied to the priest by repeating the remarks, 
 which I had overheard the two young men give ut 
 terance to, on the day of Madelon's excommunication.
 
 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 "And one of these young men you have since recog 
 nized as Mrs. Hawley's son, while the other you have 
 never again encountered or heard Anything of. Strange 
 
 strange! We must find out more about this Frank 
 
 this audacious heretic, who goes about blaspheming 
 the Holy Church, and knocking people down in the 
 street. Can he be the man rumor says Madelon is 
 soon to wed ? It looks like it. If so, I have a double 
 account to settle with him, Joseph ; one for the 
 Church, and one for myself. But enough of this for 
 the present. Now, Joseph, divest yourself of that dis 
 guise, and then go your way for my head aches and 
 reels from the blow, which that young rascal so un 
 ceremoniously dealt me. Strange, if I do not yet be 
 equal with him." 
 
 While I was changing my apparel, and removing 
 the black stains from my face and hands, the Jesuit 
 continued talking. 
 
 "We shall have need hereafter, Joseph, to be more 
 cautious still," he said; "for this bold and unsuc 
 cessful foray will render Madelon's friends argus-eyed. 
 I must reflect upon some other plan, more deeply 
 laid, if possible, and more likely of success ; some 
 thing that will defy all attempts to fathom, and all 
 human efforts to escape. I know not yet what it
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. T7 
 
 shall be, but something more must be done. In the 
 mean time, Joseph, continue the strictest espionage^ 
 and lose not an opportunity to obtain all and any in 
 formation that you can from the house-servants. In 
 a few days the family will, doubtless, be re-established 
 in another mansion; and before the expiration of a 
 week, the conflagration will cease to be a marvel. As 
 I remarked before, keep up your communication with 
 the domestics, and neglect not an opportunity to sym 
 pathize with them in that manner you may eventu 
 ally learn something that will prove of great benefit. 
 Another good opportunity, and I think we could im 
 pose upon them more successfully than on the pre 
 sent occasion. At least we must venture. And now, Jo 
 seph, a glass of something strong, and then go your way." 
 
 The Jesuit, probably, began to see the error of his 
 impatience, and was inclined to be more reasonable. 
 
 Less than an hour after I passed the scene of the 
 recent conflagration. The wind had almost entirely 
 exhausted its force, and a quiet, strangely in contrast 
 with the noise and confusion which had prevailed a 
 few hours previous, rested upon the scene. The pa 
 latial grandeur of the Hawley mansion was entirely 
 obliterated ; nothing remained, to mark the spot, but 
 a pile of smouldering ruins.
 
 78 Madeion Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TIME hastened on. 
 
 Another week passed away, and I was again em 
 barked in an ocean of plots. Though really, and in 
 heart, an unwilling conspirator, I had not yet the mo 
 ral courage to burst the chains which the Jesuit had 
 cast around me. 
 
 During the intermediate period as the priest had 
 predicted Mrs. Hawley, with her family, had re 
 moved into another splendid and spacious residence 
 in the immediate neighborhood, which chanced to 
 be vacant at the time. I closely watched all their 
 proceedings, and continued to report myself to Father 
 Huestace. Occasionally I got a chance to converse 
 with some one of the domestics once or twice with 
 Winnie and though I improved the opportunities as 
 much as possible, I made no headway in the right di 
 rection.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. T9 
 
 In relation to the fire, they expressed much wonder, 
 attributing the daring act to incendiaries, but utter 
 ing not a single word that would betray any suspi 
 cion as to who had committed the deed, or any know 
 ledge of the attempt which had been made to carry 
 off Madelon. I naturally concluded that the domes 
 tics were ignorant of the facts ; and whether they 
 were or not, it would certainly be impolitic in me to 
 broach the subject, as my knowledge might then be 
 questioned. 
 
 Of course I felt anxious and fearful anxious to 
 know what was said, and thought, and fearful that 
 my agency in the outlawed deed might be suspected 
 and charged home to me. For the time being these 
 thoughts and fears induced me to work more wil 
 lingly rendered me more desirous to complete the 
 task which was before me my duty, as I continued 
 sedulously repeating to myself. I began to reflect a 
 little, too, upon the position in which our late adven 
 ture had placed me. I saw plainly, though I would 
 not then attach any importance to the fact, that the 
 Jesuit had me wholly in his power. This reflection 
 worried me, though I determinedly attributed my 
 feelings to some other cause. 
 
 Several days more fled quickly away, and the irn- 
 4*
 
 80 - Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 penetrable barrier which ever surrounded Madelon, 
 remained unbroken. The Jesuit was again growing 
 irritable at our inefficiency, as he impatiently termed 
 it ; and I myself had begun to think, that some su 
 perior power held the girl in especial favor, when I 
 chanced how you shall soon see to gather sufficient 
 information, to set all the machinery of our plot I 
 say " our," for at that time I was certainly identified, 
 heart and hand, with the scheming Jesuit again in 
 active operation. 
 
 And that you may understand exactly what this 
 information was, and how I obtained it that you 
 may comprehend the crafty deceit, the falsehood, the 
 hypocrisy, by which I attained my end I shall repeat 
 in full a conversation, which otherwise I should sum 
 up in a few words. "While in the street early one 
 evening about that time, I accidentally met Winnie, 
 Madelon's half companion. She had been visiting 
 a sick friend, and was hastening home. I joined her, 
 with my mind made up to pursue a certain course a 
 most dishonorable and culpable one, as I now see it, 
 and have ever since pronounced it. It did not strike 
 me as such, then, however. In fact, in that respect, I 
 gave it no thought. The girl seemed pleased with 
 my company, and that argued well for my success.
 
 The Jesuit and Jiis Victim. 81 
 
 Pleasure is apt to open the heart. We walked on to 
 gether, chatting sociably, and every moment becoming 
 more unreserved aipon her part at least, though not 
 really on mine, for every word I uttered, was uttered 
 for a purpose, and was therefore guarded. Winnie was 
 naturally a smart girl, and it required the best of gen- 
 eralling to lead her astray, particularly upon a sub 
 ject, which she, in common with so many others, seem 
 ed to have so much at heart. You shall see, how 
 I managed her, and to what extent I succeeded in my 
 designs. 
 
 I exerted all my conversational powers, and at that 
 time I was a proficient ; and finally so engaged her 
 attention, and absorbed her sympathies, by my well- 
 directed flattery, and insidious hints of things which 
 might be the girl favored me strongly, to say the 
 least that she forgot for once her characteristic cau 
 tion and reserve. The prospect of a husband was too 
 much for her ; and in that moment, when her loving 
 heart for though poor and humble, and held in con 
 tempt by many, her bosom beat as warmly and as 
 truly as any of God's creatures was absorbed in 
 rosy anticipations of the future, she forgot her pre 
 sent discretion. 
 
 With devilish cunning I seized upon, and used, the 

 
 82 Maddon Haioley, or 
 
 propitious moment. Gradually slowly almost im 
 perceptibly, I turned the conversation upon her mis 
 tress ; and I did it so adroitly- -with such nice pre 
 cision, that, quick-witted as she usually was, she failed 
 to take alarm. All of the domestics had been tam 
 pered with, except this girl ; for I had hitherto felt a 
 backwardness in approaching her upon the subject. 
 I now depended upon her heart as an ally. 
 
 " Your mistress does not go much abroad ?" I at 
 length remarked, in a very indifferent and careless 
 manner. 
 
 " No, not much, Joseph," she answered, without 
 noticing the tendency of my question. 
 
 You perceive that I passed by my own proper 
 name. Under the circumstances I did not think it 
 necessary to adopt any other. 
 
 " It appears to me very unnatural for one so young, 
 and beautiful, and rich, to be moping so much at 
 home," I continued, artfully. 
 
 " Yes ; but it is'nt her fault that she don't go more 
 abroad than she does ; she doesn't stay at home so 
 much, of her own free will, that you may depend 
 upon, Joseph," the girl retorted impulsively, and con 
 sequently, honestly. 
 
 " Ah, that alters the case," I replied, purposely
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 83 
 
 mis-understanding my companion. "I was not aware 
 that your mistress so young and healthy looking 
 was suffering from disease. Who would have 
 thought it!" 
 
 " Why, how you talk, Joseph !" Winnie exclaimed, 
 with the least show of irritation. " I did'nt say Miss 
 Madelon was sick! Can't anything but sickness re 
 strain a person in the house ?" 
 
 I was quick enough to understand that the girl's 
 thoughts were gradually concentrating upon her mis 
 tress ; and I felt, too, that but one incautious word 
 would close her lips even to me, her popular favorite. 
 
 " Why, yes, my dear Winnie, certainly ;" and I spoke 
 in the kindest tone possible, emphasizing the word 
 " dear" for effect ; " but what in the name of wonder 
 can it be ? I cannot imagine anything else !" 
 
 " Why, them them THEM ATROCIOUS Catholics !" 
 she exclaimed, at length, vainly endeavoring to re 
 strain her tongue, and replying as if I already some 
 had knowledge of Miss Hawley's troubles. The wo 
 man had got the upper hand. " There now, I've said 
 it ; but thank goodness, it's only to you, Joseph, and 
 I don't think I need fear trusting you." 
 
 Her unsuspecting heart spoke then, and how it 
 deceived her, you may well guess.
 
 84 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 "But I can't understand it all, Joseph," she con 
 tinued, speaking impatiently and more plainly. " Ain't 
 we in our own country? and isn't it free ? Hav'nt we 
 the right to go where we please? do what we please? 
 and say what we please ? and as long as we don't do 
 wrong, hav'nt we laws to protect us ? It's a burning 
 shame, that it is, that my dear young mistress, with 
 all her wealth and beauty, should be compelled to 
 stay at home, or go abroad in bodily .fear, and all 
 owing to these vile and sneaking Romanists !" 
 
 The young girl paused for want of breath to continue. 
 
 " Why, you astonish me, Winnie !" I exclaimed, with 
 well-dissembled surprise. " Can this be possible ? 
 But if your mistress really has cause to fear in this 
 manner, why is it that she does not appeal to the laws 
 you refer to ?" 
 
 "Because those who are suspected to be wrongfully 
 inclined towards her, are far too cunning to commit 
 any act that would be likely to lead to detection, or 
 afford any proof of their complicity. They know 
 entirely too much for that. Only just let them once, 
 and they will find that in this land at least, jails were 
 made for them as well as others. They take precious 
 good care, though, not to expose themselves ; for they 
 are too treacherous and cowardly. They strike only
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 85 
 
 in the dark, and that is what my mistress and her 
 friends fear." 
 
 I winced under the girl's outspoken words, and the 
 beating of my heart seemed to justify their truth. 
 
 " Well, I must say, this is all very strange, Winnie," 
 I continued, with assumed bewilderment. " But who 
 does she fear particularly ? not all the Catholics ?" 
 
 " No ; only the priest^, I believe," she whispered in 
 reply, at the same time glancing nervously around. 
 
 " The black hearts, they are always at some mis 
 chief!" I exclaimed, earnestly, and with seeming 
 honesty. " But why does she fear the priests ?" 
 
 Winnie grew restless, and did not reply ; acting as 
 though she thought that she had gone too far. 
 
 " Joseph," she said at length " I've already told 
 you more than has ever before been told out of the 
 house. " I'm a very foolish girl, or I should'nt have 
 said a single word, for the subject is one of great im 
 portance to my mistress. To any other, Joseph, I 
 should have been dumb, as I have ever been ; but 
 somehow I feel as if I could trust you, even with my 
 life, if it were necessary." 
 
 The girl's preference had unlocked her tongue ; it 
 but remained for me to profit by her weakness. Love,
 
 86 Model-on Hawley, or 
 
 the all-potent magician, rendered her at once loqua 
 cious and confidential. 
 
 " Indeed you can, Winnie !" I replied, earnestly. 
 " And there are three good reasons why. Becatnte I 
 like you" the words went home to her heart " and 
 in the event of your being unhappy should be so my 
 self ; because I have no reason for injuring your mis 
 tress, she never having wronged me ; and because I 
 am a Protestant, and naturally enough do not love 
 the enemies of Miss Hawley. Three ample reasons, 
 I take it ; and three that will satisfy even you, I know. 
 Go on now, and fear not." 
 
 You see, what a base part I was playing, and all 
 for my religion. I, too, can see it now, and in all its 
 naked, irredeemable deformity, though I could not 
 then. The mists of bigotry still enveloped and con 
 cealed the true character of my conduct, and blinded 
 me to the thorough despicableness of thus tampering 
 with one who trusted in the better principles of hu 
 man nature. 
 
 "Well, Joseph, I will trust you," she replied ; 
 "but mind, you are the first one, I ever whispered a 
 syllable to, and you must never, never repeat it ; for 
 if in any manner I was to injure my mistress, it would
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 87 
 
 be to me a source of constant regret ; she is so good 
 so kind and we all love her so much." 
 
 I promised all that the girl required ; and then 
 sh$ went on, nestling close up to me, and lowering 
 her voice to a scarcely audible whisper. 
 
 You asked me, Joseph, why my mistress feared 
 the priests the reason is this. Miss Madelon's fa 
 ther, who died when she was a small child, was a 
 Roman Catholic, and a bigoted one, too. What a 
 blessed thing it was, that he did not live long enough 
 to make the poor child one. Better an hundred su 
 perstitious fathers should have died, than that Ma- 
 delon should have been taught to worship a senseless 
 block of wood, or to bow before an unclean priest." 
 
 The girl spoke earnestly, and the bitterness of her 
 words rankled in my soul. What was I but an un 
 clean priest ? a worshipper myself of senseless wood ? 
 Still I went on for my religion. 
 
 " So I say, Winnie," I rejoined, with assumed en 
 thusiasm. "To escape the degrading servitude of 
 the Catholic religion worse that it is most generally 
 mental slavery is indeed an event worthy of our 
 best congratulations. Miss Hawley has need to be 
 grateful her friends have need to be grateful we 
 all have need to be grateful, that she by any means
 
 88 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 even the death of her father escaped a destiny so 
 dark so utterly devoid of that moral independence 
 which enables the true and enlightened Christian to 
 approach so near to the Throne of God." 
 
 " How beautifully you can talk, Joseph !" exclaimed 
 Winnie, admiringly." 
 
 " Well, never mind that, but go on with what you 
 were saying," I responded. 
 
 " Well, as I was saying, Joseph, Miss Madelon's 
 father died when she was very young, leaving the 
 greater portion of his large fortune solely to her, with 
 the proviso that in the event of her dying childless, 
 the whole of the estate should go to endow the Ca 
 tholic Church in this country. Now, did you ever 
 hear of such a thing, Joseph ? The blind bigot, to so 
 lay his child open to persecution. That very clause 
 has made her life one of continued anxiety, and may, 
 probably, occasion her death. It is the fear of some 
 diabolical villainy being resorted to for the purpose 
 of securing this money, and also of gratifying private 
 hatred and two base attempts have already been 
 made upon her, one recently" I felt that the girl re 
 ferred to the night of the fire, but kept my own counsel 
 " that makes a slave of my dear young mistress." 
 
 " Her father was but like all of his class," I replied.
 
 TJie Jesuit and his Victim. 89 
 
 chiming in with her convictions. " It is only a won 
 der that the Church did not entirely supercede his 
 child. But still no harm may come of it. Doubtless, 
 your mistress alarms herself needlessly." 
 
 " She does not, Joseph !" returned the girl, with 
 spirit. " Havn't I told you that two attempts have 
 already been made upon her ; and don't we all know 
 what unscrupulous men these priests are ? Why, if 
 they" the girl still continued dealing in generalities 
 when speaking of Madelon's enemies " were to mur 
 der her, I don't think it would be the first time that 
 they had dipped their hands in human blood. Be 
 sides they once did try to kill her." 
 
 I now became anxious to find out who she meant 
 by " they," if indeed she knew. 
 
 " Kill her !" I exclaimed, echoing her words. " You 
 are jesting, Winnie !" 
 
 " I am not, Joseph !" she replied. " They did try 
 to poison her, just after her father's death, and her 
 removal among her Protestant relatives. I've heard 
 Miss Madelon and her aunt frequently speak of it. 
 An Irish servant woman, it seems, attempted to ad 
 minister the drug, but through nervousness, or drunk 
 enness, or something else, betrayed herself before she 
 had accomplished her fiendish purpose. Had she been
 
 90 
 
 a little more herself, Madelon's fortune and orphan 
 condition would soon have proved a curse." 
 
 " You astonish me !" I replied. " And yet it is no 
 more than we should expect ; for many of these Ro 
 mish priests would think as little of killing a human 
 being as I would a cat. But what came of it, Win 
 nie ? The woman, I suppose, was arrested !" 
 
 " No, she was not," returned the girl. " In the 
 confusion she made her escape, and was never after 
 wards heard of. Spirited away by the plotting priests, 
 I suppose." 
 
 I thought of the writhing woman in the Jesuit's 
 library the dark graveyard, and the midnight burial, 
 and my heart, for a moment, beat quickly. 
 
 : ' And was the author of the attempt never found 
 out, Winnie ?" I inquired. 
 
 " Never !" the girl replied, briefly. 
 
 " He was suspected, however," I continued, anxious 
 to lead her on to further developments. 
 
 "Why, yes, he was," the girl replied, at the same 
 time hesitating, as if in doubt whether to proceed any 
 further or to stop. 
 
 "And is most likely the same one who is still sus 
 pected of being the secret foe. That is but natural. 
 The villain who would stoop to such a deed, is en-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 91 
 
 tirely unscrupulous is to be feared, and should be 
 watched." 
 
 A great truth I uttered, though it did not then have 
 the weight with me it should have had. 
 
 "I should like to know this man, Winnie this 
 man who sets on ignorant women to murder innocent 
 children. A knowledge of his name might sometime 
 place me in a position to be of service to your mis 
 tress. What was he called ?" I continued. 
 
 " I don't know, Joseph ; and that's the truth," the 
 girl replied, earnestly. 
 
 "But did you never hear any one in particular 
 named in connection with this singular affair ?" I per 
 sisted, determined, if possible, to penetrate into the 
 mystery of their thoughts. 
 
 "Well, no, not by name, Joseph, though I have 
 otherwise," rejoined the girl, evasively, "But indeed, 
 you must not ask me any more." 
 
 " And why, Winnie ?" I still persisted, anxious to 
 remove her hesitation, and again unlock her tongue. 
 "Do you think me an old woman, and fancy that I 
 will go gossipping around the city?" 
 
 " 0, no, no !" she replied, quickly. 
 
 " Do you then think so meanly of me, as to ima 
 gine, that I would wilfully betray the confidence you
 
 92 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 repose in me ? Or do you fear, that / am a priest 
 in disguise ?" For shame, Winnie, for shame," I 
 continued, with a slightly quivering lip ; "I could al 
 most make up my mind to be angry with you." 
 
 "No, Joseph, no don't be angry," she replied, 
 touchingly, at the same time laying her disengaged 
 hand upon my arm, and looking up into my face ; 
 "but these are things which have never before been 
 spoken of outside of the house. They are fearful 
 things too ; and I feel that we should not trifle with 
 them. We have all been charged not to ; and until 
 the present moment I have never betrayed the confi 
 dence which has been reposed in me. But God 
 knows, if I've done wrong, I did'nt mean to. And 
 yet I can't imagine what occasion you would have to 
 betray me, Joseph ; besides you seem too good to act 
 so basely too manly to descend so low. And what 
 could it profit you, even if you w^ere to do me this 
 wrong ?" 
 
 " Nothing, Winnie, nothing ; for I have no interest 
 at stake further than sympathy for your really un 
 fortunate mistress," I replied; and then proceeded 
 with a general answer to the whole of her remark. 
 It was delicate ground, and I threaded my way cau 
 tiously.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 93 
 
 It would be uninteresting for me to detail all that 
 I said in this connection ; all the arguments that I 
 advanced all the falsehoods I manufactured. They 
 can easily be imagined. My promises, however, were 
 manifold, and of every character. Nay ? I even offer 
 ed to invalidate my constancy by an oath, if she re 
 quired it. 
 
 And what to me, then, would have been an oath, 
 sworn upon the Protestant bible ? as the girl, doubt 
 less, interpreted wnat I said, and as I designed she 
 should. Air! Nothing more. A jest to make merry 
 over. Like the rest of my class, I would readily have 
 spurned and trampled the heretical book beneath my 
 feet, or have willingly committed it to the devouring 
 flames. Oath, indeed! I would have pledged myself, 
 at that time, upon a stack of such volumes, and never 
 deemed the obligation in the least binding. And in 
 that faith every Catholic is reared in that faith 
 nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand out of every 
 million live, act, and die. So in one thing, so in every 
 thing. There are no exceptions the rule is general. 
 Is it to be wondered then, that there is so much su 
 perstition, l^gotry, and intolerance? Are not such 
 things the natural consequences oi such a proscribed 
 and limited education? I think so; and so does
 
 94 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 * 
 
 every liberal and enlightened person in the commu 
 nity. 
 
 But I wander. Having exhausted all argument, I 
 resorted to another method. I spoke very kindly and 
 gently to the girl mildly explained how little oc 
 casion there was for alarm ; and finally so allayed 
 her fears and blunted her scruples, that she at length 
 consented to proceed with her story. And all this 
 I managed without seeming over-anxious without 
 appearing more intimately interested than as a mere 
 matter of curiosity in so wonderful a story. Unques 
 tionably, too, I had an advocate in "Winnie's heart. 
 
 " Well, Joseph," continued the girl, at the conclusion 
 of my eloquent, but heartless speech, all her mis 
 givings vanished "I don't feel with you as I do with 
 the generality of people that one meets every day. I 
 can't tell why, exactly all I know is, that I don't. 
 From the very first I felt attracted to you felt just 
 as if I had met an old friend, long absent. Still, I 
 must say, that I didn't think that even you would 
 have so deeply enlisted my confidence. It is strange." 
 
 I did not think it so very strange. Love leads 
 people many queer races. 
 
 " Before we met," the girl went on " I would as 
 soon have thought of cutting off my right hand, as
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim* 95 
 
 of telling one iota of the secrets of the Hawley 
 family ; and now I am actually telling you about 
 all I know." 
 
 Another evidence, I thought to myself, of the 
 power of love ; and I might have added of the 
 depth of my own deceit. 
 
 "See, what confidence I have reposed in your 
 honor and integrity." 
 
 Honor ! Integrity ! How oddly, to my ears at this 
 time, sounds honor in such an association. Could 
 the girl have known everything, she would have 
 substituted " deceit" and " treachery," for the flatter 
 ing terms she so innocently used. 
 
 "And that confidence shall make us yet better 
 friends, Winnie," I replied, looking the feelings I 
 had no desire to more openly express. 
 
 " If that is possible, I hope so," the girl rejoined, 
 as if she did not understand me. "But you were 
 asking, Joseph, whether any particular person was 
 suspected in this affair of Miss Madelon's !" 
 
 " I believe so," I answered, indifferently, or seem 
 ed to. 
 
 " Well, Joseph, there is !" she exclaimed, looking 
 around, as if to satisfy herself that no one was 
 within hearing.
 
 96 
 
 This especially interested me, and I bent my ear 
 close down to her face. 
 
 "Who?" I inquired. 
 
 " I cannot name his name, Joseph ; for the fa 
 mily, though they frequently speak of his wicked 
 ness, his cunning, and his hypocrisy, never refer to 
 him personally." 
 
 I was rather disappointed. Still the name was 
 not essential, though I wished to arrive at the whole 
 of their information. 
 
 " They are probably wise in not doing so," I 
 remarked, anxious, by my approval, to encourage 
 the girl's loquacity. " Under such peculiar circum 
 stances it could do little good, while it might pre 
 vent them from finally overreaching their enemy." 
 
 "Yes, yes, Joseph ; they have no doubt studied all 
 the chances," the girl replied. " They have much 
 to lose, and are therefore proportionably cautious." 
 
 " Have you never, Winnie," I inquired " heard 
 any particular conversation that might throw light 
 upon this singular story ?" 
 
 " I have, Joseph," said Winnie. " Sometimes I 
 have heard Miss Madelon speak of a tall, dark, 
 evil looking man a Jesuit priest who used to vi 
 sit her father's house when she was a child, and
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 9Y 
 
 while yet both her parents were living. Her mo 
 ther died of consumption about a year before her 
 father was taken away ; and though she was a pro 
 fessing Catholic, she was a bright exception to the 
 generality of them. Miss Madelon is said to in 
 herit not only her mother's features, but her kind 
 and gentle disposition. This priest was their con 
 fessor, and a most dreadful villain. I have heard 
 Miss Madelon tell though she is' not generally 
 very open with her speech in what relates to her 
 past life how once she discovered him and her 
 mother alone together how the priest looked wild, 
 and angry, and dissappointed ; and her mother in 
 sulted and- indignant; and how, as she suddenly 
 burst into the room, child like, she heard her mo 
 ther tell him to never again dare to utter such a 
 word in her presence, for if he did she would at 
 once inform her father, and have him exposed. The 
 priest replied not, but quitted the room with an 
 ominous, scowling brow. 
 
 The child could not then understand the meaning 
 of what was said, but the words were nevertheless in- 
 indelibly fixed upon her young mind ; and somehow 
 from that time she both feared and disliked the dark 
 
 priest. As she grew older, and her mind strength- 
 5
 
 98 Madelon Haivley, or 
 
 ened, and when her poor mother was slumbering in 
 the quiet churchyard, she instinctively comprehend 
 ed what the base priest meant. Thus I have heard 
 her speak at times with broken voice and tearful 
 eyes and again with anger and indignation. This 
 is about all I know, Joseph, that is of any importance ; 
 and yet it is enough, I think, to show, that an unholy 
 avarice, and an undying hatred, have made the mo 
 ther's tempter the child's enemy." 
 
 "True, Winnie, true!" I replied. "Disappointed 
 passion, and greedy avarice, are the greatest curses of 
 this world. The priest is but one of thousands who 
 have rushed headlong into the troubled waters from 
 which so few escape. This is a singular story you 
 have told me, but, doubtless, true. Where it all will 
 end you nor I cannot tell. Ah, these priests if all 
 be true that is said of them they have, indeed, much 
 to answer for." 
 
 "That they have, Joseph, that they have !" respond 
 ed the girl, with quickening words. "And it is but 
 little, I think, that the world really knows of their 
 secrets, and sinful doings." 
 
 Thus far the girl had made but very slight mention 
 of the outrage attempted at the fire. In fact, as you- 
 may perceive, she had but indirectly referred to it
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 99 
 
 The same reasons that influenced my conduct in my 
 interviews with the other domestics prevented me 
 from pushing the subject to an explanation with 
 Winnie. Besides, it was not necessarily important. 
 
 "But this rascally confessor, Winnie," I continued, 
 more anxious to lead her to say something concern 
 ing Madelon's lover, if indeed she had one. "Your 
 mistress, I suppose, converses freely of him that is 
 to her relatives and friends." 
 
 "I have said, No. Joseph," the girl replied. "Some 
 times things occur which lead her to mention him; 
 but even then she never does so in the presence of 
 any others than her aunt's family ; and, sometimes, 
 though but by chance, myself; and I suppose, though, 
 indeed, I don't know for certain, Mr. Frank " 
 
 Frank ! thus again for the third time I heard that 
 name, and under unusual circumstances. The sin 
 gularity of the occurrence caused me to turn round 
 to my companion rather abruptly, and brought us to 
 a momentary stop. 
 
 The instant, too, that the name had crossed the 
 girl's lips, she broke off as suddenly as if stricken 
 dumb. That in itself would have been enough to 
 create curiosity in any one. In me it did more. I 
 waited some time for her to continue, but she remain-
 
 100 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 ed silent. Thus we walked on a short distance. I 
 affected not to notice her strange conduct for I saw 
 that she cast several side-long glances at me and 
 acted with an indifference that might easily have 
 quieted a more astute person than herself. All the 
 while I was busy devising some method to draw her 
 out more fully. At length I addressed her thus; 
 
 "Well, Winnie, what's the matter? why don't you 
 go on? I have been waiting for some time, but you 
 appear to have come to a dead halt. "Frank" was 
 your last word. "Who is he, my dear, and why is he 
 admitted so deeply into the confidence of Miss Haw- 
 ley and her relatives ? But why ask that ? The cir 
 cumstances explain themselves. A lover, doubtless!" 
 
 I paused, anxious to see the effects of my words. 
 
 "I don't know, and can't tell if I do, so don't ask 
 me any more," the girl replied, hurriedly, as if anx 
 ious to get rid of the subject. 
 
 "And why not, Winnie?" I inquired, in a light tone. 
 " Is it a crime for a young, rich, and pretty lady, to 
 have a lover, that you fear to speak about it ?" 
 
 "No, not a crime, Joseph; but in this case it might 
 prove a misfortune," answered the girl, her voice 
 slightly trembling. l: But on this point I cannot com 
 municate anything, even to you. I have already trust-
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 101 
 
 ed you with a great deal, so don't, now, ask me 
 any more, Keep what I have told you, and let us 
 talk about something else." 
 
 The girl stopped, and appeared to be thinking. 
 
 "Besides, Joseph, I can't see why you should be 
 so inquisitive about Miss Madelon's affairs," she con 
 tinued. "If I did not know you so well, and trust 
 you so implicitly, I should almost think that you had 
 some object in view." 
 
 I stood upon a precipice ; one incautious step and 
 I was over. To arouse the girl's suspicions, I knew, 
 would defeat all, and place me, it was more than pro 
 bable, in a position from which I could not extricate 
 myself. Already she was wondering a step further 
 and her wonder would assume a shape. I hastened 
 to vindicate myself, and then dropped the subject. 
 Before the eloquence of my words the girl's momen 
 tary suspicion dissolved like snow. 
 
 Winnie continued to chatter, but not of Madelon, 
 or what particularly interested me. In fact, I scarce 
 ly heard her ; my mind was otherwise engaged. 
 A panorama of the Jesuit's life was unrolling before 
 my inward eyes. I saw it all saw the sensual priest 
 the virtuous wife the bigoted father the inno 
 cent child. Before me passed in review all that both
 
 102 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 the priest and the girl had told me, and each story 
 fitted nicely to the other. Thus brick by brick the 
 superstructure of mystery and crime towered up 
 the architect, Father Huestace the builder, myself. 
 
 Such were my reflections such the condition of 
 my mind. My thoughts, however, impressed me dif 
 ferently at that time from what they do now ; for then 
 I lived and breathed but at the direction of others 
 then, my heavenly Master, and my earthly king, were 
 combined in the Church the Church, supreme and 
 infallible the only One power upon earth. 
 
 Finally, my thoughts assumed another character. 
 With lightning speed I reviewed the Jesuit's position; 
 and I felt convinced, that he was the person pointed 
 at, and that he was vigilantly watched; that Made- 
 Ion had a lover who was admitted into all their se 
 crets as one deeply interested; and that in a little 
 while only, both the girl and her estate would be 
 wrested forever from the Church. 
 
 Here I was aroused to outward consciousness by 
 Winnie, who, having completed what she was saying, 
 observed my abstraction, and poutingly took me to task 
 for it. I, however, excused myself in a satisfactory 
 manner and what man that was loved ever failed to
 
 The Jesuit and liis Victim. 103 
 
 do that with the woman who loved him ? and dash 
 ed off in a rambling conversation. 
 
 Again, however, my thoughts were wandering to 
 other subjects. There was yet more that I desired 
 to learn ; for the information I had derived from 
 the too credulous girl by my side, was in part 
 known to me, and was not in reality of any prac 
 tical use. What I had heard was all very well as 
 far as it went, but it would not assist, either in se 
 curing Madelon, or preventing a marriage ; and one 
 or both, was what the Jesuit was scheming after. 
 How should I contrive it? I thought. How lead 
 her to say something of Madelon's outgoings ? 
 
 At length we turned into the noble Square upon 
 which Mrs. Hawley resided ; a few moments more 
 and the chance would be lost. I knew not what 
 to say or how to proceed. For once my ingenuity 
 was at fault ; and in complete despair I gave utte 
 rance to the first thought that came into my mind. 
 And yet that simple, unreflecting question, led to 
 what was most desired, and cost three persons 
 but I will not anticipate. 
 
 " When shall we meet again, Winnie ?" I inquir 
 ed, with all the ardor of a sincere lover. "I have 
 something of importance to communicate to you for
 
 104 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 which there is not now time. I have been so ab 
 sorbed, and interested, in the persecutions to which 
 your unfortunate mistress is a victim, that I forgot 
 my own affairs entirely." 
 
 The girl brightened up quickly. The words 
 " something of importance" possessed a peculiar 
 meaning to her, and they made music in her heart 
 rang out, clear and sweet, like the joyous chime 
 of wedding bells. 
 
 " I can scarcely say, Joseph," she replied, quite 
 unsuspiciously "but at all events on the first 
 opportunity, and that won't be long occurring. My 
 mistress, you know, treats me more as a friend 
 than as a domestic ; and were it not for the fear 
 in which she stands, I should not hesitate a moment 
 in inviting you to the house. As it is we must be 
 content to do the best we can." 
 
 That was not satisfactory to me not what I wanted. 
 
 " But can't you name some time, Winnie ?" I per 
 sisted. " You must surely have some idea when an 
 opportunity will be most likely to occur?" 
 
 " You are so persevering," the girl responded, still 
 innocent of any sinister motive. " I suppose I must 
 gratify you. Let me think. I have it. Miss Made- 
 Ion will visit her friend, Anna Sinclair, to-morrow,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 105 
 
 and not return home until in the evening, as I heard 
 her ask her cousin Charles if he would call for her." 
 
 That was the very disclosure I had been aiming at 
 from the beginning the very thing the Jesuit desir 
 ed another opportunity. How it was to be used this 
 time, I was yet to learn. 
 
 " Then we shall have an opportunity of meeting," 
 I replied, apparently very delighted. " But at what 
 hour, Winnie ?" 
 
 " Miss Madelon's cousin is not to call for her until 
 ten o'clock," she answered. " You can call for me by 
 eight, and we can have an hour's walk all to ourselves. 
 I don't like to ask it, Joseph, but please come to the 
 basement-door. For the present I do not wish the 
 family to know that I have company." 
 
 " Thanks, Winnie, thanks ! and no excuses, for I am 
 content," I responded. " But does not your mistress 
 tremble to be out so late in the evening ?" 
 
 " I have said so, Joseph ; but she can't remain al 
 ways at home," the girl replied. " Besides, she in 
 variably rides when out after dark, and is never un 
 accompanied by either her cousin, or" again the girl 
 broke off with tokens of confusion ; but after a mo 
 ment's pause she continued as if she had only re 
 ferred to the cousin " and he is always prepared for 
 5*
 
 106 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 any violence which her enemies may resort to. She is 
 always driven to, and from, wherever she wishes to go, 
 and generally by our own trusty coachman. Some 
 times, however, though not often, Mr. Charles, if 
 business, or any other engagement, calls him from 
 home upon the same evening Miss Madelon is absent, 
 does not order the family carriage to be in atten 
 dance, but picks up a chaise wherever he chances to 
 be, and fetches her home in that manner. Mrs. 
 
 
 
 Hawley thinks it highly imprudent, and has so ex 
 pressed herself to her son on each occasion ; but he 
 says that it is a great deal less trouble, and so long 
 as he is with Miss Madelon there is no danger." 
 
 " He should not be too confident," I replied, de 
 vouring every word the imprudent girl said. " He 
 knows not when danger may surround him, for these 
 crafty priests are forever on the alert, and deal their 
 blows when and where they are least expected." 
 
 " True, Joseph," responded Winnie ; " and so his 
 mother has repeatedly warned him but like the rest 
 of you men he is a little headstrong. " But see, I am 
 home !" 
 
 At that moment we stopped in front of Mrs. Haw- 
 ley's new residence, and a gleam of light suddenly 
 shone from an upper window, and flashed upon the
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim, 107 
 
 sidewalk at our feet. It attracted my attention, and 
 I looked up just in time to see the queenly form of 
 Madelon flit past. 
 
 " Miss Madelon has been looking for me, I know," 
 said Winnie. " I have loitered too long. Good night, 
 Joseph, and be secret above all things." 
 
 " Depend upon me, Winnie," I answered, as I press 
 ed her hand. Then with another " good night" the 
 girl darted into the house, and I turned my steps in 
 the direction of the church. I had played my part 
 well ; and if consummate rascality could have recom 
 mended me to favor, I was then entitled to consider 
 able promotion. In every sense of the word I had 
 played the poor girl false ; trifled with her integrity, 
 and tampered with her affections. It only remained 
 for me to betray her confidence. You shall see what 
 came of it.
 
 108 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THOUGH the distance between Mrs. Hawley's man 
 sion and the church was considerable, I reached the 
 latter in a short time. I was, of course, immediate 
 ly ushered into the sanctum sanctorum. 
 
 As I entered the priest's dimly lighted and se 
 pulchral looking apartment, I noticed that his brow 
 was clouded, and his lips compressed, as if his 
 thoughts, whatever they were, were not the most 
 pleasant, or agreeable, or desirable. Locking the 
 door a customary caution with the Jesuit he seat 
 ed himself by the table, and desired me to do like 
 wise. 
 
 I complied. After regarding me for a few mo 
 ments quite attentively, he remarked ; 
 
 " Well, my good Joseph, what news ? I think you 
 have some your looks betoken it." 
 
 " True, your reverence, I have news," I replied.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 109 
 
 But whether it will prove desirable news, or be of 
 service, remains to be seen. I came while yet the 
 recollection was fresh, so that you might not lose 
 a word." 
 
 "Well, well, my good Joseph, what is it?" the 
 priest inquired, somewhat irritably, at the same 
 time throwing himself back in his easy chair. 
 
 That he was chafed about something I plainly 
 saw. Probably his conscience had been goading 
 him; if, indeed, he could boast of such an appen 
 dage. 
 
 I paused a moment to collect my scattered thoughts 
 before I proceeded, and then went on. 
 
 " It is this," I replied, in a low, but distinct, whis 
 per. " I met Miss Hawley's dressing-maid and demi- 
 companion early this evening a young and rather 
 confiding creature for whom I have affected love, 
 that I might the more easily mislead her. We walk 
 ed together, and on the way she told me much." 
 
 " Indeed ? This looks like business ! She should 
 know something, as she has every opportunity. 
 Well, Joseph, well !" exclaimed the Jesuit, im 
 patiently, leaning forward upon the table, and 
 dropping his chin into the palm of his hands. 
 
 " It was a difficult task," I continued " but
 
 110 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 nevertheless I managed the girl very successfully. 
 They you understand me ?" the priest nodded af 
 firmatively " they fear a conspiracy to deprive Made- 
 Ion of her wealth or worse, of her life; and that 
 is why she goes so seldom abroad, and never un 
 attended." 
 
 " Considering what has already occurred, one 
 might guess that much, my good Joseph, nor yet 
 be thought a prophet," remarked Father Huestace. 
 " Proceed !" 
 
 " Your reverence did not hear me through," I 
 replied, not liking, though I feared to murmur 
 against, the tone he adopted, I had become so 
 fascinated what else can I term it ? with the 
 crafty priest. 
 
 " Well, well, Joseph, get on !'' the priest exclaim 
 ed. " I am on the rack. What more ? Say it 
 briefly, for my patience brooks not long stories." 
 
 " Neither have they forgot" I continued, rather de 
 liberately "a certain bootless attempt at poisoning; 
 and frequently they talk of it ; and though names 
 are never mentioned, there is one mark, your reve 
 rence ! there is on?, towards whom all their obser 
 vations point." 
 
 The face of the Jesuit grew suddenly white ; and
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. Ill 
 
 his brow contracted until I could scarcely see his 
 eyes. 
 
 "Towards roe, I suppose!" he exclaimed, passion 
 ately. " Was it not so, Joseph ?" 
 
 I nodded, Yes. 
 
 "I had thought so ever since, but, maledictions on 
 them ! the certainty of it makes half a coward of me. 
 And did the babbling girl relate the whole circum 
 stance?" he exclaimed, inquiringly. "All?" 
 
 " All !" I replied, echoing his words. " All ; except, 
 indeed, what became of the woman who attempted the 
 child's life. That, of course, they are all ignorant of." 
 
 " And there I am safe, Joseph !" he exclaimed, ex- 
 ultingly. " They cannot penetrate that mystery. Dead 
 men tell no tales! Ha! Ha! Ha! The grave cannot 
 bear witness !" 
 
 The priest's hollow laugh startled me thrilled me; 
 and I glanced nervously at the little window, almost 
 fancying that I beheld the spirit of the murdered 
 woman gazing into the room, and pointing her flesh- 
 less fingers at us. It was a horrible fancy, and chill 
 ed me from head to foot. 
 
 " Continue, brother Joseph, continue !" he exclaimed, 
 abruptly, after a moments pause. " I am prepared 
 to hear you."
 
 1.12 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 " It appears," I said, in compliance " that Miss 
 Hawley *' 
 
 " Madelon, you mean, I suppose," said the priest, 
 interrupting me. 
 
 " The same!" I answered. "As I was saying, it 
 appears, that Miss Hawley has a most tenacious me 
 mory, too; for she remembers and frequently speaks 
 of things which occurred long ago even before her 
 mother's death." 
 
 I paused, anticipating another display of passion on 
 the part of the priest. But not so. The intimation 
 whi ch my words conveyed did not then rouse him. The 
 stoim was only gathering. 
 
 "Before her mother's death, you say, Joseph?" he 
 almost whispered. "Well, go on! go on! What 
 does she remember?" 
 
 '' The girl communicated to me one circumstance 
 in particular," I continued. "She had been present 
 when her mistress had spoken of it. It was, how, 
 when she Madelon was a small child, she had one 
 day found a tall, dark, evil-looking priest the girl's 
 very words, your reverence closeted with her mo 
 ther ; and how she had heard her mother indignantly 
 threaten the priest a Jesuit, and their family con-
 
 The Jesuit and liis Victim. 113 
 
 fessor with instant exposure, if he ever again pre 
 sumed to repeat what he had then uttered." 
 
 By this time the bosom of Father Huestace was 
 surging with accumulated passion, all the more fear 
 ful that it had hitherto been restrained. 
 
 "Malediction!" he hissed out. " Does the apostate 
 girl remember that? And dares she to talk about 
 it? Is it thus they prate in secret thus they point 
 at me thus they call up by-gones and array them 
 against me. Blistered be their tongues forever!" 
 
 After walking the floor rapidly for a few moments 
 for in his excitement he had arisen from the table 
 he reseated himself, and addressed me. 
 
 "And yet I do not fear them!" he exclaimed, in 
 tensely ; " talk as they may think as they may ; for 
 they have no proof, and the Church justifies me in 
 crushing her enemies nay, it applauds the deed. 
 Better that we killed Madelon, than that the heretics 
 should triumph in her apostacy, and revel in the 
 wealth which rightly should enrich the Church. So 
 much for the attempted poisoning; and for the rest, 
 I did love Madelon's mother, and would have made 
 her mine could I have done so. But I was a priest, 
 and she was another's; and so-, driven on by the in- 
 tensest passion that ever consumed the human heart'
 
 114 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 I sought the only other alternative. The woman scorn 
 ed me reviled me heaped upon me the most with 
 ering contempt her high heart could conceive threat 
 ened me with the largest exposure forbade me the 
 house all all ! Mother of God, how I grew to hate that 
 woman that woman who had defied my power ; tram 
 pled upon my heart ; and laughed at the pains of my 
 fierce passion! It was one of these interviews which the 
 brat broke in upon. I remember it well, and so does 
 she, it seems. Better, far better, that she did not." 
 
 With a quick, nervous, movement, the Jesuit again 
 arose from his chair, and striding across the room to 
 the book-case, produced the inevitable black bottle. 
 He quaffed deeply this time, and then placing it be 
 fore me, bade me drink. 
 
 "The mother," he continued, slightly calmed down 
 "died shortly after our last bitter interview; but 
 to the end of her life I persecuted her in every pos 
 sible manner poisoned all her happiness embitter 
 ed all her days. We Jesuits, Joseph, never forego 
 our vengeance!" 
 
 I involuntarily trembled at the man's fierceness. 
 
 A scowl, dark and terrible, flitted across the priest's 
 working countenance. " I began to stand in awe of 
 the passionate and unprincipled being before me.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 115 
 
 Again he resumed. 
 
 "Then all my hatred concentrated upon the child, 
 the living image of the mother ; and the circumstan 
 ces of her seizure by the Protestants, together with 
 the conditions of her father's will, seemed to open a 
 channel for the gratification of my hate. I could at 
 once serve both the Church and myself perform my 
 duty, and in a measure, at least, fling back the pain 
 the mother had inflicted upon me. The loss of their 
 wealth, if nothing else, shall yet compensate me for 
 what I have suffered !" 
 
 I now felt more than satisfied, that Father Huestace 
 was as avaricious as he was revengeful ; but his 
 whole character and conduct was so mixed up, that 
 he was really as inexplicable as the sphinx. I could 
 but look on, wonder, and, like a child in leading- 
 strings, obey ! 
 
 " You know the rest, my good Joseph," he again 
 continued. " Now I do not intend to murder Made- 
 Ion unless indeed circumstances become too impera 
 tive but while she is sweetly dreaming of husband, 
 home, love, and happiness, I will rudely awaken her 
 to a realizing sense of a convent's realities. To me 
 that will be exquisite vengeance, while the Church 
 will be nobly served both in procurement of her de-
 
 116 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 votion to that faith in which her father lived and 
 died, and in the rescue of her large estate from the 
 grasp of a heretic husband." 
 
 What a medley of dark feelings had the Jesuit vent 
 ed in the few words which he had last given utter 
 ance to. But over them all, in conclusion, he cast 
 the mantle of the Church, as if he fancied that through 
 it his real design could not be penetrated ; or if it was, 
 that it could not be arrayed against him. With me 
 he had thrown off the reserve which slightly distin 
 guished our first intercourse ; but he still endeavor 
 ed to convince me, that the gratification of his own 
 feelings were but secondary that the triumph of the 
 Church was the ultima thule of all his desires all 
 his ambition. This he more frequently implied than 
 expressed directly ; but in one way or the other, it 
 stood out prominently in all his conversations. 
 
 "But the lover, Joseph, the lover what concern 
 ing him ?" he inquired, suddenly. " Is he a myth, or 
 is he a giant, or but the creation of a rumor ? I feel 
 in my heart, that I shall hate him as I do the recreant 
 girl as I hated the mother when that mother treat 
 ed me like a dog. Come, Joseph, you have heard 
 much this night did you hear aught of him?" 
 
 Something, I imagine," was my somewhat ab-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 11 Y 
 
 stracted reply ; for I was inwardly conning over the 
 Jesuit's last declaration. 
 
 " There is a lover, then !" exclaimed the Jesuit, ac 
 tually hissing the words between his set teeth. 
 
 " I think so," I answered. 
 
 " His name, his name, Joseph ?" the priest demand 
 ed, much excited. " Did you learn that ?" 
 
 "Frank" 
 
 " Frank ! Maledictions !" cried the priest, interrupt 
 ing me. "'. " That man again ! Well, go on, Joseph. 
 What what is his other name ?" 
 
 " That I could not learn,'* I answered. 
 
 "Not learn !" cried Father Huestace, angrily. 
 
 " No, your reverence," I replied. " Listen, and you 
 will understand why I could not learn it. 
 
 "Well, go on! go on!" he said, quite evidently not 
 very well pleased. " So important, too ! Well, pro 
 ceed ! proceed !" 
 
 And then regardless of my promise to Winnie 
 of my honor of my soul's eternal welfare, I pro 
 ceeded to relate to the plotting and revengeful Jesuit, 
 word for word, all the remainder of my conversation 
 with the girl. What induced me ? you may ask. Edu 
 cation ! is my answer. 
 
 Throughout the rest of my communication the
 
 118 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 priest did not once interrupt me further than by ex 
 pressing in brief monosyllables either his anger, sur 
 prise or pleasure ; all three of which emotions my 
 words alternately and strongly agitated. He seemed 
 particularly disappointed and distressed, when I re 
 counted my ineffectual efforts to learn more of the 
 lover; but when, at length, I informed him concern 
 ing Madelon's projected visit on the following eve 
 ning, the features of his face relaxed, and he rubbed 
 his hands together joyfully. His delight was mani 
 fest. 
 
 "Ah! well done, my good Joseph!" he exclaimed, 
 as soon as my manner indicated that I had finished. 
 
 " We have at length, methinks, run the game down. 
 We will not now kindle a conflagration, that we may 
 carry the girl off in the smoke, but with a subtler 
 cunning entice her into a web, from which she cannot 
 extricate herself. Your Winnie thank the simple 
 creature has done the Church, though unwittingly, 
 good service. But we must to work, to work, for the 
 time is brief;" and the priest spoke quickly, bend 
 ing down over the table, as he did so ; " the girl 
 once in our hands, must be got out of the city as soon 
 as possible ; and that will be, when our personal safe 
 ty permits. The lover, and we must quickly find
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 119 
 
 out who lie really is knows too much will be like 
 ly to push inquiry too far, and must be seen to must 
 be seen to, Joseph. Leave him to ine, however. Once 
 let me be certain of his identity, and I will deal 
 surely with the ardent heretic. If it be this Frank, I 
 owe him the principal and interest of a blow which 
 yet rankles in my flesh." 
 
 " But how are we to proceed now, your reverence ?" 
 I inquired. " What do you contemplate ?" 
 
 " I am not exactly prepared to say, Joseph," he 
 answered. " A scheme is floating through my brain, 
 but it is not yet matured. I must sleep upon it. 
 We are, however, approaching a climax, either for 
 good or ill. The time has come when we must be 
 more cautious still. One hasty or miscalculated move 
 and the heretics will again, and perchance, irreme 
 diably checkmate us. Therefore caution, Joseph, 
 caution. Defeat this time would overwhelm us. But 
 go your way now, for I must have time for reflection. 
 Come to-morrow morning early; but first find out 
 where this Anna Sinclair resides that is essential." 
 
 I had started towards the door, when the sound 
 of the priest's voice caused me to turn round again. 
 
 " And, Joseph, before you go, a thought has struck 
 me," he said. " Are you to any extent familiar
 
 120 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 with the tone of voice, and the manner, of Made- 
 Ion's cousin, Charles?" 
 
 " I have both seen him, and heard him converse, 
 frequently," I replied, wondering at what he was 
 aiming. 
 
 "Could you personate him pretty well ? I have 
 somewhere heard from the Vicar Genefal, or some 
 body that the art of imitation and mimicry was 
 not the least of your accomplishments. Was I mis 
 informed ?" 
 
 " Your reverence was not," I responded. " The 
 gift for it is natural, and not acquired, has fre 
 quently created much wonderment. I could per 
 sonate any man living." 
 
 " And well quite well ?" demanded the priest. 
 
 " Yes, your reverence," I replied. " In this case 
 so well that I would defy even Madelon to dis 
 cover the difference, provided that she did not see 
 me." 
 
 " I am right glad of it, my good Joseph," the 
 priest continued. " It would have been unfortunate 
 otherwise ; as it is, it certainly renders our chance 
 of success all the better. And now, good night, 
 again, and do not forget to find out where Made- 
 Ion's friend resides. The heretics! we shall beat
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 121 
 
 them yet, Joseph, we shall beat them yet ! And 
 let me but once see Madelon, and her lover for it 
 would be a shame to part them safe on their way 
 to Rome, and I am satisfied." 
 
 The Jesuit turned away as he uttered the last 
 words, and I silently glided from the room. 
 
 Safe on their way to Rome ! That was news to me. 
 
 Heretofore the priest had but referred ambiguous 
 ly to his ultimate intention, but now he expressed 
 himself in decided terms. Rome, mighty Rome ! 
 was Madelon's final destination, and the lover's too? 
 it seemed. To those who could appreciate the work 
 ings of such a nature as was the priest's, nothing 
 would be easier to understand than why Madelon's 
 lover had even when his existence was but a vague 
 suspicion incurred the animosity of the long resent 
 ful Jesuit. To men like him, whose malice is un 
 dying, and whose hatred is unbounded, it is but natural. 
 Their happiness their prosperity had Madelon 
 have wedded would have driven him frantic. 
 Thus, in his heart, he had condemned the lover ; 
 and circumstances but tended to confirm his deter 
 mination. The suspicion which at that time pos 
 sessed him, that it was from the hands of Made- 
 Ion's intended that he had received the blow on the
 
 122 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 night of the conflagration but whetted his desire to 
 include him in the girl's misfortune. Any man 
 with his feelings corrupted as they were placed 
 in similar circumstances, would, doubtless, have ex 
 perienced the same unreasonable passions. 
 
 These constituted the undercurrent of the Jesuit's 
 thoughts and desires, and it was left for time and 
 circumstances to lay them bare to my gaze.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 123 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE morrow came as all morrows do buoyant 
 with life, and heavy with death rosy with health, 
 and pale with sickness overflowing with plenty, and 
 pinched with want bright and bounding with 
 gladness and joy, and black and terrible with sor 
 row and grief. 
 
 To some it brought disappointment to some des 
 pair to some death ; and to a few, comparatively 
 speaking, happiness. To many it was as the day 
 before as the day after would be. 
 
 To the poor it presented the same endless round 
 of labor the same inward agony the same narrow 
 sphere, mentally and physically. To the rich the 
 same gaiety the same pleasure (!) and alas ! the 
 same hard, worldly, hearts. These remain unchang 
 ed the world over, and day after day. Great ar 
 mies may annihilate each other the pestilence may
 
 124 Madelon Hauuey, or 
 
 depopulate the earthquake swallow up the flood 
 engulf; and all things change, but the rich man's 
 pleasure, and the poor man's agony they are eter 
 nal. How much happier and better people would be, 
 could each but realize a portion of the other's in 
 heritance. But the one will not, and the other can 
 not; so the world must even jog on as it is. 
 
 The morning's light, too, bro'ke alike upon the 
 vision of the sinner and the saint the friend and 
 the foe the guilty and the innocent. The Jesuit 
 with his head full of schemes the lover with his 
 heart running over with affection the maiden, anx 
 ious, but trembling, for the future, and happy, as 
 might be, in the blissful ignorance which rendered 
 her oblivious of the day's closing ; all, so widely 
 separated in some things, so closely united in others, 
 in the same hour welcomed the outspreading of 
 Heaven's light. Some looked forward to it for the 
 good it might bring some for the wrong which 
 should then be consummated. 
 
 But let us leave these speculations. The morn 
 ing is up, and the world awake our world at least. 
 Already the picture crowds upon the canvass, and 
 the panorama once more moves. 
 
 And now again for the reality.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 125 
 
 The atmosphere was cuttingly cold, and the sky 
 filled with heavy, leaden colored clouds, indicating 
 a fall of snow. Everything out-doors presented a 
 cheerless aspect; the streets, the houses, the bare 
 and leafless trees; all even the men, and women, and 
 children, rushed along at an unusual rate of speed, 
 as if they fancied that by haste they might escape 
 the sombre influence of the weather It is thus that 
 we all seek to run away from the disagreeables of 
 life, but too seldom achieve our object. We may 
 chain the lightning to our feet, but we cannot escape 
 the dark days. 
 
 At an early hour early for that season of the year, 
 at least I was abroad. I had just so much time to 
 spare, and a great deal to crowd in it. I therefore 
 portioned out my plans in accordance with my allot 
 ted time. It may be well to mention, that in conse 
 quence of Mr. Ellis' easy manner of living, I was 
 enabled to frequently absent myself from the house 
 in fact daily and very often for quite a conside 
 rable period. It was thus that I managed to keep 
 up my communication with Father Huestace. With 
 many masters I would have found the task a much 
 more difficult one. A good excuse, too, never failed 
 of securing me a holiday when I desired it.
 
 126 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 As I have said, on this day I was early abroad. 
 With considerable difficulty I succeeded in finding 
 out where Mrs. Sinclair resided. That accomplished, 
 I directed my steps towards the church. Arrived 
 there I was soon closeted with the priest, and in five 
 minutes had communicated to him my success in 
 carrying out his wishes. Father Huestace seemed 
 delighted, and expressed himself in highly laudatory 
 terms. 
 
 After receiving some further particulars and in 
 structions relating to the contemplated abduction, I 
 was dismissed, with the injunction to keep as strict 
 a watch as my time would permit, and as I could, 
 without exposing myself or exciting suspicion, around 
 the house at which Madelon was visiting; and to 
 report to the priest, should I discover any movement 
 likely to interfere with the successful accomplish 
 ment of the scheme in view. 
 
 The Jesuit and myself were to meet again that 
 evening should no unforeseen circumstance occur in 
 the mean time to interfere with the contemplated ad 
 venture at a certain point which he designated. 
 
 The hours passed quickly on, and found me alter 
 nately gliding between the residence of Mr. Ellis 
 and the home of the Sinclair's. Notwithstanding,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 127 
 
 however, I got but my trouble for my pains. At 
 length daylight passed away, and a heavy darkness 
 settled upon the great city. As night approached, 
 snow began to fall, and each moment after, the white 
 flakes fell faster and faster thicker and thicker. 
 The streets were soon almost deserted, and at an 
 earlier hour than usual the greater proportion of the 
 stores were closed up for the night. 
 
 The Jesuit's present plan for the abduction of Ma- 
 delon, was bolder and more daring, if any thing, than 
 the previous one. It seemed almost incredible, that 
 any human being could be found with audacity and 
 confidence enough to attempt it. For my own part, 
 I did not believe it at all practicable, and I grew 
 nervous at the thought of what might prove the 
 finale. Madelon might not visit her friend ; illness, 
 or any one of a dozen other causes might prevent her 
 I had been unable to discover any thing with cer 
 tainty then she might return home before the hour 
 specified and even, if in these particulars all went 
 well, she might still detect the cheat we designed 
 putting upon her. In the event of either, discomfit 
 ure was certain, and a fatal exposure highly proba 
 ble. 
 
 Father Huestace and myself were to meet i pon a
 
 128 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 certain corner about halfway between the church 
 and the residence of Miss Sinclair. Pulling the 
 collar of my surtout close up around my ears, and 
 my fur-cap down over my eyes, I hastened off, when 
 near to the appointed hour, for our rendezvous. 
 
 After a half hour's brisk trotting it was too cold 
 and stormy to think of walking I came within sight 
 of the point agreed upon. A solitary hack was stand 
 ing upon the corner designated, and the rough look 
 ing driver, closely muffled up, was trotting up and 
 down the pavement beating his arms together to 
 keep himself warm. . I was about passing the ve 
 hicle as nothing unusual, when a light tap upon the 
 window glass arrested my attention. I stopped. 
 Immediately the door was opened slightly, and a fa 
 miliar voice, necessarily smothered, called, " Joseph !" 
 
 " Is that you, Father Huestace ?" I inquired, in a 
 whisper, stepping at the same time towards the hack. 
 
 "Yes," said he, in a tone barely audible. "But 
 your question was an imprudent one. Suppose it 
 had not been in, , what a clue some one would have 
 had to our identity ; for, Joseph, when I fall, you 
 are likely to totter. As it is, no harm is done, so 
 jump in quickly, for though the night is dark and 
 stormy we may be observed."
 
 Tke Jesuit and Jiis Victim. 129 
 
 "Yis, ye'r honor, be lively, or somebody might be 
 askin', what was goin' on," exclaimed the hackman, 
 at the same time gently pushing me into the vehicle. 
 " They're mighty inquishitive, these dom'd Yankees !" 
 
 By the time the hackman had thus expressed 
 his opinion of the " dom'd Yankees," I was seated, 
 and the door was closed. A moment after and we 
 moved off at a rather rapid rate. For several min 
 utes after starting a mutual silence ensued. The 
 Jesuit, buried in his huge black cloak, remained 
 with his eyes bent downward, doubtless busy in 
 the mazes of his scheme ; and I gazed out the 
 window at the swiftly falling snow flakes. 
 
 At length the priest lifted his eyes to my face, 
 and addressed me, evidently in the same strain in 
 which he had been last ruminating ; and his voice 
 betokened a confidence it is not at all probable 
 he then really felt. He but sought, doubtless, to 
 encourage me ; and probably his own feelings re- . 
 quired some little bolstering. 
 
 " We are now, my good Joseph, fairly out at 
 sea," he remarked, in an earnest, unwavering, tone. 
 " In a brief space we shall either be wrecked upon 
 the rocks which surround us, or snugly moored in 
 
 6*
 
 130 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 a safe harbor with the coveted prize beyond the 
 chance of rescue. What think you now ? 
 
 " Does your reverence actually want to know ?" I 
 demanded, doubtful of his real wish. 
 
 " Most assuredly !" he responded, emphatically. 
 
 " Then I must say that I think the first part of 
 your prediction is most likely to be verified," I 
 answered, plainly. 
 
 " Not so, Joseph, not so !" he rejoined, quickly 
 " From the first, daring as the scheme is, I have felt 
 thoroughly confident of a successful issue. In fact, 
 the very audacity of the thing is its greatest defence 
 the surest guaranty of our ultimate triumph. Not 
 one person in a thousand would have a suspicion of 
 such an attempt under such circumstances ; and 
 upon that I count largely. Yes, Joseph, there is 
 something whispers me, and I believe its truth, that 
 this night Madelon Ilawley will be lost to her Pro 
 testant friends lost to her heretic lover lost to her 
 self; but regained, and forever, to the Church. Aye, 
 this night, that Church, which she has so basely 
 deserted, and her hated friends mocked, shall tri 
 umph, my good Joseph. No longer shall the vile 
 heretics trample upon our power, and lord it over 
 the true, and faithful followers, of the only living
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 131 
 
 Church. No ! the day of our success has come ; 
 and the hour of their downfall approaches. The 
 labor of sixteen years shall this night bring forth 
 its fruit." 
 
 The priest paused; and I thought that if the confi 
 dence of his words was an evidence of success, we 
 were indeed likely to come off triumphant. But the 
 abduction of Madelon required more than mere 
 words. 
 
 "And this night, too," he continued, ' Madelon 
 shall begin that atonement which she owes to the 
 Church for long years of heresy to her father's memo 
 ry outraged by her apostacy." 
 
 The Jesuit's words, which but always hid a darker 
 intent, struck coldly to my heart ; and even then, Pa 
 pist as I was conspirator as I was cheat as I was, 
 I began to feel some compunctious visitings. At 
 that moment a little human sympathy began to creep 
 into my heart, when up before me arose the shadow 
 of the crime I had already committed my fear of 
 the Jesuit's power and my oath to the Church of 
 Rome, as if to frighten from me the generous 
 thought. 
 
 "Oath!" I exclaimed, interrupting the old man in 
 his narration. "Are priests sworn, too?"
 
 132 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 u Yes," he replied, earnestly. " Sworn to obey the 
 mother Church of Rome, as the chief Head and ma 
 tron above all pretended Churches throughout the 
 whole earth, and to serve with zeal St. Peter and his 
 Successors, as the founder of the true and ancient 
 Catholic faith, against all heretical kings, princes, 
 states, or powers, repugnant to the same. Hereafter 
 remember that. Priests are the sworn enemies of 
 everything that is repugnant to the Catholic faith. 
 More, they are bounden "not to declare, act or control 
 any matter prejudicial to the Church, and in all 
 things to further her interests more than their own 
 earthly good and earthly pleasure, as she and her 
 Head, his Holiness, are or should be supreme over 
 everything." Are priests sworn? Why oaths and 
 oaths which actually consume a man's identity ab 
 sorb his real self, and make of him but a mere walk 
 ing automaton ; which turn from him all sympathy 
 for any and everything outside his restricted bounds 
 which deprive him of both mental and physical 
 liberty, and compel implicit obedience to the One 
 power, compose the very foundation of the Romish 
 superstructure. It is in this that the papal hierar 
 chy is strong is far-reaching is infallible; it is 
 in this, that she can, and does, frequently, accomplish
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim.^ 133 
 
 ends and purposes which astonish and startle, and 
 often curse the world. The word of one man, for 
 good or bad,, and bad always, in that the purpose is 
 not for humanity's sake, but for the benefit of tho 
 One power, and therefore utterly selfish, sets the 
 whole vast complicated machine silently but surely 
 to work. 
 
 But enough of this, or my feeble and worn ener 
 gies will be entirely consumed before I have half 
 completed my narrative. You have yet much to 
 hear much that will better prove what I mean 
 than all I could say. Where was I? Ah, yes, I 
 remember. 
 
 There was a momentary pause when the priest 
 had finished the expression of his very confident 
 opinion. And still the vehicle rolled rapidly along. 
 
 " But may not your reverence be too sanguine ?" 
 I, at length, inquired. " These Protestants are eagle- 
 eyed, while our adventure is at best, as you your 
 self admit, reckless and audacious." 
 
 "It is all that, Joseph," said Father Huestace 
 " apd yet not necessarily impossible. As desperate 
 schemes have heretofore been adopted, and carried 
 to successful issues. It wants confidence more than 
 anything else confidence in one's own innate power
 
 134: Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 and ability. That more than any other quality 
 makes a great man elevates him above and beyond 
 the common herd. As dangers and difficulties in 
 crease and multiply, such men rise with the occasion, 
 boldly grappling and overthrowing every opposing 
 element. While the weak-hearted by their indeci 
 sion and fear court defeat, they, with a superior con 
 fidence, which is but a species of courage, press on 
 and eventually conquer a glorious victory. Such a 
 man, in a measure, Joseph, am I. Not a hero, nor 
 yet, probably, a great man in any manner ; but still 
 one who has the mind to conceive, and the con 
 fidence to execute, what to others would appear 
 utterly impossible. No, no, Joseph my spirit is in 
 domitable. The toil and trouble of many years, 
 with the certainty of several failures staring me 
 right in the face, does not now damp my ardor or 
 impair that confidence I have in final success. There 
 is not room enough in my heart for a doubt to creep 
 in. And yet confidence, in every case, requires auxili 
 aries in the present, caution and cunning. Too san 
 guine, my good Joseph ! Why, even the weather favors 
 us again ; a better night we could not have selected, 
 if we ourselves had had the choosing. In fact, it was 
 the probability almost certainty of just such a
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 135 
 
 night, that influenced me in adopting the measures 
 I have. The weather has answered all my hopes 
 and anticipations." 
 
 " But should we fail and be detected for despite 
 the arguments of your reverence, I believe there is 
 every chance what then ?" I inquired, somewhat 
 anxious to know what the priest contemplated, if 
 anything, in such a contingency. 
 
 " If the former withdraw and await another op 
 portunity ; if the latter, flee the country !" he An 
 swered, with that readiness which betokened a fami 
 liarity with the subject in all its bearings. " There 
 are other lands, Joseph and lands where the Church 
 acknowledges no law but her own sovereign will; 
 obeys no master's but her own Superior's ; and 
 bends to no circumstances, but of her own making ; 
 and where not one, from the king upon his throne, 
 to the beggar on the highway, dares think or act in 
 dependent of her expressed or even implied will. 
 There, Joseph, we can find a refuge there the broad 
 wings of the Church will protect us from the violation 
 of all laws but those of her own making. But I do 
 not anticipate any such result; perform but your 
 part properly, and the girl will be in our keeping, 
 and without any danger of discovery to ourselves."
 
 136 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 After that we both again dropped into silence ; 
 for the last declaration of the priest was unanswer 
 able. And still the vehicle rolled along quietly, and 
 now somewhat slowly, in consequence of the fast in 
 creasing bed of snow ; notwithstanding the driver 
 was evidently urging his horses onward somewhat 
 smartly ^ 
 
 " But this hackman ! ' I exclaimed, in a few mo 
 ments, as the thought suddenly struck me that he 
 at least would soon see that treachery was a-foot, 
 and possibly betray us. 
 
 Bear in mind that I was only now learning the 
 minute particulars of the scheme ; heretofore the 
 priest had only thought proper to enlarge me 
 upon a portion of it. 
 
 " Will be as secret as though death had closed 
 his lips forever!" said the Jesuit, in answer to my 
 question. " He is the same who waited my bidding 
 on the night of the conflagration. It is not the first, 
 or the second time, that he has done me a good 
 service. He is perfectly familiar with all our 
 schemes, Joseph ; and is a valuable adjunct to 
 those who can trust him. I can." 
 
 " All !" I exclaimed, looking at the priest, amazed,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 13 7 
 
 and wondering that he should trust such a creature 
 with so weighty a secret. 
 
 " But he is my slave /" rejoined the Jesuit, 
 with a strong accentuation. 
 
 The reply was all-sufficient. Indeed I might 
 have known as much, had I been at that moment 
 half as clear-headed as my companion. His slave ! 
 The words guaranteed the man's silence. 
 
 ( Years ago," continued the priest " this man 
 had a gay and pretty wife, of whom he at length 
 grew so jealous that in one of his mad fits bru 
 talized, too, by strong drink he murdered her. I 
 chanced how it matters not to be a partial wit 
 ness to the deed, and the only one. I saw him as he 
 stood there, bending over the bleeding and mutilated 
 form of his young wife, his hands and clothes dyed 
 in her warm red blood, and no obligation of the 
 Confessional stood between me and the secret. I 
 could have sent him to the gallows ; but I did better 
 I made him my slave. I can trust him. 
 
 " Was he not arrested ?" I inquired, nervously. 
 
 "Yes," answered the priest "and thrown into 
 prison. A long and tedious trial ensued, but the evi 
 dence for the prosecution proved unsatisfactory, and 
 we finally swore him clear Even to this day he
 
 138 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 trembles at the least allusion to the circumstance. I 
 can trust him. A hint from me, and he would again 
 murder. But stop, we must be near the house from 
 the length of time that has elapsed since we started." 
 
 The priest lowered one of the side windows, and 
 shading his eyes with his hands, peered out. 
 
 " 'Tis a miserable night, Joseph ; but not one at 
 which we should complain," he muttered, as a gust 
 of wind drove a mass of the cold flakes violently into 
 his face, and compelled him to draw back, and close 
 the window. 
 
 After proceeding some little distance further, the 
 driver" bent down to one of the windows, and tapping 
 against the glass, hailed us. 
 
 " Whist, y'er riverence ; all right here we are ; 
 I know the house," he exclaimed, in a whisper. 
 "Howly Mother, how it snows!" he continued, a mo 
 ment after, and in a louder key. 
 
 " Be prudent, Patrick ; as you value body and soul, 
 be prudent!" muttered the priest, sternly. '"Follow 
 my directions, and do neither more nor less- you will 
 not then go astray. Now drive up to the house." 
 
 The priest had again lowered the window, when 
 the hackman, or Patrick, as I shall call him, tapped
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 139 
 
 upon the glass ; at the conclusion of the foregoing 
 speech he drew it up once more. 
 
 Directly the vehicle scraped against the curbstone, 
 and Patrick expertly alighted, again shook the snow 
 from his shaggy overcoat, and threw open the door, 
 at the same time making as much noise in that man 
 ner, as he conveniently could. All this was done, too, 
 with a confidence, that would have given the lie to 
 any suspicion of a dishonest motive. Confidence is 
 indeed a great conqueror, and has won many a des 
 perate battle. 
 
 It was still snowing, and the atmosphere was al 
 most impervious from the falling flakes. I peeped 
 out and found that we were standing directly in 
 front of the Sinclair mansion, where, of course, we 
 calculated upon finding Madelon. The lower range 
 of windows were tightly closed, and we could see 
 nothing ; but as we drove up, the sound of pleasant 
 voices greeted us from within. The priest listened 
 for a moment, and then remarked; 
 
 " Madelon is here, Joseph ; rest assured all's well." 
 
 "Yes, that ends well," I replied, naturally; 
 though hardly conscious, from a multitude of other 
 thoughts, of what I was saying. 
 
 " True, Joseph ; and if this ends not well, call me
 
 140 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 no prophet," responded the Jesuit. "But drawback 
 a moment" I had bent forward " and you, Patrick, 
 stand still where you are." 
 
 The other stately mansions upon both sides of the 
 street were also closed up ; and altogether the whole 
 square presented a dark and deserted appearance. 
 Even the gas-light upon the corner burned dimly, and 
 through the falling snow flakes looked like a little, 
 twinkling star. All was still, and dark, and lonely ; 
 and I myself felt satisfied that we were not likely 
 to be disturbed by the eye of idle curiosity; for on 
 such a night 
 
 " few walked about, 
 And 'twas not pleasure called them out, 
 But some necessity or ill, 
 Had sent them forth against their will." W. E. BINDER. 
 
 According to the priest's directions I drew back 
 into the vehicle without uttering another word. 
 Father Hucstace reconnoitered the premises from the 
 basement to the roof,. and I felt"assured that then at 
 least, if really not before, he began to appreciate the 
 importance of the task he had undertaken began to 
 realize that success, in a great measure, depended 
 upon the girl's thoughtlessness and credulity. 
 
 We where then sitting upon the side of the hack 
 nearest the Sinclair residence, each of us occupying
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 141 
 
 a separate seat. Directly the priest withdrew to the 
 off side, at the same time bidding me to continue in 
 the position I already occupied. I obeyed. He then 
 let fall the crimson silk curtain to the side-window 
 near him, thus enveloping the interior of the vehicle 
 in almost impenetrable darkness. 
 
 All this had really occupied but a very few min 
 utes after the driver alighted. 
 
 "Now, Joseph, be on the alert," said the -priest, 
 addressing me. Then turning to the hackman he 
 whispered ; 
 
 " Patrick, ring the bell."' 
 
 " All right, ye'r riverence," responded the man, as 
 he turned away from the carriage, and began to as 
 cend the high steps of the building. 
 
 That my heart sank within my bosom it is need 
 less to deny. I never was a coward, and yet I trem 
 bled then. 
 
 A female domestic almost instantly answered Pa 
 trick's bold and confident summons ; but he, instead 
 of immediately withdrawing from the door, as he 
 should have done, tipped his hat obsequiously, and 
 was evidently preparing to address the maid. The 
 priest quickly bent forward, and his painful anxiety 
 was manifested by his short, quick, breathing.
 
 142 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 "Maledictions!" he hissed out almost inaudibly; 
 immediately comprehending Patrick's intention, and 
 the effect it would be likely to produce. " Speak, Jo 
 seph, speak !" he continued, turning to me with much 
 excitement, and grasping my arm nervously. " The 
 rascal's tongue will ruin us ; and I forgot to caution 
 him. Speak! Speak!" 
 
 " Inform Miss Hawley, that her cousin is waiting 
 for her !" I exclaimed, quickly, readily assuming the 
 exact expression of the gentleman referred to. 
 
 Patrick appeared to take the hint, upon hearing 
 another address the girl, and immediately descended 
 the steps. 
 
 " Her cousin Charles, I presume," said the girl, 
 entirely led astray by the deception. Even the priest 
 started at the sound of my voice, and muttered " ad 
 mirable !" 
 
 " The same," I replied. 
 
 " Said I not that she was here !" whispered the 
 priest, exultingly. " Now, Joseph, let the girl obtain 
 a slight glimpse of your person, but keep your face 
 well shaded." 
 
 I unhesitatingly did as he directed me. 
 
 " Will you not alight, sir ?" the girl continued, ad 
 dressing me almost at the same time with the priest.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 143 
 
 "No, not this evening," I replied. "Merely an 
 nounce that I have come." 
 
 With a " yes sir," the girl closed the door in con 
 sequence of the storm, I suppose and disappeared 
 within the house. 
 
 And still the feathery flakes came down just as 
 fast, and just as thick. 
 
 Immediately upon the girl's disappearance, the 
 priest, leaning slightly forward, called to Patrick. 
 
 " Whist, ye'r riverence, here I am !" responded the 
 mendacious rascal, springing to the door, and thrust 
 ing his murderous looking countenance into the 
 vehicle. 
 
 " Keep that mouth of your's shut, or your Irish 
 tongue will betray us. You would have ruined us 
 but a moment since, had you have spoken." 
 - Ye'r riverence did'nt order me not to spake, and 
 we always do. Sure an' its the custom, and I thought 
 ye wanted me to, or ilse ye would have towld me !" 
 Patrick replied, very humbly. 
 
 " I suppose I am to blame ; but mind, don't speak 
 another word until I command you. Do you under 
 stand that ?" cried the priest, with the tone and 
 manner of a thorough tyrant.
 
 144 Madelon Howley, or 
 
 " Yis, ye'r riverence," responded his minion. " I'm 
 dumb. Enything ilse, ye'r riverence ?" 
 
 " Stand aside ! Hush !" muttered the priest, again 
 withdrawing into the off corner. 
 
 The crisis had come. 
 
 At that moment the door of the house was re-open 
 ed, and Madelon, radiant in the most ineffable smiles, 
 entered the hall, accompanied on the one side by her 
 friend Anna at least so I judged and on the other 
 by no less a person than the veritable and mysterious 
 Frank. I recognized him at the first glance, although 
 I had never seen him since the day of the excommu 
 nication. 
 
 " Observe the young gentleman, your reverence," 
 I said, turning to the priest. " 'Tis he Frank !" 
 
 "He here!" muttered the Jesuit, straining his gaze 
 towards the door. " This begins to look as if my sus 
 picions were correct. This may be the lover, Joseph ! 
 Doubtless, is ! We shall see." 
 
 I did not reply to the priest, nor did he volunteer 
 any further remarks at that time. 
 
 Behind Madelon and the other two appeared an 
 elderly lady and gentleman, and further back several 
 domestics were clustered in the hall. In one light 
 ning glance I took in the number and position of the
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 145 
 
 whole party. The abduction of Madelon under the 
 very eyes of so many people, was at once a bold and 
 villainous undertaking, and under such circumstances 
 it was but natural to count the chances of success. 
 
 7*
 
 146 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MADELON walked forward to the front top step 
 and peered at the hack, but it was too dark and 
 stormy to see within, and suspicion had not sharp 
 ened her eyesight. 
 
 Patrick stood beside the vehicle, holding the door 
 open with one hand, and blowing the fingers of 
 the other to keep them warm. At that moment 
 his actions were beyond suspicion. 
 
 The priest had sunken back in the off corner, 
 and was completely hidden from view. 
 
 I occupied a seat near the door ; but I had so 
 arranged myself that not even the most prying eye 
 could have caught the slightest glimpse of any 
 portion of my person by which I could be recog 
 nized. 
 
 " Is that you, cousin Charley ?" Madelon inquired,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 14T 
 
 as she stood there leaning slightly out the door, 
 with her eyes fixed upon the carriage. 
 
 " Certainly, Madelon, who else should it be ?" I 
 answered, boldly ; still, of course, maintaining my 
 assumed character. " Come, now, make haste" I 
 continued " for it is getting late, and the streets 
 are in a miserable condition for travelling." 
 
 At the first sound of Madelon's musical voice 
 the priest had clutched my arm with nervous anx 
 iety. As I concluded the foregoing speech he 
 withdrew his hand, and heaved a sigh of relief. 
 Madelon evidently did not detect the counterfeit. 
 And that was owing, doubtless, to three causes com 
 bined ; my very natural imitation the buzzing 
 sound, if I may so style it, of the driving storm; 
 and her freedom from suspicion at the moment. 
 
 " Will you not come into the house, Mr. Haw- 
 ley ?" inquired Madelon's friends, simultaneously. 
 
 " Thank you, not to night," I replied. " I have 
 been suffering with a very severe cold during the 
 greater portion of the day, and it would not be pru 
 dent for me to expose myself too much in such a storm 
 as this. In fact, I should not have come out at all 
 to-night, but under the peculiar circumstances which
 
 148 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 surround Madelon. You can, doubtless, appreciate 
 the necessity that brings me forth." 
 
 " Such being the case, Charley, it certainly would 
 be very ungenerous to insist upon your alighting," 
 remarked the young man, Miss Sinclair's brother, 
 Madelon's lover, and young Hawley's intimate friend, 
 as after circumstances developed. 
 
 11 Better bathe your feet in warm water, and take 
 some hot ginger-tea before you go to bed, Mr. Haw- 
 ley," exclaimed the old lady, in the rear, kindly. 
 " You'll feel the better for it, when you get up." 
 
 " Don't get out, Charles," continued Madelon, 
 sweetly ; u I will be ready in a moment. I'm sorry 
 that you are not well, indeed, I am !" 
 
 There was an instant's pause ; when, all at once, a 
 sudden thought, and it might have been a slightly 
 suspicious one, seemed to enter her mind, and she ex 
 claimed, 
 
 " But, cousin Charles, if you have just come from 
 home, why did you not bring our own carriage, and 
 not a public conveyance, as I perceive you have? 
 You know how aunt disapproves of such a course." 
 
 I could feel the priest tremble, for the question 
 was such an abrupt one, and so little foreseen. 
 
 I knew that all now depended upon my answer,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 149 
 
 and the conviction seemed to render my mind as 
 clear as a crystal. In a single moment I reviewed 
 every circumstance that I had discovered in con 
 nection with the family ; and there were a number 
 of trifling things that had fallen under my obser 
 vation ; and almost without any effort on my own 
 part an answer suggested itself. My knowledge of 
 how matters stood immediately satisfied me of its 
 excellence, and I hastened to reply; 
 
 " Why, because mother and Emma" tne latter was 
 young Hawley's wife " were called away to see old 
 Mrs. Darling" she was an aged lady who lived some 
 squares distant, and for whom the Hawley family pro 
 fessed a strong liking "who is said to be dying. 
 Poor old soul, she has had another attack of rheuma 
 tism in the stomach. The doctor didn't think that 
 she could possibly survive it this time. The folks 
 went, of course ; and as they didn't get back in time, 
 and it was impossible to tell how late their visit 
 might be prolonged, I secured the services of this 
 man whom I know and here I am.'' 
 
 < Poor old Mrs. Darling," exclaimed Madelon, sym 
 pathetically. "How I pity her! A dear, good soul, 
 whose loss many will have reason to deplore. Some-
 
 150 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 body get my hood and shawl quick ! I'll be ready 
 in a few moments, cousin Charley !" 
 
 The priest, during this conversation, had remained 
 as immoveable as a statue ; but as Madelon conclud 
 ed, he breathed a sigh of relief. The girl's words 
 re-assured him. 
 
 My excuse was a plausible one, and, you will admit, 
 admirably conceived : though a baser lie the brain of 
 man could not well have concocted. The girl's suspi 
 cion if indeed it had reached that point, was at 
 once allayed, as her subsequent remark fully betok 
 ened. The excuse was perfectly natural, too ; and 
 to that may be attributed its complete success. 
 
 You must bear in mind that during this interview 
 we in the hack could hardly be seen by those stand 
 ing in the hall; while they, in consequence of the 
 light behind them, could be pretty well distinguished 
 by us. At the same time the misty barrier of fall 
 ing snow-flakes contributed its share towards obscur 
 ing the prospect of both parties. But of the two 
 we had a decided advantage. At the best they could 
 but see the mere outlines of my form, while we were 
 enabled, though indistinctly, to observe every move 
 ment which they made. 
 
 During this time some three or four men and boy?
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 151 
 
 had passed up and down the street, all except one 
 little fellow who wished that he had a carriage to 
 take him home without so much as even looking at 
 us. The sight was nothing unusual, and it was quite 
 enough for them to do to make their way against the 
 storm. 
 
 In a few moments the domestic re-appeared with 
 Madelon's equipments. 
 
 The party, in the mean time, had withdrawn a 
 little further into the hall, and the old folks, having 
 bidden their guest " good night," had retired into the 
 parlor. 
 
 Frank, and his sister, and Madelon, were now alone, 
 the domestics having also cleared the hall at the mo 
 ment the old folks retired. 
 
 The priest now bent over towards the door of the 
 vehicle. 
 
 " Hist ! they are talking !" he whispered, catching 
 me by the arm. " Listen !" 
 
 I bent down and turned my ear towards the door 
 of the house. 
 
 Some indifferent conversation ensued between the 
 three in relation to a return of the visit, when the 
 two girls whispered each other " good night." Then 
 their hands were clasped ; and their lips met in a
 
 152 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 parting salutation. And then there was another kiss, 
 and a manly voice, exclaimed, 
 
 "Good night, dear Madelon, and may God have 
 you in His care forever and ever. Ere long, sweet, 
 we shall not meet to part thus. The day of our hap 
 pinessof our joy, is yet to come. A little while 
 and your home shall be mine your friends mine 
 your enemies mine. Good night ! Good night !" 
 
 The Jesuit's breath came thick and fast ; and even 
 in the darkness, I could see his black eyes sparkle 
 fiercely. " What sort of man is this ?" I wondered, 
 in my own mind, as I involuntarily shrank at his 
 fierce look. 
 
 "As I imagined, Joseph," he whispered. "The 
 lover we have him ! Maledictions on him ! but his 
 fist is heavy, as I have reason to know." 
 
 The party now moved towards the door, and I 
 thought it best that I should again be heard. 
 
 " Come, Madelon, make haste ! and Frank, you 
 rascal, don't you detain her!" I cried. "It may be 
 fine fun for you folks, standing there in the hall, 
 but it's mighty dull sport to me out here. Why 
 I'm almost frozen to an icicle. If I had imagined 
 that you were going to be so long, I should have
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 153 
 
 ventured out in the first place, rather than sit 
 here. Ugh!" 
 
 Five minutes before I should not have dared to 
 make that observation. 
 
 " Keerj your temper, Charley, and remember, that 
 you were once a young man yourself," cried Frank, 
 laughing. 
 
 "Yes; but even then I had some consideration 
 for others beside myself," I rejoined, in a jesting 
 tone. "So, none of your jokes at my expense. Re 
 member, I am six months your senior, and conse- 
 sequently have a right to some respect." 
 
 "Now, cousin Charley, only don't grumble," 
 chimed in Madelon "and I promise, when we get 
 home, to mix you a bowl of the excellent tea, 
 which good Mrs. Sinclair recommended. 
 
 "0, confound your tea!" I exclaimed, apparently 
 half in jest, and half in earnest. "I'll have none 
 of it; and if I get worse, I shall hold somebody 
 responsible, that's all!" 
 
 While yet I was speaking, Madelon began to 
 descend the steps, young Sinclair close beside her, 
 covering her with an umbrella. Anna remained 
 standing in the door, and both the girls continued 
 to chatter away like two magpies. Patrick, with
 
 154 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 a forethought that betokened a familiarity with 
 such scenes, drew the collar of his great coat close 
 up around his face, in such a manner as to com 
 pletely conceal it from view. The priest crouched 
 yet closer in the dark corner, and I turned my 
 face rather more towards the interior of the vehicle. 
 We were thus pretty effectually shaded from view. 
 
 Madelon and Frank had reached the door of the 
 hack, and the girl's foot was upon the bottom-step. 
 
 If she had but looked within ! but why specu 
 late ? her mind was too deeply absorbed in other mat 
 ters, and too free from suspicion to pursue such a 
 course. Turning round towards the house thus pre 
 senting her back to the priest and myself she cheer 
 fully bade Anna and Frank u good night," at the same 
 time shaking hands with the latter. 
 
 Then disengaging herself from the embrace of her 
 lover, she quickly entered the vehicle, and Patrick 
 seizing the door, interposed his form between it and 
 Frank, who was thus compelled to draw back a step 
 or two 
 
 "Good night, all!" I cried, quickly, and while yet 
 Madelon was getting in. 
 
 " Good night !" returned Frank and his sister, in 
 the same breath.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 155 
 
 " Be careful of Madelon, for my sake," continued 
 the former. 
 
 All this transpired before Madelon had attempted 
 to seat herself, or had had an opportunity of observ 
 ing anything in particular; not occupying as much 
 time as I have been in telling it. It took but a 
 moment, seemingly. 
 
 The last words had. not yet fallen from the lips 
 of young Sinclair, and the dress of Madelon had 
 barely disappeared within the vehicle, when Patrick 
 closed the door, and leaped upon his seat, with the 
 agility of a monkey. 
 
 At the same instant the girl discovered her error 
 at a glance seemed to comprehend the trap into 
 which she had fallen, and her danger. She would 
 have screamed, but the priest quickly encircled her 
 with his arms, and placing his handkerchief to her 
 face, she sank down, speechless and insensible. 
 
 " What have you done to her ?" I inquired, quickly. 
 
 " Nothing that will harm her," he answered, has 
 tily. " The handkerchief is saturated with a drug 
 which once inhaled, produces instantaneous stupe 
 faction. We have many such useful secrets. I 
 knew that it would be needed, and so prepared 
 myself. What would have been the consequence
 
 156 Maddon Hawley, or 
 
 just this moment, but for my forethought ? Why, we 
 should both of us, probably, have occupied a pri 
 son's cell long before morning. But now, all is se 
 cure, and Madelon will not awake before to-morrow." 
 
 At the moment the girl fell into unconscious 
 ness, and previous to the passage of the foregoing 
 remarks, the vehicle drove off, leaving Anna stand 
 ing in the door, and Frank about half way up the 
 steps, neither of them dreaming of the villainous 
 outrage to which they had been unconscious wit 
 nesses. 
 
 Patrick perfectly understood now what was re 
 quired at his hands ; and while in sight of the 
 house drove along at what might be supposed a 
 very natural rate of speed ; but immediately upon 
 turning the corner into the next street he lashed 
 his horses up, and dashed on as fast as the snow 
 would permit. 
 
 Thus we proceeded for a considerable distance, 
 the silence only once broken, and then by Father 
 Huestace. 
 
 " Was I not a prophet, Joseph ?" he demanded. 
 Qxultingly. 
 
 " Even so, your reverence," I replied, briefly, and 
 nothing more was said.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 
 
 Finally, the direction we were taking led me to 
 inquire our destination. 
 
 "To my house, of course," the priest replied, in 
 a quick whisper, as if he feared that the poor, in 
 sensate girl reposing in his arms, had yet the power 
 to betray him. 
 
 Although not previously, I now began, in my own 
 mind, to question the propriety of this step. " If 
 indeed," I thought "his object is principally, as 
 he has expressed it, to remove her from her Pro 
 testant friends, and their influence, why not con 
 ceal her in the nunnery, a much more secret and 
 suitable place, and far more safe for the girl." 
 These reflections wound up with the very natural 
 question, which I put, mentally, to myself, but 
 could not satisfactorily answer ; " Does he design 
 her any personal violence or outrage ?" 
 
 At length I ventured to remark, referring to my 
 previous question, and the Jesuit's reply, 
 
 " Is it prudent, your reverence ? May you not be 
 discovered ?" 
 
 The last half of my question was prompted, not so 
 much from the fear it expressed, as from a desire to 
 conceal the motive of my inquiry 
 
 " Discovered ! No !" responded the priest, with ab-
 
 158 Madelon Ilawley, or 
 
 rupt sternness. " Ere this people have died there, as 
 you well know, and the world outside has heen 
 none the wiser. And if I were discovered, it would be 
 but by those who would fear to speak of what they 
 had seen almost to think of it. For the prudence 
 of such a course, Joseph, I only am responsible. For 
 yourself, work and question not ; then we are .safe." 
 
 I thought that from his decision, outrageous as 
 it might be, there was no appeal, and so said no 
 more. Fear of the priest, and a deep adherance to 
 the Church, for a time made me a very pliant tool. 
 
 After that we both continued silent for the re 
 mainder of the ride. 
 
 At length we arrived in the vicinity of the church; 
 but instead of proceeding to the front entrance, Pa 
 trick drove up the small street in the rear, and 
 stopped a little south of the back entrance, which, 
 as I have before remarked, was through the grave 
 yard. The snow, which was now pretty deep, pre 
 vented the approach of the vehicle from being heard. 
 Even had it been otherwise, it would scarcely have 
 excited curiosity, as the street contained but a small 
 number of little, rickety tenements, which were in 
 habited by a brood of squalid, ignorant Irish, any 
 one of whom would have assisted the priest in car-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 159 
 
 rying out whatever scheme he might have proposed. 
 Thus did everything conspire to favor the Jesuit's 
 desires, and contribute its mite towards his success. 
 
 Patrick quietly alighted from his seat, and for some 
 moments stood perfectly still, cautiously looking down 
 towards the large thoroughfare, from which we had 
 turned, when we entered the cross-street we were then in. 
 
 At length, apparently assured by his scrutiny, he 
 gently threw open the door of the hack, and whis 
 pered to the priest ; 
 
 "All right, ye'r riverence; I don't &ee that iny- 
 body's followed us, an' the shanties hereabouts are 
 all dark and quiet. Bedad it couldn't be more still 
 if the people was all dead." 
 
 "Are you sure thire is no skulking spy about? 
 Look again !" said the Jesuit. 
 
 Patrick turned from the vehicle, and again peered 
 up and down the street , 
 
 " All right again," he continued, once more advan 
 cing to the door. "Not a sowl to be seen!" 
 
 At that moment the numerous clocks of the city 
 pealed forth the passing hour the church-bell min 
 gling its sonorous chime in the general chorus ; while 
 from the adjoining street rose up the watchman's cry 
 of "0, pa' 'leven o' clock."
 
 160 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 Without a word further, the Jesuit shifted the in 
 animate girl from his own into my arms, and alighted; 
 then taking her again from my hands, he directed me 
 to put on his cloak, which he had dropped from his 
 shoulders ride off a square or two then alight, and 
 return on foot to the front of the church, and enter 
 the building in that way. 
 
 I nodded acquiescence ; and then the priest for ho 
 was a strong, athletic man darted quickly through 
 the gate and disappeared. Madelon's weight did not 
 seem to incommode him in the least. 
 
 His object in directing me as stated, was, doubtless, 
 that if seen, I should be mistaken for himself; a very 
 natural error, you will observe, considering the late 
 ness and darkness of the hour, and that I was envelop 
 ed in his great black cloak. And thus, should any one 
 observe me, thinking it was him which he, doubt 
 less, hoped for arriving on foot and without any 
 burthen, it would go far to exculpate him in the 
 event of anything leading to discovery. 
 
 Ten minutes after the Jesuit had quitted the ve 
 hicle Patrick, having performed all that was re 
 quired of him at that time, and vanished the priest 
 and myself stood face to face in his gloomy library. 
 
 I could not help fancying the apartment more dull
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 161 
 
 and prison-like than usual. It was but a fancy, doubt 
 less; but conceit, 'tis said, is often as bad as con 
 sumption. The light seemed to burn dimmer; and, not 
 withstanding the room was agreeably warm, no cheer 
 ful blaze relieved its comfortless aspect, for the build 
 ing was heated throughout by a furnace in the cellar. 
 
 I gazed around expecting to see Madelon but 
 I was disappointed. 
 
 " Where is she ?'' I inquired, fixing my eyes upon the 
 priest, who stood before me, calm and triumphant. 
 
 Without opening his lips further than to admit 
 of the play of a slight smile, Father Huestace 
 walked across the room to the upper side-wall, and 
 touching a secret spring concealed in what I sup 
 posed to be a solid wall, but what in reality was 
 but a wood partition one of the apparent panels 
 the partition was so painted flew open, discover 
 ing a small, but neatly furnished apartment beyond. 
 
 I was somewhat astonished, though not probably 
 to the extent that you and many others would 
 have been; for I was well acquainted with all the 
 intricacies of Catholic buildings, and knew that 
 most of them contained some secret not generally 
 public. 
 
 The concealed door being open, the priest turned
 
 162 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 round and beckoned me to follow him. I did so; 
 and together we entered the apartment. 
 
 Upon a single bed, in one corner of the room, 
 reposed the form of a woman and that woman, as 
 you will readily imagine, was Madelon Hawley. 
 
 She was still insensible 
 
 Together we walked to the bed-side, and together 
 gazed down upon the unconscious sleeper, standing in 
 such a position that the light from the outer room 
 would strike full upon her exquisitely fair, but now 
 pale face. Her bonnet, shawl, and other cumbrous 
 articles had been removed; her position was easy, 
 natural, and unrestrained ; and her whole appear 
 ance irresistibly innocent and lovely 
 
 " Beautiful, is she not ?" demanded the priest, 
 looking up from the girl's face to mine. " Won- 
 derously beautiful, or my judgment has grown feeble. 
 Not all Europe, and in my time I have penetrated 
 its remotest depths, could furnish a more surpass 
 ing picture of womanly loveliness. And she is 
 mine mine at last!" 
 
 At these last words the priest's dark face rapid 
 ly underwent a change ; and then across his hard 
 features flashed the shadow of many passions, 
 which the words had conjured up in his corrupted
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 163 
 
 soul. I read them all, and involuntarily shuddered 
 at the dark review. Triumph, hate, lust, avarice 
 0, it was a strange association an inexplicable 
 combination. 
 
 " But you have not answered me, Joseph," he 
 continued, after a moment. "Do you not think 
 Madelon beautiful?" 
 
 " Beautiful, indeed !" I murmured, with my gaze 
 again fixed upon the marble face of the sleeper. 
 u And as pure in heart as she is beautiful in per 
 son. Like her mother, in mind and feature, it is 
 said." 
 
 The last words fell from my lips unthinkingly, 
 and their effect was instantaneous. The priest, ren 
 dered suspicious by his evil deeds, doubtless fancied 
 a taunt in the thoughtless expression ; and though 
 indeed I had begun to weary of his complicated 
 crime, I had yet a powerful fear of incurring his 
 hate by any such a course. 
 
 Quick as the lightning's flash his eyes were 
 riveted upon my face, and the expression of his 
 countenance was appalling. 
 
 " She does, indeed, resemble her mother, Joseph !" 
 he hissed, and his breast was surging with the 
 wildest emotions. " But why remind me of it ?"
 
 164 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 why rouse, from their far depths thoughts and asso 
 ciations, which at this moment more than any other 
 for long years, madden me ?" why, with the pale 
 face of that girl from which her dead mother 
 seems to look here before me, do you conjure up 
 that bitter past? that past, which witnessed the 
 destruction of all my wild love, and the humiliation 
 of my burning heart ? Why do you do this ? Think 
 you that my hatred has burnt itself out, or that 
 I waver in my purpose ?" 
 
 A terrible thought flashed through my mind. 
 
 " You will not harm her ?" I demanded, pointing 
 to Madelon. " You promised not to !" 
 
 "Harm her /" he exclaimed, with intense passion ; 
 and then suddenly, and with an effort, checking him 
 self, he resumed in quite a different tone, strongly 
 in contrast with his former manner ; " no, no, no ; 
 not to me must she answer ; but to the Church must 
 her atonement be made the Church whom she has 
 offended, and whose humble instrument I am." 
 
 As sudden as was the change in the priest's words, 
 so sudden, to outward appearances at least, was the 
 expression of his feelings. His towering passion 
 his intense excitement, were gone, and a calm and 
 quiet demeanor had usurped their place. I looked
 
 The Jesuit and ln-s Victim. 165 
 
 and wondered, but nevertheless doubted ; and I have 
 often thought since, politic as he was, that he changed 
 his manner merely to allay my fears, and not that he 
 believed what he uttered. 
 
 " That Church, to whom all who offend, must an 
 swer" he continued ; " that Church whose arm can 
 reach the uttermost corners of the earth, and whose 
 eye can read the human heart that Church who 
 knows no distinction between the priest and the lay 
 man, when her sovereign will is questioned, or her 
 mandates disobeyed that Church who has the power 
 to compel submission, and whose superiors, the world 
 over, are directed to send refractory brethren to Ponti 
 fical Rome, there to learn what most becomes them 
 unquestioned and implicit obedience." 
 
 To one standing in the inferior position in which 
 I did, there was a terrible meaning in the Jesuit's 
 calm and unimpassioned words, as he well knew, and 
 therefore uttered the hidden threat. I felt anxious, 
 at that moment, to conciliate him, and consequently 
 not from love, but from fear endeavored to correct 
 the impulsive speech which had so aroused his terri 
 ble passions. At length he appeared really satisfied. 
 
 " Enough, enough, my good Joseph !" he exclaimed, 
 at length interrupting me in what I am now con-
 
 166 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 vinced was a very awkward attempt at explanation. 
 " You, doubtless, meant no harm, and I was excited 
 and hasty. There are moments in the life of every 
 human being, when they will be betrayed into some 
 hasty word or act and we are but human at last. 
 Let it pass. But come," he continued, quietly draw 
 ing the counterpane over Madelon, and turning to 
 wards the door "let us leave this. Other thoughts 
 now demand our attention." 
 
 We then re-entered the library, the priest lingering 
 last, and closing the panel behind him as he passed 
 through. 
 
 By this time I was thoroughly mystified with the 
 priest's conduct. I could not decide what was really 
 the motive that led him on. That his service to the 
 Church, of which he so much vaunted, was but a 
 cloak, I was almost certain ; but whether he coveted 
 the girl or her money most ; or whether an abiding 
 hatred for the mother, who had scorned him, induced 
 him thus to persecute her image, I was at a loss, up 
 to that time, at least, to decide. I could not analyze 
 his conduct, it was such a strange mixture of base 
 ness, hypocrisy and deceit. He talked fairly some 
 times beautifully always eloquently ; and so con 
 cealed much of the corruption, that was festering
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 167 
 
 beneath. What his tongue uttered, was plain; but 
 what his heart felt, was as deeply hidden as the mys 
 tery of the grave. 
 
 Once or twice about this period and some such, 
 thought entered my mind while standing there over 
 Madelon I had really contemplated the chance of 
 shaking off the service of the Jesuit ; but the spectre 
 Fear, grim and gaunt, quickly crushed out the vivid 
 thought. He was old and powerful in the good-will 
 of our superiors, while I was weak, insignificant, and 
 uninfluential. To whom under such circumstances 
 could I turn ? To the Church ? She would laugh at, 
 and disbelieve me. To the world at large ? Little 
 credit or sympathy would I get there ; while in either 
 case, I should risk a sudden death, or a life-long im 
 prisonment in the dark cells of the Inquisition. 
 
 You wonder ! If not in this land, in Catholic Eu 
 rope, at least, that dark blot upon humanity still flour 
 ished flourished, too, in all its pristine and terrible 
 horror, notwithstanding Pius the Sixth once assured 
 Napoleon, that it was no longer what it had been 
 no longer a tribunal of religious opinion. What 
 more easy matter, than to send me to Rome, as oth 
 ers, under somewhat similar circumstances, had been 
 sent before ? Besides, in exposing Father Huestace, I
 
 168 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 but denounced myself, and brought down the ven 
 geance of the outraged laws upon my own head. 
 What could I do but go on ? 
 
 But to proceed. 
 
 We had re-entered the library, you remember ; and 
 although but a few moments had elapsed since the 
 priest and myself had jangled, he seemed to have for 
 gotten for I did not believe that he really had 
 the occurrence entirely. 
 
 Seating himself in his huge arm-chair, and briefly 
 bidding me follow his example, he proceeded to ad 
 dress me as follows ; and his tone and manner was as 
 quiet and subdued, as if he had never done a wrong 
 to any human being as if every act of his life had 
 been above reproach or condemnation. 
 
 "Joseph," said he, as soon as we were seated 
 " there, doubtless, will be much excitement in relation 
 to this outrage as to-morrow's papers will herald it ; 
 particularly, as the lady and her friends are among 
 the wealthiest and proudest in the city. Were she 
 but a poor wench, with a few friends and no influence, 
 it miglit be otherwise, even in this democratic repub 
 lic. In the present case, however, all that money 
 and position can accomplish, will be brought into re 
 quisition. Nor will the matter be bettered, should
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 169 
 
 anything lead the people the rabble are always ex 
 citable and easily influenced to conjecture that we 
 had a hand in it. Let them but once think so, and 
 I doubt, if there is a building in the city, or a law in 
 the land, that would save us from their wrath. Un 
 der such circumstances, we must be more cautious ; 
 more bold ; more firm. And to encourage and assure 
 us, we have the conviction, that our plans have been 
 so well arranged, and so skilfully executed, t that 
 they would defy the inquisitor-general himself to 
 penetrate them. Should they suspect which they 
 possibly may, for they have good reason they cannot 
 accuse, not having any direct proof. You will not, 
 and Patrick dare not, betray me, and through me the 
 Church, and through the Church your souls. For 
 Madelon there" he pointed towards the panel 
 "she is as securely hidden as though she were in her 
 grave. Save ourselves, no one in this city is aware 
 of the existence of that room, and were they, without 
 the secret of the spring, which is intricate, they could 
 not effect an entrance. And that the girl herself 
 may not have the least chance of involving us, I will 
 keep her senses so steeped in oblivion at all times, 
 except when it is absolutely necessary that she 
 
 should take food, and then I myself will be present 
 8
 
 170 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 to guard against accidents that she will neither "be 
 able, short of a miracle, to move or speak. I can do 
 it, Joseph, and yet not kill her. If we were not seen 
 when we entered here and it is hardly possible 
 that we were all is safe. In that respect we did our 
 best we could, indeed, do no more. And now, Joseph, 
 home ; but bear in mind, that in this hour more than 
 ever, there is need of a close mouth, a quick eye, and 
 a firm heart. Good night ; and may the Holy Virgin 
 guard your slumbers." 
 
 A few moments after I quitted the room, and 
 emerged into the street ; and despite the stormy con 
 dition of the weather, and the dreariness of everything 
 around, I experienced a relief, which not even the 
 cold, keen, blast, could damp. 
 
 A little later, and sleep had bound my weary eyes ; 
 but in consequence of the disordered condition of my 
 mind, my slumber was much broken by frightful vi 
 sions ; and in the morning I arose at a much later 
 hour than usual, languid and unrefreshed. 
 
 For a half hour previous to arising I lay awake, 
 thinking ; not so much, however, about Madelon, as 
 of what concerned myself. The girl under the pro 
 tection of the Church, my duty of spy, at least, was 
 ta an end. Under those circumstances I did not
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 
 
 think it necessary, or even advisable, to remain longer 
 in the position I occupied. It was not likely, I ar 
 gued, that I should remain much longer in the city, 
 and for the time that would intervene prior to my 
 departure, I could find lodgings at some Inn. Hav 
 ing arrived at that conclusion, I arose and sought the 
 master of the house. 
 
 Mr. Ellis was kind, but strict ; and I easily saw, 
 upon entering his presence, that he was not over 
 pleased at my laziness, as he bluntly termed it. I 
 heard him through, and then excused myself on the 
 plea of indisposition, announcing to him in the 
 same connection, my intention of leaving his em 
 ployment, and shortly, the city. He then compliment 
 ed me upon my general good conduct, and attention to 
 his business, during the short time I had been with 
 him expressed a regret at my leaving, and a cordial 
 wish for my future prosperity. I thanked him kindly, 
 and then took my leave ; carefully avoiding even 
 the chance of encountering Winnie, or any one else ; 
 though I felt well assured, that in no quar! er was sus 
 picion attached to me. I had always been too 
 guarded. 
 
 During the afternoon and evening of that same 
 day, I called twice at the priest's residence, but on
 
 172 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 each occasion he was absent on particular business, as 
 the old housekeeper informed me. That was all I 
 could learn, and so was obliged to be content. 
 
 As the priest had predicted, the excitement in con 
 sequence of the abduction, was of a most alarming 
 character. The full particulars of the affair, in some 
 respects highly exaggerated, had been published that 
 morning in all the daily papers, and the story had 
 spread like wildfire. The papers, after detailing the 
 principal features, went on to state, that the impo 
 sition had been discovered by the arrival of the real 
 Charles Hawley, but a short time subsequent to the 
 departure of the fictitious one. Immediate search 
 was instituted, and the whole city scoured as soon as 
 possible, but without discovering any trace of the 
 young lady or her captors. All, in the concluding 
 words of one of the most influential journals of the 
 day, was shrouded in impenetrable mystery; but the 
 whole affair was instantly to undergo a thorough and 
 strict investigation, that the outraged laws might be 
 appeased, and the happiness of a numerous and in 
 fluential family once more restored. 
 
 And thus was chronicled another of those crimes, 
 which long since rendered the Romish Church noto 
 rious which centuries ago, made black and fearful
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. IT 3 
 
 both the public and private history of her priest 
 hood. Read there if your eyes do not pale the 
 terrible catalogue of crimes which have been, year 
 by year, heaping up against the mother at whose 
 fount these children of sin and corruption have been 
 nurtured. 
 
 Yes, go read the history of her private, individual 
 murders, and her public and general massacres ! Go, 
 count if you can, the old men and the matrons, the 
 young men and the maidens, and the children, who 
 have suffered by her hypocrisy, endured her tortures, 
 and died at her reeking hands. Penetrate into the 
 cells of her Inquisition examine all her fiendish in 
 struments of torture behold her heartless and des 
 potic judges, and hearken to her justice ! Justice ! 
 Romish justice ! God forgive me, what a mockery ! 
 
 0, could the dead in Time's great graveyard, burst 
 their bonds of clay and stand up before us now, what 
 a huge mountain of evidence would overwhelm this 
 Dragon of the earth. 0, but there would be shrieks 
 and groans, terrible and fearful, ascending up, and up, 
 filling the vast earth below, and the great heavens 
 above. 0, but there would be curses dee*p, and bit 
 ter, heaped upon her guilty head. There would be 
 told tales of murder of robbery of adultery ; of
 
 174 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 mercy denied, and prayers unheeded, could the un 
 numbered dead of ages gone, thus stand around us, 
 and communicate the secrets of their lives. It would 
 be a jubilee of terrible sounds.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE following was the Sabbath day; and as the 
 church bells pealed forth their matin call, I repaired 
 to the priest's house ; partly from custom partly from 
 an irrepressible desire to be near the spot where Ma- 
 delon was hidden, and partly from a wish to learn 
 what Father Huestace was thinking and doing. 
 
 The priest greeted my appearance as if nothing 
 unusual had occurred ; and, after a few unimportant 
 remarks, expressed a desire, that I should be ready to 
 confer with him that evening after service, as until 
 that time the duties of the church claimed his un 
 divided attention. At that hint I departed he never 
 permitted any person whatever to remain in his li 
 brary, when he himself was not present glad to get 
 away, for a time at least, from the narrow limits of a 
 place that conjured up such painful thoughts. 
 
 As the last echo of the pealing bell mingled with
 
 176 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 the loud swell of the great organ, I passed from the 
 priest's library round to the front of the church, and 
 mingling with the worshippers, entered the building 
 The audience were mostly arranged in their seats; 
 and as I gazed down from the gallery, where I had 
 stationed myself, upon the hundreds of upturned 
 faces, I fancied that I could trace in each gaping 
 countenance only ignorance, grossness, superstition, 
 and bigotry. 
 
 Away over in one corner sat Patrick, the hackman ; 
 and there was not a more devout worshipper in the 
 building; and yet there was blood upon his hands, 
 and murder on his soul. And as still I gazed around 
 upon the throng of bigoted slaves, I wondered in my 
 own mind how many others in that vast assembly 
 were marked with the same brand how much crime, 
 and shame, and hypocrisy, was crowded beneath that 
 lofty dome. 
 
 Romanism was not then is not now and never 
 will be. more of a credit, or a profit, or a blessing, to 
 this country than it has ever been to any other ; and 
 wherever it has secured power, which it is contin 
 ually aiming at, ignorance, superstition, bigotry, and 
 crime, have run wild. 
 
 Of such things has been its past of such are its
 
 Tlie Jesuit and his Victim. 17Y 
 
 present of such will be its future. Better there 
 were no future for it, in this country . then might Ame 
 rica become entirely free entirely republican; but 
 while that incubus rests upon her great heart, and 
 with its rank poison impermeates every artery of her 
 system, that result can never be achieved for Catho 
 licism is inimical to republicanism. The subject of 
 the Pope, which every true Catholic is, beyond the 
 shadow of a doubt, cannot become the honest and 
 loyal subject of a Protestant republic; for in all 
 things his allegiance to the Church is paramount, and 
 most binding. 
 
 Turn to the pages of ancient and modern history, 
 and your heart will quake with the long record of her 
 exclusiveness her tyranny her extortion her pro 
 scription. Proscription! cries some zealous bigot, su- 
 perstitiously blind. YesJ Has not the Roman Ca 
 tholic Church forever and ever looked upon all out 
 side her slavish influence as damnable heretics? 
 looked upon them as the ferocious wolf does upon 
 the lamb as legitimate prey? Has she not con 
 tinually, at all times, and in all places, hunted them 
 in the most fierce, and frequently, fatal manner ? And 
 has she not always, and does she not still, grasp at 
 universal dominion ? And to accomplish that end.
 
 178 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 think you she would pause at any crime any horror ? 
 No ! no ! If she would, all her antecedents lie. 
 
 Her principles if her crime, her shame, her super 
 stition, her imposture, can be called principles are 
 still the same, although the progress of education and 
 enlightenment have somewhat modified her deeds, at 
 least in this country. Her bigotry her assumption 
 her arrogance her proscription her accursed ex- 
 clusiveness, are still the same, though externally adapt 
 ed to the circumstances which surround her. 
 
 Why, the Catholic religion the creed of the Pope, 
 and the Church of Rome the faith beneath whose 
 banner thousands upon thousands of human beings 
 have been butchered in cold blood, is fast becoming 
 one of the most prominent things in this republic; 
 and even here, as in the God-deserted countries 
 where it is religion, law, and everything else, its min 
 isters would, if they but dare, and will, if they ever 
 can, put you to the torture for expressing an opinion 
 contrary to the heathenish creed which they inculcate. 
 These are facts which cannot be contradicted. 
 
 Those who have studied much, and read much, and 
 observed much, have prophesied a great battle in the 
 future a battle between two huge armies, which shall 
 fight beneath the red banner of Catholicism, and the
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 179 
 
 white flag of Protestantism ; a battle not with the 
 tongue, not with the pen, not with the ballot, but with 
 the rattling musket and flashing sword. 
 
 Do not passing events seem to indicate some such 
 result? Has not riot, and civil war, and blood, and 
 fire, already sprung up in the path of this insa 
 tiate beast ? Will not such a course, appalling as 
 it may seem, some day become a necessity, and be 
 the only alternative left to check the swift progress 
 of this destroying Juggernaut to diminish the ra 
 pid strides with which it now encircles the land ? 
 ' The heart of Rome is large enough to take in the 
 whole world,' and she will not lose any opportunity 
 to fill up the vacuum. Upon America her eager 
 eye has long been fixed, and some day you must 
 either accept her slavery, directly or indirectly, or 
 unite to crush her power. Can any one doubt it? 
 
 But again I wander, and weary myself and you, 
 with prosy speculations and unavailing denun 
 ciations again my present feelings have led me 
 away from the thread of my narrative. To return 
 once again ! 
 
 From the audience I turned my eyes to Father 
 Huestace. A prayer was trembling on his lips. As 
 I gazed upon his unruffled brow, and listened to
 
 180 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 *__,.._,,_ 
 
 his calm, and at that moment, not unmusical voice, 
 I wondered, too, how he could be so strong, and 
 firm, while yet that pale girl, so still and motion 
 less, was wasting her strength away in that little 
 room, within a few yards of where he knelt. 
 
 Filled with such thoughts and feelings, all things 
 about me grew irksome, and at length I quietly 
 arose from my seat and left the building. Free air 
 changed the current of my thoughts, and not wish 
 ing to leave the neighborhood, I strolled into an Inn, 
 a few doors distant, and taking up a paper, seated 
 myself. I could not read, however, for many per 
 sons were present, and all were busy with surmises 
 as to the cause, and speculations as to the probable 
 issue, of the recent abduction. I made believe to 
 peruse the paper that was before me, but my whole 
 mind was intent upon what was being said around 
 me. Loud and bitter were the curses heaped upon 
 the perpetrators, whoever they were unsparing the 
 denunciations which passed rapidly from mouth to 
 mouth. Many, too, were the suggestions which 
 were made as to the character of those, who were, 
 doubtless, engaged in the outrage ; and the most 
 favored supposition seemed to be, that it was the 
 work of the Roman Catholics.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 181 
 
 Little did they dream how near the truth they 
 were in that conclusion little did they imagine 
 what an intimate connection I had with the sub 
 ject of their conversation. Had they been conscious 
 of the latter, they doubtless would have lynched 
 me upon the spot ; for they all appeared to be 
 Americans and Protestants. I trembled at the 
 thought, and finally glided, unperceived, from the 
 room. 
 
 Morning, and afternoon, and evening service were 
 all over, and still I lingered in the vicinity of the 
 church. The place had a peculiar sort of fascination 
 for me. I could not leave it, even when I want 
 ed to ; and there was not the least occasion for my 
 remaining in the neighborhood the whole day. 
 
 Darkness at length came the early evening ser 
 vice was over, and I glided along the avenue, and 
 into the priest's house. He was awaiting me. 
 
 " Good evening, Joseph," he said. " Take a seat. 
 I have been looking for you for some time ; though 
 I suppose it is my own impatience that has made 
 the period tedious. I am, doubtless, a little eager 
 in this matter of Madelon, for one is not like 
 ly to learn patience in sixteen years of disap 
 pointment. But never mind that, Joseph, for we
 
 182 Madelon Ilawley, or 
 
 have yet much to do we are not yet out of the 
 woods. We must advance with our work, and speedily ; 
 for the girl's disappearance has become notoriously 
 public, and the excitement, instead of abating, but 
 increases. One of yesterday's papers the editor of 
 which appears to be somewhat conversant with Made- 
 Ion's history contained a statement of the perse 
 cutions to which, it is rumored, she has been sub 
 jected ; and suggests that the present outrage may 
 have been committed by her old enemies, the Pa 
 pists. That is enough for the heretic Yankees. A 
 mite of proof would now work our destruction in 
 earnest would set a conflagration we could not 
 easily quench." 
 
 " It is all so, your reverence," I answered calm 
 ly ; not at all surprised at what he said. 
 
 " You take it cool now, Joseph!" said Father 
 Huestace, looking up into my face, astonished, and 
 emphasizing his words strongly. 
 
 " And why not, your reverence," I rejoined, " since 
 I am so familiar with to what you tell me ? My first 
 alarm, too, is over." 
 
 Right right, my good Joseph!" said Father 
 Huestace, recollecting himself. " But you, doubtless,
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 183 
 
 have heard much more than I have myself. What 
 say you ? Is not the public agitated ?" 
 
 " Yes," I continued ; " for although such a little 
 time has elapsed, the story is in everybody's mouth. 
 I have been in and out among the people since 
 yesterday, and have heard all their surmises and 
 suspicions. They point, all, to the Church." 
 
 " Our path darkens, Joseph !" cried the priest, 
 with a slight show of nervous superstition. " I 
 can see the black shadow as it creeps down before 
 me. Madelon must be got away, and immediately. 
 I will not even risk the possibility of being dis 
 covered and defeated. Madelon must be got away !" 
 
 "But how?" I inquired. I should think that 
 during the present excitement any attempt to re 
 move the girl would be dangerous." 
 
 "Nevertheless, Joseph, she must be got away," 
 continued the Jesuit, determinedly. " The neces 
 sity is apparent and unanswerable. How it is to 
 be accomplished I have not yet thought I only 
 know that it must be done ; and if I devise not 
 a scheme, it is the first time my brain has ever 
 failed me. But there is yet another must be 
 looked after. The lover, my good Joseph, the lover ! 
 'Twould be dangerous to leave the city with him
 
 184 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 in it, for the ingenuity of love can scarcely be 
 equalled. "With the information which he already, 
 doubtless, possesses, as a guide, he would soon fer 
 ret something out ; soon prove himself a strong 
 and dangerous enemy more so than all the rest 
 combined. Unquestionably, Madelon has favored 
 him with a minute history of every circumstance. 
 ' Twould be folly to think otherwise. Something, 
 therefore, must be done to keep him quiet that 
 is certain. But what is really best, puzzles me con 
 siderably. I am yet at a loss. Besides we are ter 
 ribly environed by the girl's friends and relations. 
 I can see it, though I hate to acknowledge the fact." 
 
 "Why not then, your reverence," I demanded 
 " renounce all thought of young Sinclair ? Others 
 are almost, if not quite, as active and dangerous. 
 Besides one scheme may interfere with the other, 
 and in the end defeat what is already accomplished." 
 
 " I admit the truth of all you say, Joseph," re 
 sponded the Jesuit. " Your arguments are not new 
 to me, and sometimes I have been tempted to fore 
 go every consideration but the one grand object 
 of securing Madelon." 
 
 The Jesuit was again playing with my credulity 
 again deceiving me into the belief that his hate
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 185 
 
 for Frank Sinclair was not hate, but simply a desire, 
 natural enough, to guard against the chance of dis 
 covery. At the same time a fearful scheme was 
 working in his brain, as you shall see ; but not 
 considering, I suppose, either my consent or assis 
 tance necessary, he was taking this method of keep 
 ing me in the dark. With him life was one con 
 tinuous plot a tissue of deceit and treachery. 
 
 " I agree with you entirely, Joseph," he continued, 
 coming round suddenly to my views. u Our scheme 
 scarcely requires these measures ; and yet I had a 
 small account to settle with this same Frank Sin 
 clair ;" and almost unconsciously, as I could see, 
 the Jesuit set his teeth. " But we must learn to 
 forego our own pleasure, when the prosperity of 
 the Church demands a sacrifice, as it does in this 
 case. But I will think it over again. I have 
 thought all along that it were best to adopt some 
 measures in relation to the lover, and so have ex 
 pressed myself to you. I am partly inclined to 
 think so still. However, I will give the matter a 
 deep and final consideration. Should circum 
 stances demand the removal of young Sinclair, I 
 shall not hesitate in the course marked out for 
 me ; should it be otherwise, I shall be equally as
 
 186 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 prompt in following an opposite direction. I do 
 not from various causes like the young man ; 
 but never shall the gratification of my feelings 
 clash with the well-being of my religion, or prove 
 a stumbling-block in the triumphant progress of 
 the Church." 
 
 All this rodomontade amounted to so many words 
 and no more ; for at that very moment the Jesuit was 
 contemplating a deed of mere wanton revenge, which 
 eminently endangered himself, myself, the Church, 
 and all. 
 
 " However, as I have said," he still continued " I 
 will think the matter over calmly and dispassion 
 ately. Until we meet again, let it now rest. To 
 morrow morning call at Patrick's stand, and bid him 
 wait upon me as soon after as possible. In the even 
 ing, early, come here yourself. By that time I shall 
 have completed the preliminary arrangements for the 
 removal of Madelon, and shall be enabled to commu 
 nicate further upon the subject. In the mean time 
 watch around, and should you learn anything really 
 essential, let me know it instantly." 
 
 " I shall do so, your reverence," I responded, as I 
 arose to my feet, and took up my hat. "Before I 
 leave, however, I should like to inquire after the con-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 187 
 
 dition of Miss Hawley. Does she realize her posi 
 tion?" 
 
 " She does not, I take it," replied Father Huestace. 
 " Since she has been here, she has continued in a sort 
 of stupor ; the- effect of the drugs which I have ad 
 ministered to her. In this condition she has only a 
 kind of dream-life. Once, indeed, when I was giving 
 her some food, she murmured; 'Frank, save me! 
 save me !' That is the only evidence of real life she 
 has so far displayed. But I am in hopes, shortly, to 
 be able to release her mind from this torpid state." 
 
 " I hope so, too," I responded. " Her present con 
 dition is but a slow torture. And now, your reve 
 rence, if you have nothing further to offer, I will 
 take my leave." 
 
 " Nothing further to night, Joseph," said the Je 
 suit. " Remember my directions, and be prompt. It 
 is in that manner, we all prove ourselves." 
 
 Then we parted, and each was alone with his own 
 busy reflections.
 
 188 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE following morning I called upon the hackman, 
 Patrick, and executed the priest's errand. What 
 transpired at the interview between those two, I had 
 but little suspicion of, and only learned from succeed 
 ing circumstances. 
 
 At the designated hour in the evening I was again 
 seated in the Jesuit's little den. After answering 
 some questions which he proposed in relation to the 
 feeling that still existed in the community, a pause 
 ensued, which he broke in his usually abrupt man 
 ner. 
 
 "I have had a visitor, to-day, Joseph," said he. 
 " Whom do you suppose ? But why ask ? you could 
 never imagine. Why, no less an individual, than Mr. 
 Frank Sinclair, the ardent, passionate, devoted lover 
 of Madelon the youth who has not enough enemies
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim 189 
 
 of his own, but must glory in the acquisition of an 
 other's. Maledictions on the meddling heretic !" 
 
 " Did he come here here, your reverence ?" I ex 
 claimed, startled by the announcement. " Then, in 
 deed, is danger near!" 
 
 "Yes," continued Father Huestace, quickly work 
 ing himself into a passion ; " yes, he came here here 
 in this very house came upon me almost unhe 
 ralded, and abruptly demanded to know what I had 
 done with his Madelon where I had secreted the 
 treasure I had stolen. I told him, that he was mis 
 taken that he wronged me foully wronged me by 
 his suspicions. He said, that it was false false as 
 my own black heart, for his Madelon had told him of 
 me told him, how that I would have wronged her 
 mother how that I would have killed her how that 
 I had ever sought to rob and wrong her, and was al 
 ways her bitterest and most unrelenting foe." 
 
 Thus talked the heretic fool ; and still I told him, 
 that he was wrong and still he would not believe 
 me, but threatened me over and over again with 
 quick exposure, unless I discovered to him, where his 
 Madelon was concealed or pointed to her grave. 
 Thus he raved and raved, and all the while his Made- 
 Ion, whom he so bewailed, lay there" with a look of 

 
 190 Madelon Hawley, or { 
 
 bitter hatred the priest pointed to the panel " there, 
 I say, within a few feet of the spot upon which he 
 was standing. That was my triumph, Joseph, and 
 the proud heretic's despair pleased me. Maledictions 
 on him ! Raving at me for a priestly villain, he left, 
 roundly asseverating, that he would have the whole 
 building searched before the world was a day older. 
 Then, my good Joseph, I sat down and laughed hearti 
 ly at the heretic's great agony. The fool ! The fool ! 
 he has fixed his fate." ' 
 
 "But, were you not frightened?" I inquired, alarm 
 ed myself, at our apparently imminent position. 
 
 "Wherefore?" quoth the priest, scornfully. 
 
 "The lover is maddened, and may doubtless will 
 keep his threat," I responded. 
 
 "And if he does, what then?" replied the Jesuit, 
 defiantly. "Let him fetch a whole pack of the law's 
 myrmidons let them search the building from top 
 to bottom, and the chances are ten to one, that they 
 leave no wiser than they came. That room is too safe. 
 And unless their movements are very rapid, they will 
 not find Madelon, even should they discover that 
 apartment. One day more, and we may defy them." 
 
 At that moment there was a low knocking at the
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 191 
 
 library-door. I trembled like a thief caught in a 
 felony. 
 
 "Hush!" said the priest, and he drew close to the 
 door. 
 
 "Who knocks? he inquired in low tones. 
 
 "Me, Holy Father," answered the old housekeeper, 
 in her thin and querulous tones. "Only me." 
 
 "Well!" said the Jesuit, sharply. 
 
 "A man, named Patrick, wishes to see your reve 
 rence," continued the old woman. " He is in haste." 
 
 "Admit him, and then go to bed," exclaimed Fa 
 ther Huestace, quickly and peremptorily. 
 
 In a few moments the hackman, Patrick, came 
 staggering into the room not, however, from the ef 
 fects of strong drink, but from the effects, as it turn 
 ed out, of apprehension. Throwing himself into a 
 chair, he gazed around the apartment, fearfully and 
 speechlessly. The silence which followed his en 
 trance, was painful, to me at least, in the highest de 
 gree. 
 
 Finally the priest walked 'close up to him, and 
 shading his eyes with his hands looked him full in 
 the face. Patrick's countenance was as pale and co 
 lorless as the white vestments of the grave. 
 
 "It is accomplished!" exclaimed the Jesuit, as he
 
 192 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 turned away from the panting man he had been scru 
 tinizing. " lie will not trouble us again, Joseph!" 
 
 "He? What he?" I inquired, bewildered by his 
 enigmatic words. 
 
 "Hist!" broke in Patrick, starting from his chair, 
 and catching the priest by the skirt of his coat. "I 
 want to spake to ye'r riverence. But, Howly Mother, 
 are we alone ? Won't I be heard?" 
 
 The priest rested his hands upon the man's head, 
 and addressed him with almost fatherly tenderness. 
 
 "Speak, Patrick, and as freely as if you were at 
 the confessional," he said. "All here are bounden 
 friends friends in the good cause and no one else 
 can hear you. Let your words be what they may, 
 you have nothing to fear, but every thing to hope for, 
 from us. We are all alike servants of the Church." 
 
 I shuddered; for I intuitively felt that a tale of 
 blood was to be told. Everything denoted a deed 
 of horror. 
 
 Patrick cast another rapid and fearful glance 
 around the dim apartment, and then drawing him 
 self close up beside the Jesuit, he placed his mouth 
 to his ear and whispered ; 
 
 " He's dead under the ice gone gone forever!" 
 
 An involuntary shudder, like an electric shock,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 193 
 
 passed from one to the other of us. Even the 
 scheming Jesuit, and the murderer, were unable to 
 repress the evidence of their horror. 
 
 Here the stimulating contents of the black bottle 
 were brought in requisition. Father Huestace and 
 myself having each tossed off a modicum involun 
 tarily I followed the Jesuit's lead the priest ad 
 dressed Patrick, who sat staring at us, and probably 
 wondering whether he was to get any of that to 
 all such creatures as ]jimself great elixir brandy. 
 
 " Here, take a glass of this," said he, pouring out 
 a tumbler full of the fiery liquid. " You are weak 
 and nervous, Patrick this will give you strength." 
 
 "Ye may well say I'm wake, ye'r riverence," ex 
 claimed Patrick, draining his glass with a single 
 breath. "It's wake ye'd be it's wake inybody'd 
 be, if they'd seen, and heard, and dun what I have !" 
 
 " Let this console you, Patrick," exclaimed the 
 priest, cheeringly. " The Church commanded, and 
 the Church shall absolve you." 
 
 Direct reference was here made to something, but 
 what, I did not then understand. 
 
 It is thus that far too many of the Romish 
 priests encourage sin, and shame, and crime thus 
 they bribe their tools to the commission of every 
 9
 
 194 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 description of villainy thus they arrogate to them 
 selves that power of forgiveness which only the 
 Divinity possesses. 
 
 Then that man that brutal wife-murderer went 
 on to relate his tale of terrible murder, while the 
 fiend who had devised and instigated the fearful 
 deed sat in his chair as immoveable as a marble 
 statue. Yes, with coarse words he proceeded to 
 tell how he had watched Frank Sinclair for there 
 the mystery lay all the day long; how about dark 
 he had met him, as if just by accident how he 
 put on a false face, and with a lying tongue, de 
 clared that he had been looking for him for a long 
 while, for that he had news of the young lady who 
 had been stolen away that she was not dead, but 
 imprisoned, and that he could lead him to where 
 she was concealed, if he feared not to follow, and 
 would be secret. 
 
 At this point Patrick had somewhat recovered 
 his hardihood, and become interested in his re 
 cital. And here he dwelt, particularly, upon the 
 young man's agony and anxiety, as if he fancied 
 that by so doing he would the better please the 
 plotting and mendacious priest. And, doubtless, he
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 19-5 
 
 did ; but nevertheless / could have stricken him 
 down, had -I felt myself free to do so. 
 
 Again he went on to tell how he had induced 
 the frenzied youth to promise that he would meet 
 him a few hours later at a low haunt upon the 
 wharf; how he had obligated him by the hope of 
 finding his lost Madelon not to communicate the 
 circumstance to any one, and to come entirely alone 
 armed to the teeth, if he pleased, but alone; how 
 the delusive hope of saving the girl had induced the 
 youth to pledge compliance with all these suspicious 
 demands; and how he had come at the appointed 
 hour, and fallen into the base and murderous trap 
 which had been set for him. 
 
 "I told him," said Patrick (I cannot tell the story in 
 the villain's peculiar diction, and therefore will not 
 attempt it) and a darker frown gathered upon his 
 dark brow, and his hoarse whisper became deeper 
 and intenser "I told him, how, that on such a night, 
 I had seen a carriage, containing a lady, pass that 
 spot we were standing, at the time, just beyond 
 the Penn Treaty Tree how the lady had screamed 
 and struggled, as it passed by me how the carriage 
 was driven down upon the ice, and across to the other 
 side how I followed close behind, thinking that
 
 196 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 something was wrong how the carriage stopped at 
 the door of a- lonely house on the Jersey side I re 
 membered it well where the lady was compelled to 
 alight and enter. I told him all this, and more, and 
 the crazy fool believed every word. "I come for thee, 
 Madelon!" he cried, and then like a maniac dashed 
 out upon the ice. " Follow, friend, follow ! follow ! 
 follow!" he continued to scream, as he rushed on, re 
 gardless of all danger. I did follow, your reverence, 
 and soon coming up, kept close along by his side. 
 And still on we went, us two lone men, running side 
 by side, at the top of our speed. The night is dark, 
 your reverence, dreadfully dark; , and the madman 
 dashed along scarcely looking whither he was going, 
 except, that his steps conveyed him to the other side. 
 I knew the path well, for I had selected it during the 
 afternoon, and I was more careful. I knew, what 
 he did not, that close beside the path was a deceitful 
 hole, into which he might fall" the priest smiled, 
 grimly, "if he wasn't more guarded; and so I kept 
 closer by his side than before, that I might help him, 
 if any unfortunate accident should happen." 
 
 The hackman paused to gather breath. 
 
 "That was kind of you, Patrick," said Father 
 Huestace, hypocritically ; "very kind. Continue! Tell
 
 Tlie Jesuit and his Victim. 197 
 
 us, how the young man succeeded. I am interested ; 
 and, doubtless, Joseph is, too." 
 
 I was interested; terribly, fearfully, painfully in 
 terested. 
 
 " By-and-bye," continued Patrick " we came near 
 the weak and treacherous spot. I looked all around 
 up and down the river, and towards both shores, 
 but I couldn't see anybody. I listened, but I couldn't 
 hear nothing except our own noise. All was dark, 
 and still, and lonely. Just the right kind of a night 
 for a man to slip under the ice, and nobody know 
 nothing about it. And all the time the gentleman 
 by my side kept on running with his eyes fixed right 
 ahead, only once in a while shouting, " I come, Ma- 
 delon, I come ;" and all the time I kept shoulder to 
 shoulder with him. In a little while we were with 
 in a few feet of the air-hole ; and still the madman's 
 eyes were fixed right ahead ; in a little while more 
 his feet were upon the crumbling ice. Then I 
 stretched my mouth up to his ear, and whispered 
 " You will soon see your Madelon. friend !" " Madelon, 
 dear Madelon !" he shouted ; and then the ice crack 
 ed and broke beneath his feet, and he sank in the 
 cold and freezing water. I started back quickly, for 
 fear that I too might go under, and I had not bar-
 
 198 Made! on Haiuley, or 
 
 gained for that. The drowning man caught at the 
 thin ice with desperate energy, but the brittle stuff 
 crumbled at his touch and slid away. He called 
 upon me to help him, for God's sake offered me 
 gold wealth but the ice was too thin to venture 
 near, and no one else was by to help him. After a 
 while he must have got weak and benumbed, for he 
 suddenly sank out of sight beneath the ice, and I 
 couldn't see him any more. He died hard, hard, your 
 reverence ; for as he went under, he shrieked, terribly, 
 fear" 
 
 At that moment a long, wild, terrific wail, echoed 
 and re-echoed through out the house. It chilled 
 the very blood, in my veins. With the sound we all 
 three started, and for a moment sto5fl staring at each 
 other. Patrick was the first to move. Sinking slow 
 ly down upon his knees, he crossed his breast, and 
 began to mumble over quickly his aves &&& paters. 
 The priest sprang from his seat, and while the hack- 
 man's head was bowed in fear, passed silently through 
 the panel into the adjoining apartment. I looked on 
 with dumb affright, for a moment almost expecting 
 to behold another scene of violence and crime. 
 
 In a few moments after the priest's disappearance,
 
 DEOWNINQ OF FRANK SINCLAIR
 
 The Jesuit and Jiis Victim. 199 
 
 there was a slight struggle a faint scream a few 
 muttered words, and all was quiet. 
 
 Thrice was I tempted to follow the Jesuit into the 
 secret chamber, but fear restrained me. I felt anx 
 ious to assist Madelon, if need be, but dreaded more 
 v the priest's anger. I was bewildered, and in my be 
 wilderment remained passive and silent, until arous 
 ed by the voice of Patrick, who tremblingly asked, 
 what had become of his reverence. I replied, that 
 he had gone into an adjoining apartment, but said 
 nothing concerning the panel, when I discovered that 
 he had not witnessed the priest's exit. After that we 
 fell into a whispered conversation I wished to con 
 ciliate the rascal, that I might learn more concerning 
 the murder of Frank Sinclair and Patrick finally 
 seemed to gather some confidence and courage from 
 my well-set words. At length I ventured to ask, 
 whether the priest had not directed him to first en 
 tice young Sinclair upon the ice, and .then push him 
 into the water. 
 
 The Irishman's retort was just what I expected. 
 He had. Unmindful of our safety unmindful of 
 the additional risk he ran in having Madelon discov 
 ered unmindful of everything, but the gratification 
 of his own ungovernable hatred, he had secretly
 
 200 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 planned and directed the accomplishment of this un 
 necessary murder. That it was unnecessary, uncall 
 ed for, and useless neither demanded by any exigen 
 cy of the occasion, nor by any benefit likely to ac 
 crue to the Church, was too plainly evident for me to 
 doubt, nor could all the priest's rhetoric convince 
 me otherwise. 
 
 At that moment we both of us had our backs to 
 wards the panel, which, Father Huestace seeing, em 
 braced the opportunity of re-entering, unobserved, 
 the library. He addressed us before we were aware of 
 his presence. At the sound of his voice we both 
 turned round and faced him. He was slightly flush 
 ed, but not at all discomposed. Without waiting to 
 be questioned, he proceeded to account for the scream 
 which had so startled us. Madelon had revived, he 
 said, and had been listening to the story of her lov 
 er's death. A dreadful history for her, I thought. 
 
 Immediately after making this explanation, which 
 occupied but a moment, he turned to the door, and 
 unlocking it, would have passed out into the hall, but 
 that the form of the old housekeeper confronted him 
 upon the sill. She was dreadfully frightened, and 
 had arisen in haste from her bed, as her wiiole appear 
 ance betokened.
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 201 
 
 " 0, Holy Virgin, what a shriek !" she exclaimed, 
 clasping her hands before the priest, and trembling 
 in every nerve. "I never heard the like before in all 
 my life. What was it, your reverence ? What was 
 it?" 
 
 "Some of the idle people in the back street, who 
 have been drinking and got into a quarrel, I sup 
 pose," replied the priest, hastily. "I am going to 
 see." 
 
 The old woman, it seems, was not in the plot, and 
 knew nothing of Madelon's being concealed in the 
 house. This may appear strange, but I assure you, 
 that it was quite possible. 
 
 "But it sounded just as if it was in the house, and 
 frightened me so, that I couldn't lay still!" continued 
 the old housekeeper, and her teeth fairly chattered. 
 "It was dreadful dreadful!" 
 
 "Nonsense, Barbary, nonsense !" retorted the Jesuit, 
 hastily, and with considerable impatience. "You 
 were but partially awake when you heard the noise, 
 and have magnified the sound. It came from the 
 back street, I am sure. Some brute has been beating 
 his wife, most likely ; such things, you know, are not 
 unusual occurrences in this locality. It is nothing, 
 9*
 
 202 Madelon Ilawl&y, or 
 
 however, that will harm you so to bed, Barbary, and 
 sleep in peace." 
 
 The old woman, still muttering, turned to depart ; 
 and the priest stood gazing after her, until the slight 
 echo of her footsteps could no longer be heard. At 
 length, apparently satisfied that she was out of sight 
 and hearing, he turned round to Patrick and myself, 
 and cautioning us to remain quiet, he closed the li 
 brary door and disappeared. In a few minutes 
 he re-appeared again. 
 
 "I have been to the front door," said he "and eve 
 rything appears to be quiet. The night is too deep 
 for many to be abroad; and even, if heard, a 
 scream in this quarter would not be likely to at 
 tract much attention. There does not, however, ap 
 pear to be any alarm; consequently, I conclude, that 
 no one heard Madelon, except old Barbary, and we 
 have nothing to fear from her. And now a glass of 
 something strong to drive away the vapors." 
 
 Having each drank off a portion of the liquor, 
 the priest remarked ; 
 
 "You had not finished your narrative, Patrick. 
 Continue. We shall not now be disturbed." 
 
 After an apparently thoughtful pause, Patrick re 
 sumed his recital, something as follows.
 
 The Jesuit and liifs Victim, 203 
 
 " I told your reverence, how the man sank away un 
 der the ice, and how he shrieked;" here Patrick 
 cast his eyes around the room suspiciously ; " I never 
 heard but one shriek like it only one, your reve 
 rence, only one ; and that I shall never forget. It 
 was just like Tier's ; Holy Virgin ! just like tier's, 
 when the hatchet crushed in her skull!" here the 
 brute's manner became horribly, frightfully intense. 
 "That shriek made me think about her, and I began 
 to shake in the limbs it was so dark, and cold, and 
 still. I was afraid to move away, and afraid to re 
 main where I was. After a little while I heard an 
 other shriek, and then another, and the last one 
 sounded to me away under the ice. The first was 
 her voice I'd swear to it among ten thousand the 
 other was his, for it was just like the shriek he gave, 
 when he sank away under the crumbling ice. Holy 
 Mother, how fearfully the sounds echoed and re-echo 
 ed ! I stood it as long as I could, but at last, with a 
 yell, I started off on a desperate run. I never once 
 looked back, for somehow, I fancied, that they both 
 were at my heels, and I didn't want to see them. Her 
 bloody face, and his white brow, would have struck 
 me dead. It was a long, long run, from there to here, 
 your reverence, but I never once stopped, till I stood
 
 204 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 at the door out there. Then I felt safe, and breathed 
 freer ; for I knew that your reverence could and 
 would absolve me from the deed, and protect me 
 even from the fiends. Then I turned round and cross 
 ed myself, and they Kathleen and the strange man 
 turned and fled away together. I saw it all as plain 
 ly as I see you, and my blood curdled at the sight." 
 
 There was ignorance there was bigotry. That 
 man, who stood there before rne, reeking with the 
 blood of two human beings the wife whom he had 
 sworn to cherish and protect, and the stranger whom 
 he had treacherously misled to death even that man, 
 with the shrieks of his murdered victims dragging 
 him down, down to hell, imagined himself safe under 
 the protection of the .Church, and vainly flattered 
 himself with the blasphemous delusion, that the 
 priest was endowed with the Creator's power to for 
 give and forget. And confident in that most danger 
 ous of all delusions, the wretch could live, and in a 
 measure be happy could die, and be content. And 
 the priest, as the tenets of his faith directed, encour 
 aged and confirmed the dark superstition. 
 
 "You were right, Patrick, when you thought that 
 here you were safe that here, at least, you were se 
 cure from all danger," exclaimed the priest, confi-
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 205 
 
 dently. "Though the spirits of a thousand dead 
 people pursued you, they dare not cross the threshold 
 of the Church to injure one of the faithful. Be as 
 sured, Patrick, that, if the intention is good, the deed, 
 whatever it is, will be forgiven. Behold!" the priest 
 pointed to a wooden image of the Virgin, and Patrick 
 prostrated himself upon his knees; "behold! the 
 Blessed Mother even now smiles upon you; it is a 
 token of her favor an indication of that forgive 
 ness you have merited at her hands. Besides, if Mr. 
 Sinclair, at least, had not rushed along with such im 
 prudent haste, he would have seen the treacherous 
 spot, and not been " 
 
 "Murdered!" I involuntarily broke in, and a cold 
 shudder crept over me at the sound of my own voice. 
 It was, as if some power, over which I had no con 
 trol, had urged me to the utterance. The sound fill 
 ed the room, and yet my lips did not seem to move. 
 
 The plainly spoken, terrible sounding word, caused 
 a visible start in both the Jesuit and Patrick. 
 
 "Murdered!" echoed the latter, quickly, loudly, ab 
 ruptly, and almost fiercely. 
 
 "Be quiet, Patrick, or lower your voice!" cried Fa 
 ther Huestace, catching him by the arm. "If you
 
 206 Madelon Ilawley, or 
 
 continue in that tone, you might as well go cry your 
 words upon the corner!" 
 
 "D'ye mind the ugly word he used, y'er riverence?" 
 continued Patrick, having lowered his voice to a whis 
 per. "Murdered! As if I'd murder the young man! 
 Ugh! what an ugly word. Bedad, it frightens me. 
 Murdered! No, indade! The young man fell into the 
 river accidentally. That's the way uv it, isn't it, ye'r 
 riverence ? particularly to them as can take a hint." 
 
 " Of course he fell in accidentally, Patrick. Who 
 would doubt it if we said so ?" and the Jesuit fixed 
 his eyes upon my face, as if to intimidate me. "Be 
 easy, Patrick, be easy. And Joseph must not express 
 such unseemly conclusions. They frighten honest 
 people and of such are we besides being danger 
 ous to the utterer. Mr. Sinclair fell into the river 
 let me hear no more of murder /" 
 
 The priest enunciated the last word emphatically; 
 but still I took no notice of the covert threat which 
 they contained, for the time had not yet come. A 
 breach, however, had been opened between us, and 
 every time we met it widened. The train was al 
 ready sprung in a brief time followed the explo 
 sion. 
 
 "And now, Patrick, it were best that you go home.
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 207 
 
 But mind, no more drinking to night," said Father 
 Huestace, sternly. "I want you to go from here 
 straight home and to bed. Do otherwise, and you 
 were better under the ice with Frank Sinclair. Do 
 as I bid you, and both spiritually and temporally, you 
 will find favor in my sight." 
 
 Patrick earnestly protested his willingness to do 
 whatever the priest directed; and kneeling down be 
 fore the latter, he supplicated a parting blessing. The 
 Jesuit crossed his hands upon his bosom lifted his 
 eyes impiously on high, and mumbled over a sense 
 less prayer, at the conclusion of which Patrick kissed 
 the crucifix and departed satisfied. 
 
 And then the priest and myself were alone. 
 
 For several moments after Patrick's departure, Fa 
 ther Huestace continued to regard me closely, sternly, 
 suspiciously, and it might be hatefully ; for that he 
 had grown to dislike me, and would some day turn up 
 on me, I felt convinced. It was a piercing, diabolical 
 glance, and I could not brave it. My eyes, against 
 my will, sought the floor. 
 
 "Joseph," said he, at length, slowly and deeply, 
 but still not angrily, as I had anticipated. 
 
 I looked up somewhat more confidently. The 
 sound of the human voice, no matter to what key at-
 
 208 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 tuned, always did encourage and animate me. The 
 priest's brow was unclouded. Where but a moment 
 before had lowered the darkest frowns, all now was 
 calm, and clear, and pleasant. The change was as 
 great as it was sudden, and one who had not known 
 the crafty Papist, would have been at a loss to ac 
 count for it. I knew by that time, however, that his 
 smile was as much to be feared as his darkest frown 
 that his deceit was full as deep as his hatred. 
 
 "Joseph," he continued again, after a pause; "I 
 like not these evidences of your lessoning interest in 
 the welfare and prosperity of the Holy Church. They 
 indicate something, I am sure. You grow cold, and 
 haggle at the performance of those things which 
 every true and faithful child of the Church should 
 glory in and be proud of. You work mechanically, 
 and not with that zealous warmth which the Church 
 expects and demands even of her meanest followers. 
 These heretics are our natural enemies, and to put 
 one of them out of the way, is not to murder. Re 
 flect, Joseph, reflect! You are young, and should not 
 imbibe such notions they are heretical to the 
 Church, and lead to difficulties and troubles unnum 
 bered. Our duty is clear and unmistakable ; and un- 
 escapable too, even should our wishes tend that way.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 209 
 
 You have acted strangely on several occasions, Joseph; 
 and any other than myself would have mistrusted you. 
 I, however, think that I know you better. But 
 enough of this now. You will ponder over what I have 
 said, and profit by it. It is getting late, und I have 
 yet something to say upon another subject." 
 
 I did not once interrupt the priest with either an 
 excuse or a profession. In my heart I knew that his 
 words were not sincere that his convictions were of 
 a different cast, and that all the falsehoods I could 
 utter even should I descend to such a course-^would 
 not change either his opinion or his determination. 
 
 " This girl must be provided for," he continued, af 
 ter a pause, which he evidently intended should give 
 effect to his previous words. "Circumstances, as you 
 are aware, are becoming urgent. The clamor is 
 growing loud ; and besides, she is also getting trouble 
 some. For the purpose of keeping her quiet, I have, 
 since she has been here, kept her so dosed with nar 
 cotics, that even her robust frame is fast giving way 
 under their deleterious effect. Only at certain times 
 have I allowed her to become conscious, and then she 
 has annoyed me excessively. Food I have been com 
 pelled to force down her throat, to prevent her from 
 funking entirely. To night, as you have seen, her
 
 210 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 strong constitution rallied. At almost any other time 
 that scream would have ruined us. To prevent a re 
 currence of what transpired this evening, and thus ef 
 fectually secure us from discovery until the girl is 
 taken hence, I have removed her to a still more im 
 penetrable apartment." 
 
 "Whither?" I briefly demanded, without display 
 ing the interest that I really felt. 
 
 "Draw close and listen," continued Father Hues- 
 tace. " Beneath that room, of whose existence so few 
 are aware, there is a small vault, a knowledge of 
 which still fewer possess. It is entered by a trap 
 that is artfully concealed in the floor, and would 
 not be seen, even if it were not hid by the carpet. It 
 is a damp unwholesome place, but I had no alterna 
 tive. Upon hearing Madelon's sudden and fearful 
 scream, I entered that apartment, as you know, and 
 found her arisen, and sufficiently conscious to under 
 stand all that was said. Fearful of still further de 
 monstrations on her part either at the present time, 
 or on some future occasion still more inopportune 
 which from that room" and he pointed to the secret 
 chamber "might be heard in the street, and could 
 be heard in any part of the house, I conveyed her into 
 the vault beneath, where she now is, and where she
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 211 
 
 will have to remain until she quits this place forever > 
 which will not, however, be long. In fact, she could 
 not exist there for any considerable period; still I 
 could not permit her to remain any longer in that 
 apartment, particularly after having heard Patrick; 
 unless, indeed, I completely deadened her with opiates, 
 and that I do not wish to do. The first conscious 
 moment she has she will be sure to rave of what she 
 unfortunately overheard this evening." 
 
 "Doubtless," I replied, with a shudder. "It would 
 be but natural." 
 
 "If she raves now, however," continued the priest, 
 "the stone walls alone will hear her." Here he 
 paused for a moment, and then continued; "the lover 
 gone, and the girl in my power, makes our triumph 
 complete. I would crush the rest, if I could ; but 
 that, Joseph, is too much of an undertaking. I can 
 but curse the heretics." 
 
 "But, your reverence, will not young Sinclair's dis 
 appearance known, as he is, at least by some, to be 
 Madelon's accepted lover coming so soon after her 
 abduction, create an intense excitement, and lead to 
 an investigation that will prove unescapable ? " I in 
 quired, as a recollection of the young man's treacherous 
 murder flitted through my mind.
 
 212 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 "The cry is already up the alarm already given!" 
 rejoined the priest, with excitement. "Madelon's dis 
 appearance is the town-talk. It forms the staple of 
 conversation alike in the church and the theatre, the 
 family circle and the street; and this will be but 
 adding another coal to the fire. In such matters as 
 these, men must risk much ; and trust much to good 
 fortune. Even I say to you what to others I would 
 not, that there are things over which no human being 
 has any control. We may calculate, and scheme, and 
 plan, and fortify, and thus accomplish mucn, as in the 
 present case ; but we are not infallible. The prisoner 
 may escape from the deepest dungeon, and so may our 
 best and strongest plans be frustrated. The ignorant 
 believe not this, but we know it. In the matter of 
 Frank Sinclair's disappearance, however, the mystery, 
 for the present, at least, is impenetrable. Nothing is 
 at all likely to be discovered until the breaking up of 
 the ice in the spring nearly two months yet and by 
 that time the appearance of the body will be so 
 changed, that his own mother would not be likely to 
 recognize him. With the facts of the case but three 
 persons are acquainted Patrick, yourself, and myself. 
 You will not, and he dare not, betray the secret." 
 I was of course compelled to acknowledge the
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 213 
 
 priest correct in his conclusions generally, even to his 
 last assertion that I would not betray him ; for at that 
 time my resolution was still unsettled and vascillating 
 my course undecided and weak. 
 
 "But enough of this for to night," he continued, 
 after a slight pause, at the same time vacating his 
 chair. " It is growing very late, and I am unusually 
 weary. I had designed communicating to you some 
 things which now I am too fatigued to enter upon. I 
 will say, however, that I have a commission for you to 
 execute which will take you away from this city ; that 
 Patrick will accompany you ; and that you must start 
 almost immediately. The affair relates to Madelon, 
 and our future security. Ask me no questions now,'* 
 he continued, perceiving that I was about to address 
 him, " but hasten hence and get a night's rest. To 
 morrow call upon Patrick I neglected making my 
 wishes known to him when he was here and send 
 him to me ; and be yourself, here by twelve to 
 morrow night, prepared for a journey. At that time 
 I will have all things in readiness for your departure. 
 You need not come before unless, indeed, you have 
 something of importance to communicate but be 
 sure" and the priest ejaculated the words slowly
 
 214 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 u you do not fail me then. Now go your way. Good 
 night!" 
 
 Without further parley, I took leave, my mind com 
 pletely bewildered with conflicting thoughts.
 
 The Jesuit and Ids Victim. 215 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 Almost unconsciously mechanically, as it were I 
 followed the priest's directions. In his hands I had 
 almost lost my own identity had become a mere in 
 strument played upon at another's will. In complying 
 with the priest's commands for such they had got to 
 be I violated my own conscience, and yet could not 
 have explained why I did so, otherwise than as I have 
 just stated. I weighed well every word that was 
 uttered scrutinized every deed that was committed, 
 and yet went on countenancing, and even assisting in 
 many of the nefarious transactions. My own conduct 
 was an anomaly. I was feeble in right-doing, and the 
 crafty Jesuit profited by the advantage of my mental 
 imbecility. I could see the dark vortex that yawned 
 before me, and yet had not the power to stem the 
 current that bore me onward to destruction. With 
 closed eyes I drifted on, hourly 'sinking deeper and
 
 216 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 deeper in the flood of sin. It seemed as if a thunder 
 bolt alone would awaken my enslaved energies. 
 
 In accordance with the priest's directions, I did not 
 make my appearance at the church until late the fol 
 lowing night after twelve o'clock, I think. 
 
 During the intermediate time the excitement in 
 regard to Madelon's abduction still continued at the 
 ebb ; added to which was then a greater excitement 
 in relation to young Sinclair's disappearance, which 
 had by this time begun to agitate the public mind. 
 The two events coming so close upon one another al 
 most paralyzed the mass of the people ; and in the 
 confusion and dismay 110 steps were taken towards a 
 discovery until it was too late. Suspicion pointed its 
 unerring finger towards the priest ; but still there was 
 an absence of all proof; consequently a delay occurred 
 most favorable to Father Huestace. 
 
 As I before remarked, I repaired to the church at 
 the designated hour. Upon my arrival, I found Father 
 Huestace and the hackman, Patrick, in close consul 
 tation. The latter, as I immediately noticed from the 
 singularity of the circumstance, was much more neat 
 ly dressed than usual. In general he looked coarse 
 and dirty ; but now his whole appearance was changed 
 for the better.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 217 
 
 The priest welcomed me cordially or at least a 
 looker-on would have thought so directed me to a 
 seat, and then called my attention to business. 
 
 " Briefly, my good Joseph, for our time is short and 
 pressing," said he, with well-dissembled kindness. 
 "Words, save when directly to the point, are idle. 
 Mark then. I want you, with Patrick's assistance, to 
 convey Madelon to the Black Nunnery at Montreal. 
 I have already communicated with Patrick upon the 
 subject, and as I anticipated, he is ready and willing 
 to help me in this last and important service. It only 
 now remains for me to give you your directions. Of 
 course you will not object to the business, as the com 
 plete triumph of the Church demands, and our safety 
 requires, it." 
 
 The hypocritical Jesuit still harped upon the 
 Church, seeking to conceal beneath that covering his 
 own brutal passions. 
 
 "The officers of justice are hot upon the scent," 
 he continued, " and we have not a moment to lose. 
 Evidence has transpired upon the investigation which 
 is now in progress, that points inevitably towards me. 
 Assuredly to-morrow this house and the church will 
 be thoroughly searched; and there must be nothing 
 which they can possibly discover nothing to confirm 
 9
 
 218 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 the charges which have been indirectly brought against 
 me. In this we are all interested ; for, as I said be 
 fore, if I fall through the act of another it is not my 
 self alone that fall shall surely overwhelm. But to 
 the point. You and Patrick are not marked, as far as 
 I can judge, and therefore can leave the city unsus 
 pected. I must remain to quiet the authorities. Your 
 own judgment, Joseph, will convince you of the pro 
 priety, nay, necessity of assisting me, and cheerfully. 
 The plan I have adopted is slow and hazardous, but 
 still the most feasible one I could hit upon. I would 
 not yet have attempted her removal, but for the reasons 
 I have stated." 
 
 "But how is it to be accomplished?" I inquired. 
 " The distance is -great, and the season of the year bad. 
 Besides our charge will be a peculiar one." 
 
 The priest did not answer me directly, but first 
 turned to the hackman. 
 
 " Patrick," said he, " time advances. You have 
 some distance to go, and had better now start for your 
 vehicle. But mark! the hour is late, and you may be 
 questioned. Be careful what you say, and above all 
 things be sure that you are not followed. Much de 
 pends upon your conduct. And now, Joseph, follow 
 me."
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 219 
 
 Patrick had quitted the library before the priest 
 addressed me ; and as the Jesuit opened the panel 
 and passed through into the secret apartment, I fol 
 lowed him. Leaving the door open, the light from 
 the library faintly illuminated the interior room. 
 Shudderingly I beheld a black coffin resting upon the 
 narrow bed. The lid, heavily mounted with a silver 
 crucifix, stood against the wall, at the head of the 
 couch. 
 
 " Behold my answer, Joseph ! " exclaimed the priest, 
 as we both leaned over, and gazed into the narrow 
 box. 
 
 " Dead ! " I exclaimed, completely carried away and 
 deceived by the sight that met my eyes. 
 
 There before me, stretched out in the close coffin, 
 and clad in all the cold,' white, paraphernalia of the 
 grave, reposed in death-like silence, the persecuted 
 Madelon. Her eyes were tightly closed, and the long 
 black lashes lay drooping upon the fair white skin. 
 And even dead, as she seemed, and as I for the mo 
 ment fancied her, she looked exquisitely lovely. I 
 bent over the coffin fascinated. The stern voice of 
 the plotting priest aroused me. 
 
 "Not dead, Joseph; only sleeping," he said. "She 
 will awake when needful, without a doubt."
 
 220 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 Then I saw it all saw what the priest contem 
 plated saw the trick he designed accomplishing with 
 our assistance. Madelon was not dead, but only 
 drugged. It was but another deception a brutal 
 one to the girl, however to be added to the many 
 that I had already witnessed. 
 
 " You comprehend my plan, Joseph, do you not ? " 
 quoth the priest. 
 
 " Yes," I replied, still gazing upon poor Madelon, 
 with pitying interest. 
 
 "You must certainly concur in my arrangements, 
 Joseph," continued Father Huestace. "You must be 
 as well aware as I am, that otherwise than as she now 
 is, we could not remove her. The tax upon her strength 
 will be great, I admit, but we are driven to this point ; 
 and we must not be discovered, even should she perish." 
 
 "Right, your reverence, right!" I muttered, indiffer 
 ent to everything but the forlorn situation of our 
 victim for she was as well my victim as the Jesuit's. 
 " I understand all, and am ready. "What next ? " 
 
 The priest did not half like my readiness, that was 
 evident. However, he went on with the necessary 
 preparations without apparently heeding it, doubtless 
 thinking that that, at least, was not the proper time 
 to notice it.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 221 
 
 For my own par t, I was anxious to get to the end of the 
 tragedy, for I felt that a crisis was approaching which 
 would endanger either the stony-hearted, scheming, 
 hypocritical Jesuit, or myself. How, when, or where, 
 however, I had no suspicion. A cloud obscured my 
 vision; but sometimes a glimpse of coming events 
 would break through it. Each circling hour brought 
 the climax nearer. 
 
 As I said, the priest took no especial notice of my 
 ready compliance, but proceeded to arrange the lid 
 upon the coffin, and then to screw it down, informing 
 me at the same time, that it was well ventilated, and 
 in every way expressly adapted for just such a use as 
 it was about being put to. 
 
 At his direction I then assisted him to carry it into 
 the library, where we placed it lengthwise upon se 
 veral chairs. As we passed out the priest closed the 
 secret door, leaving no trace of the. hidden apartment. 
 
 Of course I have not stated all the conversation 
 that occurred, nor related all the little events that 
 transpired, and which contributed to consume time. 
 Such a course would have been wearisome to both you 
 and myself. Several hours had now slipped past, and 
 morning was rapidly approaching. According to the 
 travellings arrangements; a stage left this city for
 
 222 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 Trenton at four o'clock. Thence by a similar con 
 veyance we would cross to New Brunswick, and so on 
 to New- York. 
 
 Just about this time a vehicle drove up in the vici 
 nity of the church, but so noiselessly that others, not 
 like ourselves, on the watch for even the most trifling 
 occurrence, would not have heard it. The ground being 
 still covered with ice and snow, its silent approach 
 was not, of course, surprising. 
 
 In a few moments after, Patrick stole into the library, 
 and whispered that all was in readiness, and every 
 thing safe. Father Huestace himself then walked out 
 to the front of the church, and looked, and listened. 
 Returning in a few minutes he beckoned us to his side. 
 
 "And now a few final directions," he said. "Stand 
 close, for I do not wish to talk aloud, even here. So 
 far everything is prosperous; but to accomplish your 
 journey successfully, you must be bold and cun 
 ning, and never at a loss for a ready answer, a plau 
 sible excuse, or a natural explanation. To you, Jo 
 seph, I particularly address these instructions ; for you 
 are better adapted both by education and association, to 
 successfully practice them. Patrick is only to carry 
 out your instructions. Upon you rests the responsi 
 bility. Now, the greatest danger that you will pro-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 223 
 
 bably encounter, will be in getting away from this 
 city. If you accomplish that successfully, the battle, 
 as I may say, is won. If we are suspected and watched, 
 you may be detected and defeated; if not, your depar 
 ture will be easy. Against that it was impossible for 
 me to guard. But once off, never stop longer than is 
 actually necessary until you are at your journey's end. 
 Of course, at the various cities along the route you will 
 be compelled to remain for a short period. At such 
 times, Joseph, you will act according to the instruc 
 tions which I have already given you. Upon arriving 
 at Montreal you will hasten immediately to the Semi 
 nary, and present the letter with which I have sup 
 plied you. That explains all, and will insure you a 
 welcome. And now let us make ready, for Patrick 
 has to see to his vehicle after the coffin is deposited 
 at the stage-office. 
 
 While the priest is busy re-examining the coffin, to 
 make sure that all is right, I will give you an out 
 line of the secret instructions with which he had fur 
 nished me. At the several points along the route at 
 which we were compelled to stop, I was to seek out 
 particular priests Jesuits I suppose and deliver into 
 their hands certain letters, -which would insure me 
 their hearty co-operation.
 
 224 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 While executing this portion of my directions, Pa 
 trick was to stand guard over the coffin ; and as soon 
 as the different individuals were notified of my arrival, 
 I was to see that our charge was conveyed to whatever 
 place they directed, and there opened. At certain 
 times, and in just such quantities, I was to administer 
 the opiate. The priest was very particular to impress 
 -'upon me the necessity of being extremely careful in 
 this respect, as too little might allow of her reviving, 
 and too much might cause her to sleep so sound that 
 she would never awake ; and neither result was what 
 he desired, just then, at least. Patrick was to accom 
 pany me as far as Montreal, and then return. I was 
 to remain at the Seminary until Father Huestace him 
 self arrived, when I would receive what further in 
 structions were necessary 
 
 Do you not see what an abject slave I had got to be ; 
 in the hands of this tyrannical and scheming Jesuit ? 
 0, even the thin blood of my old age rushes through 
 my veins more quickly, as I reflect upon it ; and the 
 memory of the past darkens my closing hours. Fool, 
 that I was, to be so misled ! 
 
 A little of that anodyne, if you please ; for my lips 
 are hot and parched, and my eyes see dimly, as in a 
 cloudy mirror. There, thank you I feel better and
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 225 
 
 stronger now. A little rest, and I shall be able to 
 proceed; and soon I shall stand confessed before you. 
 
 (In a few moments he resumed his singular nar 
 rative.) 
 
 At length the priest placed a well filled purse in 
 my hand, and signified that everything was in pro 
 per condition for starting. Extinguishing the light, 
 he threw the door open into the hall, and passed out, 
 directing Patrick and myself to take up the coffin 
 and follow him. Without uttering a word we obeyed 
 his instructions. At the front-door he again stopped 
 and listened attentively. Apparently satisfied with 
 the condition of things in the street, he turned round 
 and whispered us to pass out. That we immediately 
 did; leaving him concealed behind the half-closed door. 
 
 The moment we gained the front streef I looked all 
 around, from a natural dread of detection. Neither 
 moon nor stars were shining, and the atmosphere was 
 intense]/ black and impervious. But for the half 
 white snow that covered the ground, no object, unless 
 within a few feet of us, would have been distin 
 guishable. As it was, but little could be seen upon 
 the opposite side of the street. 
 
 A short distance above the church, and close up to 
 
 the curb-stone on the other side of the highway, 
 9*
 
 226 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 stood a long, covered car, such as was generally used 
 for carting furniture in wet weather. In this we de 
 posited our burden, and all without awaking the 
 slightest echo of our doings. And all the while the 
 priest stood peeping out from behind the door; our 
 position north of the church, where the view from 
 the house to the front street was unobstructed, afford 
 ing him every chance to note our operations. 
 
 The coffin once in the wagon, Patrick and myself 
 jumped up in front, and the former seizing the reins, 
 drove off, but at such a slow pace, that themotion was 
 actually painful. Still it was necessary, for the least 
 noise would probably have betrayed us, and created 
 the very evidence that would have sent us all to the 
 State-Prison, if nothing worse. To have detected us 
 at that moment, would have afforded proof positive ; 
 and I myself felt anxious to get away in safety, for 
 many reasons. 
 
 In a little while the tall spire of the old church 
 was hid from view; and we dashed on at a more ra 
 pid rate. As our speed increased, it became neces 
 sary that I should seat myself upon the coffin to pre 
 vent it from bouncing, as otherwise it would have 
 done. My singular position sitting as I was directly 
 over the beating heart of Madelon set me thinking
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 227 
 
 and thinking led to reproaches and reproaches to 
 remorse. I bowed my head upon my knees and 
 looked back into the past. Fearfully real there arose 
 before me the spirit of the murdered Frank Sinclair 
 murdered for what? I began to ask myself, and 
 could only answer, to gratify a bad man's hate. And 
 then with painful distinctness my mind passed from 
 one scene to the other of the changing drama in 
 which I had been playing such a base and deceitful 
 part. I began to see it as such began to realize the 
 degradation to which I had so long submitted. But 
 still I knew not what to do, and so went on, all the 
 while hoping that something might turn up that 
 would change the face of affairs, and safely release 
 me from my slavery. I felt too, that I was mistrust 
 ed, and that Patrick was but a spy upon my actions ; 
 and knowing his brutality and ignorance, I stood in 
 fear of him. 
 
 In due time we arrived at the office, in the north 
 ern suburbs of the city ; and having arranged all the 
 preliminaries started upon our journey, without the 
 least indication of anything being wrong. 
 
 IJpon our arrival we proceeded to place the coffin 
 in such a position as the circumstances required. 
 That accomplished, Patrick mounted his vehicle and
 
 228 Madelon Hawley, 01 
 
 drove rapidly away. In a little while how long, ex 
 actly, I cannot say he returned afoot and running. 
 He had left the team, he said, with a man who was 
 in his employment, and who he had directed to 
 await his coming at a certain point. 
 
 Just as the stage was about leaving, curiosity or 
 some other controlling feeling, induced me to raise 
 the window and look out into the darkness. A tall 
 man in a long, black cloak, and slouched cap, who 
 was standing near the spot, instantly attracted my at 
 tention. A cold chill crept over me, for I at once 
 fancied him a police spy. Directly the man slightly 
 dropped the cloak from his face, and revealed a pair 
 of intensely black eyes. It was the priest, and he 
 had come to see us off. He knew that I recognized 
 him. and placing one finger upon his lips, he remain 
 ed in that position until we dashed away 
 
 It is scarcely necessary for me to relate every par 
 ticular of our journey; it is sufficient to state that 
 the programme furnished by the priest was success 
 fully carried out; and the strange triumverate, the 
 tool, the murderer, and the drugged woman, arrived 
 safely in Montreal. 
 
 That was not the day of telegraphs, and other quick 
 inventions, or we might have had more impediments
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 229 
 
 to encounter. It is true that Madelon gave us. some 
 trouble, when the effects of the drugs would partially 
 pass off, as it did on several occasions; but notwith 
 standing, and all things considered, our flight was ac 
 complished much more easily than I had anticipated. 
 Her conscious spells, however, were well-timed ; gene 
 rally occurring at or about those occasions when 
 we were compelled to stop. An application of the 
 drug, which under the circumstances I was always 
 enabled to make, would soon quiet the poor girl's low, 
 deep moans. Once, indeed, she stirred in the coffin, 
 and so perceptibly as to attract the attention of a 
 passenger; but casting the blame upon Patrick, 
 who I accused of letting the coffin slip, we escaped 
 a probable exposure; the stranger, doubtless, credit 
 ing the explanation which I meant to convey in my 
 address to my companion.
 
 230 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTEK XII. 
 
 As I stated, we arrived safely in the city of Mon 
 treal. 
 
 Without a moment's delay I started off in search of 
 one Father Kewlinn, to whom I bore a letter of intro 
 duction or instruction. I found him, according to my 
 directions, at the priest's Seminary ; an institution 
 attached to the Hotel Dieu, or Black Nunnery. My 
 letter was speedily examined ; and then Father Kew 
 linn and myself hastened back after our charge. 
 
 After placing the coffin in a vehicle, which Father 
 Kewlinn quickly summoned, we all three started on, 
 the priest leading the way. In a short time we arrived 
 at the Seminary, the vehicle with the coffin coming 
 up a moment or two after. Father Kewlinn then 
 signified to Patrick that his labors were about at an 
 end so ran the instructions contained in the letter,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 231 
 
 he said. In regard to myself, he but repeated the di 
 rections which I had already received from Father 
 Huestace. 
 
 " And now take up your charge and convey it with 
 in," he .said, pointing from the coffin, which yet 
 remained in the vehicle, to the small, but heavy door 
 of the Seminary. 
 
 " Why not directly to the Nunnery ? " I inquired, 
 pointing my ringer towards that building; a huge 
 structure of masonry, which stood some few hundred 
 feet distant in an opposite direction. I felt anxious 
 for Madelon, and thought that of the two evils the 
 Nunnery was the least. I liked not the hard and dark 
 face of Father Kewlinn ; besides, I knew the vile cha 
 racter of many of these Seminaries knew that earth 
 held not more lawless men than were there congre 
 gated ; and I feared that the poor girl might be called 
 upon to suffer still further indignities. Her beauty 
 would but endanger her the more not protect or 
 save her. 
 
 " For many reasons," Father Kewlinn replied, stern 
 ly ; as if he was not used to, and did like to be, ques 
 tioned. " This, if nothing more. The Lady Abbess is 
 not yet apprised of your coming, or of what is required 
 at her hands. This I am requested to inform her of;
 
 232 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 in the mean time taking the girl under my especial 
 care. This letter is explicit in all its details. Besides, 
 there are other reasons, which I do not think that it 
 is necessary for me to explain to any one. Father 
 Huestace and myself fully understand each other, 
 and are well aware as to what is our duty. And now 
 get the coffin within, for the day wanes and the air 
 grows colder." 
 
 I offered no further resistance to Father Kewlinn's 
 commands, feeling that it would he useless ; but di 
 rected Patrick and the cartman, who had been stand 
 ing apart during our conversation, to assist me in 
 carrying the coffin into the building. Inside the 
 door the cartman was discharged, and Father Kewlinn 
 himself supplied his place. 
 
 After proceeding some distance up a broad winding 
 staircase, we entered a long, gloomy hall, which finally 
 turned off to the right and terminated in another 
 shorter flight of stairs. At the head of the stairs we 
 halted ; and the priest, taking a key from his 
 pocket, unlocked the only door that was to be seen. 
 
 The room we entered was a small, gloomy, prison- 
 looking place ; doubtless in the centre of the building, 
 and unquestionably next the roof, for all the light it 
 received was from a small window in the ceiling. It
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 233 
 
 looked like just what it was, a place of solitary pen 
 ance. The floor was uncarpeted, and the walls bare' 
 and damp. At the upper end of the apartment, 
 against the wall, was a small pine bench ; and in one 
 corner was scattered some loose straw, which, with a 
 small stand" supporting a rude, wooden crucifix, com 
 pleted the arrangements of the cell-like room. 
 
 Directly after our entrance we set the coffin down 
 upon the floor, and at the priest's direction I pro 
 ceeded to unscrew the lid. That completed, I raised 
 my face to Father Kewlinn in mute inquiry, and 
 awaited his directions. As I looked up I observed 
 that Patrick had quitted the room whilst I had been 
 engaged upon the coffin with my back turned to 
 wards him. However, I took no outward notice of the 
 circumstance, as it was but what I could only reason 
 ably expect; and though I was now left alone, I felt 
 a relief at his absence. It was the last I ever saw of 
 him, though not the last I heard of him. The mea 
 sure of his crimes was not yet full. 
 
 At a sign from Father Kewlinn I removed the lid 
 entirely from the coffin, and exposed the pale face of 
 Madelon to his view. It u-as pale, and thin, too; but 
 still indescribably lovely, even in its paleness and 
 thinness. Father Huestace's powerful drugs, how-
 
 234 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 ever, were fast destroying the girl, mentally and 
 physically. 
 
 The priest looked on with cold indifference, even 
 as the vision of Madelon's fair and innocent face 
 flashed before his eyes. He had no heart for pity, or 
 sympathy, or kindness. Long before it was steeled 
 against every human emotion. I looked pityingly, 
 I know ; for in that moment, more than ever, I realiz 
 ed all that the maiden had suffered, and compassion 
 ated her misery. 
 
 A slight tremor agitated the frame of Madelon, and 
 arrested our attention. It was like the shudder one 
 experiences when viewing some abhorrent spectacle. 
 In her it indicated a passing away of the effects of 
 the drugs, and a returning to consciousness. 
 
 " She revives," whispered Father Kewlinn, looking 
 into my face, indifferently. 
 
 I replied not, but beckoned him to stand aside ; 
 thinking it best that Madelon should not see us 
 particularly him when she first unclosed her eyes. 
 He complied with my mute request, and together we 
 took up a position at the head of the coffin, and of 
 course in the rear of the young girl. 
 
 The tremor having passed away, Madelon began to 
 twist, and stretch, and turn, like one awaking from a
 
 The Jesuit and Jiis Victim. 235 
 
 sound sleep. Occasionally she would moan in the 
 most heart-rending manner. At length, and evident 
 ly with a very painful effort, she raised her hands up, 
 and commenced rubbing her face. This continued 
 for some time, when she slowly opened her eyes, and 
 finally, after several ineffectual attempts, sat upright 
 in the coffin. 
 
 " 0, my head, my head, my poor head," she mur 
 mured, in tones of utter despair, while she continued 
 to rub her forehead and temples. 
 
 How I pitied her! how my heart ached for that 
 poor victim of priestly passions, and religious hypo 
 crisy ! 
 
 "Where am I? What does it all mean?" she con 
 tinued, becoming vehement in her language and ges 
 ticulation. "This strange and gloomy place this 
 coffin these grave clothes, and this feeling of death, 
 which paralyzes all my faculties! 0, my God, what 
 has become of me? Frank, dear Frank" here she 
 paused for a moment, and appeared to be thinking ; 
 "Frank! I have no Frank now. I begin to remem 
 ber all the horrid dream was all true too true ; and 
 that bad man's words were reality. 0, how the re 
 collection of that night crowds upon me how the 
 memory of what that wicked man said rises up in
 
 236 Maddon Hawley, or 
 
 my mind; 'lie is dead under the ice gone for ever!' 
 Frank, my Frank, sleeping in the cold waters of the 
 Delaware; and I? where am I? where am I? God, 
 why did I not die? why did I live to be so wronged, 
 so persecuted? Why was not I too, cast into the river? 
 then would my sufferings have been at an end, and 
 my spirit resting in the bosom of its Maker." 
 
 Here Madelon's feelings had become so intensified 
 that she grew dizzy, and at length fell away into un 
 consciousness. 
 
 "She is insensible," said Father Kewlinn, without 
 at all noticing the mystery of her words. 
 
 He did not care, very likely, if murder had been 
 done if more was to be done, so long as it was com 
 mitted in the name of the Church and religion. Un 
 der such circumstances it was not murder for the 
 Church, secretly, at least, justified the killing of a 
 heretic. 
 
 "Help me raise her from the coffin, and convey her 
 to yonder pallet of straw," he continued, turning to 
 me. "She will soon revive again." 
 
 "You will not leave her here?" I inquired, with as 
 tonishment. 
 
 Father Kewlinn straightened himself up, and look- .. 
 ed ine full and sternly in the face.
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 237 
 
 "Here it is for me to command, and you to obey!" 
 he said, angrily. "Remember that; and while you ar,e 
 here, never question my orders again. You are a 
 priest, and should know your duty to the Church, and 
 to your Superiors, better. Leave her here!" he con 
 tinued, bitterly "and why not? Is she not an apos 
 tate, and should she not therefore be punished? 
 Leave her where I direct! that is my answer. Now 
 take hold and assist me." 
 
 My blood was so stirred with indignation and anger, 
 that, desperate as would have been the attempt, I felt 
 almost like openly resisting the commanding priest. 
 My hands so shook with the intensity of my emotion, 
 that it was some time before I could use them. For 
 myself, I had ceased to be a priest ceased to be a 
 Catholic. I was only a man, and one who had done 
 much wrong under a false impression. I had mistook 
 bigotry and superstition for religion but the vail 
 had fallen from my eyes. I began now to think of 
 saving myself and Madelon, if it were possible. 
 
 Several minutes elapsed before I took hold of Ma 
 delon- and still she continued in a stupor. At length 
 we bore her across the room and laid her upon the 
 loose straw; and then the priest directed me to take 
 up the coffin and precede him out of the room. By
 
 238 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 this time night was approaching, and the shadows 
 began to deepen in the apartment. It seemed horrid 
 to me, to leave Madelon alone there, and in such a 
 condition. I could not help loitering and demurring; 
 but the priest, with an impatient stamp, pointed me 
 to the door. Smothering the malediction that quiv 
 ered upon my trembling lips, I took up the coffin, 
 cast a lingering look at poor Madelon, and quitted 
 the apartment; the unfeeling priest following close 
 at my heels. Once outside the door, he led the way 
 into the lower part of the Seminary, remarking as he 
 did so why, however, I could not guess that he 
 would see that the young lady was properly cared 
 for. 
 
 Having deposited the coffin according to direction, 
 and devoured the niggardly meal that was set be 
 fore me, I was promptly conducted, by Father Kew- 
 linn himself, to the apartment that had been alot- 
 ted me, and which was upon the landing, immediately 
 beneath the one occupied by Madelon. It was a 
 small, cheerless, half-furnished room, but a trifle bet 
 ter than the one in which Madelon herself was con 
 fined ; and as I cast myself, even as I was, upon the 
 poor apology of a feed, I felt like one forsaken of God 
 and man. Wearied, and worn, and sick at heart, the
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 239 
 
 only portion of my dress that I stopped to remove, 
 was my boots. 
 
 Deep darkness had long enshrouded everything 
 before I fell asleep. My body, it is true, was weary 
 0, how weary ! but my restless soul would not per 
 mit me to slumber. Thought had become a dreadful 
 thing to me; and yet I could not shun it; for memo 
 ry, unescapable memory, would not be quieted. And 
 with the recollection of the past came thoughts of 
 the future, which agitated me almost beyond endur 
 ance. I felt too, that although I was not exactly a 
 prisoner, I was carefully watched knew in my own 
 heart, that Father Huestace had communicated to 
 Father Kewlinn the suspicions which he, doubtless, 
 entertained of me. 
 
 At length, however, I fell asleep; and my last 
 thought was a prayer for Madelon, and an earnest 
 hope for our escape. I realized then that I owed her 
 much much in the shape of atonement. Could I 
 repay her? I thought.
 
 240 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Some time towards morning I was awoke by a noise 
 in Madelon's room. It was slight, but at that time my 
 senses were painfully acute. I started straight up in 
 bed and listened. A repetition of the noise brought 
 me quickly, but silently, to the door of my apartment. 
 I opened it the slightest crack possible, and concen 
 trated all my energies in the sense of hearing. Di 
 rectly I detected smothered voices. Some one was 
 surely in her room. I could scarcely restrain myself, 
 although my sober judgment counselled me to remain 
 quiet. My heart beat quick, and my breath came 
 thick and fast. There was a struggling I could hear 
 the shuffling of feet distinctly. In the midst of it a 
 woman and it could only be Madelon exclaimed in 
 tones of terror ;
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 241 
 
 "They killed him! will you now murder me, and 
 in this brutal manner?" 
 
 "Be quiet, girl, we don't intend to harm you!" 
 hissed forth another, and that other I knew to be 
 Father Kewlinn. 
 
 " Why do you come here, then ? Is my room poor 
 as it is common property ? or are priests and monks 
 for such I see you are without the pale of common 
 decency or humanity? I have been half murdered 
 already;, could I not be left to die in peace?" Made- 
 Ion exclaimed, indignantly. " Shame, shame, upon 
 you, cowards that you are, thus to hamper a weak 
 woman. Away with you, or I will shriek aloud with 
 all the strength that is left me!" 
 
 Site had recovered, and even seemed strong, for her 
 words were bravely spoken, but uselessly. She knew 
 not where she was, or that there little help could 
 reach her. 
 
 Again there was a scuffling; and then I heard 
 Father Kewlinn bid his companions, whoever they 
 were, bind Madelon's mouth. The prayer for mercy, 
 that quivered upon her lips, was smothered by the 
 coarse hand of a religious ruffian. 
 
 In a moment or two I heard the door open slowly, 
 
 and then the silent, measured tread of slippered feet 
 11
 
 242 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 upon the stairs. Directly the persons entered the hall, 
 and a moment after turned the curve, and appeared 
 in full view. Almost at a glance, I took in the posi 
 tion of the parties. Two stern looking monks Capu 
 chins held Madelon one by the head, and the other 
 by the feet while Father Kewlinn led the way, 
 carrying a dark lantern, the light of which he threw 
 directly in front of him. Madelon's hands and feet 
 were pinioned, and her mouth bandaged. Where 
 were they taking her? and what were their intentions? 
 I asked myself, but could not conjecture 
 
 As they approached the door of my room, which 
 they had to .pass, I silently closed it, and threw myself 
 upon the bed. It was fortunate that I did so, for there 
 the party, at a sign from the priest, came to a halt. 
 My wonder at this proceeding was soon changed to 
 anxiety, when I saw the door of my apartment silent 
 ly open, and Father Kewlinn enter the room. He im 
 mediately drew near to the bed, and threw the 
 strongest light of the lantern full in my face. I 
 guessed his object, and defeated it by remaining per 
 fectly quiescent. 
 
 "He sleeps!" he muttered. "That is well. He 
 will never know what became of the girl whether
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 243 
 
 she be dead or living here or elsewhere ; and that 
 is what Brother Huestace desired." 
 
 As quietly as he had entered, he quitted my apart 
 ment ; and in a moment after, the slight pit-a-pat of 
 slippered feet again fell upon my ear. Quickly I 
 was at the door gazing after them. 
 
 " Not know where she is ? We shall see ! We shall 
 see!" I whispered to myself, yet scarcely knowing 
 what I meant. 
 
 As noiselessly as a cat, I emerged from my room, 
 and crept down the hall after the priest and his ass 
 sociates. 
 
 The position in which Father Kewlinn carried the 
 lantern favored me greatly, the light being all in 
 front, while in the rear it was almost impenetrably dark. 
 
 The party being thus exposed to me, I carefully 
 watched all their actions. I soon observed that Ma- 
 delon occasionally struggled, but confined and sur 
 rounded as she was, it was folly to resist. 
 
 On, and on, they went ; and down, and down, they 
 went, into the cold, damp, mucky vault, beneath the 
 building. By this time I had crept up closer to the 
 party, and entered the cellar only a little way behind 
 them, the door, fortunately, opening and closing with- 
 out so much as a creak.
 
 244 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 The vault was large, occupying, as it did, about 
 three-fourths of the space upon which the building 
 stood. Father Kewlinn, and the monks bearing Ma 
 delon. proceeded directly towards the upper end of 
 the cellar. 
 
 "Are they going to murder her in this horrid 
 place?" I asked myself. 
 
 The thought had barely flashed through my mind, 
 when Father Kewlinn halted in front of an iron door, 
 which was deeply imbedded in the thick walls of the 
 cellar. Removing what seemed to be, and really was, 
 a heavy key, from his bosom, he unlocked the stout 
 door, and carefully threw it open. A cold blast of 
 wind swept past me, and made me shudder. The 
 whole party then passed through the door, and went 
 on without closing it, the priest apparently not giving 
 the circumstance a single thought. With an exclama 
 tion of joy, I followed on. I immediately found my 
 self in what appeared to be a tunnel, but whither it 
 lead, or what was its use, I could not at that moment 
 imagine. It was barely high enough to permit of a 
 good-sized man standing erect ; but sufficiently wide 
 to admit of three or four persons walking abreast. 
 The atmosphere was even damper than in the vault 
 beneath the Seminary ; and as I groped along close
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 245 
 
 up to the rough, stone-wall, I experienced a sensation 
 of coldness that seemed to penetrate even into my 
 heart. 
 
 In consequence of the extreme darkness which 
 surrounded me the priest's light but glimmering in 
 the distance like a far-off star in a black sky I oc 
 casionally stumbled over objects in my path what, I 
 knew not. 
 
 The noise thus created was but slight, and yet 
 sufficient to arrest the attention of Father Kewlinn, 
 who would halt, and casting the light of the lantern 
 behind him, peer into the surrounding darkness. Once, 
 the object I struck seemed larger than usual, and the 
 noise was consequently in proportion. Father Kew 
 linn turned round suddenly, and after a momentary 
 pause, during which he addressed some words to the 
 monks, he began to retrace his steps. As he drew 
 near me, I backed off; and, at length, finding nothing 
 out of the way, he returned to his associates. I fol 
 lowed on again. Directly my foot touched the same 
 object it had before encountered, but being more pre 
 pared this time, I shunned the noise. Unconsciously 
 I bent down, and picked it up. A single touch was 
 sufficient to inform me of its character, and I laid it 
 quickly down again. It was the skull of a human
 
 246 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 being, and probably so I began to think not the 
 first I had stumbled over during my progress through 
 the tunnel. 
 
 And still on, and on, we went; and only occasional 
 ly the deep silence was broken by some such occur 
 rence as I have just related. 
 
 In a little while I again crept up closer to Father 
 Kewlinn and his party, every moment growing more 
 anxious as to the result of their strange conduct. We 
 had now been walking for some time, and I began to 
 think the place interminable. 
 
 Occasionally Madelon would struggle sometimes 
 violently. Once, shortly after the incident which I 
 have just related, she managed, how, has ever been a 
 wonder to me, to remove the bandage from over her 
 mouth, sufficiently to admit of her venting a shriek. 
 And such a scream as rent that dark place seldom 
 strikes upon the human ear. It was like the deeply 
 agonizing cry of a wretch tottering upon the brink of 
 a yawning precipice ere his last leap into the boiling 
 gulf beneath. It was fearful, and for a moment or 
 two the party seemed paralyzed. 
 
 Directly, and of a sudden, I saw the reflection of 
 an arm upon the spot of light which surrounded Fa 
 ther Kewlinn and his companions. A quick thought,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim 247 
 
 too monstrous to harbor, flashed through my mind. 
 God, I thought, can it be ? and then the arm descend 
 ed with a quick motion, and the How for such I in 
 stantly realized it to be was followed by a low, deep 
 moan. The heartless priest had stricken the poor, 
 weak girl, full in the face. She did not trouble him 
 after that. 
 
 I could not tell to what extent Madelon was injur 
 ed, but the brutality of the act was almost without a 
 parallel. The savage Indian in all his native fierce 
 ness could scarcely have done worse. 
 
 At the moment the scream occurred, and the cow 
 ardly blow was dealt, a carriage, which was rattling 
 through the street overhead, stopped. I could hear 
 it plainly, as the occupants had, doubtless, heard Ma- 
 delon's agonizing cry. For a few moments the party 
 in the tunnel remained perfectly quiet, and, at length, 
 the carriage drove off, the occupants, very likely, en 
 tirely unable to account for the mysterious scream. 
 
 What my feelings were, when the brutal indignity 
 of a blow was perpetrated upon the person of Made- 
 Ion, I am unable to describe. What my feelings 
 were, too, when one single moment of reflection 
 showed me, how vain and useless was any interfe 
 rence, at that time, on my part, is beyond language to
 
 248 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 express. I could have killed the base and cowardly 
 priest, and never allowed him time to say, " God for 
 give me." I did start forward, but something which 
 seemed to whisper in my heart, " not yet ! not yet !" 
 arrested my steps. The struggle was fierce, and great 
 beads of perspiration hung upon my brow. At length, 
 however, I curbed my feelings, and settled down 
 again into comparative quiet. 
 
 As soon as the carriage passed on, Father Kewlinn 
 moved and spoke. Madelon was, of course, uncon 
 scious, and in her weak condition it is only a wonder 
 that the blow was not instant death to her. 
 
 u I was compelled to resort to such a course," said 
 the priest, apologetically ; but why I could never de 
 termine, for undoubtedly his assistants would have 
 done just the same thing, under the same circum 
 stances. " It is already rumored," he continued, 
 " that screams and singular noises, which seem to issue 
 from the ground, have been heard in this quarter; 
 and such being the case, it was imperiously necessary 
 to silence her voice, and quickly ; and how else could 
 I effectually accomplish that end ? Now replace the 
 bandage over her mouth, for fear that she should 
 again revive, and let us on. The air chills me." 
 
 The priest's command having be#h obeyed, the
 
 The Jesuit and Ids Victim. 249 
 
 party once more started forward, and at a more rapid 
 rate. Their quaking hearts quickened their steps. 
 
 In a short time they again halted, and I crept up 
 to within a very short distance of them. They were 
 now standing before another iron door, which likewise 
 appeared to be, and really was, imbedded in another 
 end wall of the tunnel. I now began to suspect 
 whither the underground passage led. It, doubtless, 
 formed a connection between the Seminary and the 
 Nunnery, and enabled the occupants of the former, 
 the better to carry on their often unchristianlike and 
 ungodly practices. 
 
 While Father Kewlinn busied himself in getting 
 out the key, and unlocking the heavy door, the atten 
 tion of the whole party being concentrated on what 
 was before, and not behind them, I drew myself up so 
 close, that had they listened, they could almost have 
 detected my breathing. 
 
 In a moment the door swung inward, and revealed 
 what was beyond. From my position I could discern 
 things quite distinctly. The space beyond appeared 
 to be a large vault, similar to the one under the Se 
 minary. 
 
 As Father Kewlinn and his party passed through, 
 
 I found myself in complete darkness, with the excep- 
 11*
 
 250 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 tion of the little gleam of light that shone through 
 the door, and struck lengthwise upon the damp earth- 
 floor beyond. In a moment the door slowly moved 
 on its hinges I sprang lightly forward too late it 
 closed with a dull and heavy sound. I looked around 
 affrighted the darkness was intense, and almost over 
 powering. I again turned to the door, thinking that 
 I might open it and press through, for I had not 
 heard them lock it. My hand was already upon the 
 heavy iron knob, when the bolt in the lock slowly 
 turned in the socket, and cut off all my chances of 
 penetrating any further. They must have returned, 
 for I feel confident that they had passed on some 
 distance. Second thought had probably induced the 
 priest to be more cautious. 
 
 I leaned against the cold, wet wall, despairingly; and 
 though I well enough knew, that the door at the other 
 end of the tunnel was open, I made no effort to retrace 
 my steps. So occupied was I, that the thought did 
 not strike me. In that moment the mystery of the 
 priest's conduct absorbed my every faculty even my 
 own possible danger was forgotten. I could not relin 
 quish the pursuit of Madelon. Some irresistible power 
 rivetted me to the spot. I seemed to have but one single 
 idea, and that was beyond my power to direct or con-
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 251 
 
 trol. Was it Fate ? and if not Fate, what else ? that 
 enchained my feet, and in the fullness of one thought 
 obliterated every other? It almost, indeed, seem 
 ed so. 
 
 I waited, and waited, close up to that heavy iron- 
 door, and yet I scarcely knew why. And thus passed 
 the moments, slowly and heavily, for it was a cold, 
 dark, dreary vigil. 
 
 Directly, for though the time seemed long to me, it 
 could not have really been so, I was startled by a 
 fumbling at the iron-door. Anon, the bolt began to 
 recede in the lock then the door commenced to open 
 slowly, and finally a stream of light again gleamed 
 into the dark tunnel. I sank down close in the cor 
 ner, almost rolling myself up into a ball. An instant 
 after, and Father Kewlinn, together with the two 
 monks, stepped into the passage, the former stopping 
 to close the door and lock it. What have they done 
 with Madelon? I asked myself, and shuddered to 
 think that my efforts to penetrate her new hiding- 
 place were fruitless. That she had been lodged in the 
 Nunnery, I felt convinced ; but still I was not certain. 
 And what her fate would be there, was equally a mat 
 ter of conjecture. I trembled to think that I could 
 not assist her, as I had resolved to do. All that I had
 
 252 Mac] don Hawley, or 
 
 obtained, was a knowledge of Madelon's removal 
 from the Seminary. She might be confined in the 
 Nunnery, or she might be taken far away out of the 
 city, for all that Iwould know, as I was then situated. 
 And even if I had penetrated beyond the second iron- 
 door, I might have done much more harm than good 
 to both Madelon and myself. Altogether I began to 
 feel that I was powerless. 
 
 Abreast, the three men, the priest in the centre, 
 passed on towards the other end of the passage. I fol 
 lowed them quickly, and with a cat-like step. Tramp 
 tramp tramp, with a noiseless tread, and without 
 uttering a word, Father Kewlinn, and his monkish 
 satelites marched on. I wished that they would speak, 
 and say something of Madelon but everything was 
 against me they uttered not a syllable. 
 
 At length the light from the priest's lantern struck 
 upon the door which communicated with the vault 
 beneath the Seminary. A few steps further, and they 
 halted before it. I stopped too, and clung close to 
 the wall. The door was still open, and the three men 
 quietly passed through. Father Kewlinn himself 
 stopped in the door-way, and placed the key in the 
 lock. As he did so, a horrid thought flashed with 
 lightning swiftness through my mind. What if he
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 253 
 
 should lock it? And that he would do so, was but 
 to be expected. I should then be a prisoner in the 
 cold, dark tunnel. I had not thought of that before. 
 "With all my feelings fearfully intensified, I watched 
 the motions of the priest. A moment only elapsed, 
 when he drew the door to, and closed it. I rushed 
 forward wildly, and leaned against the iron-barricade, 
 listening. Great God! the lock turned; it struck 
 like death to my heart, for I was a prisoner in the 
 horrid passage. I dare not cry out, for to betray what 
 I had done, would, most likely, be but to call down in 
 stant vengeance upon my head. What would become 
 of me? I should die there die of cold and hunger, 
 if I did not soon get out.
 
 254 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 I need not recapitulate all my agony all my suf 
 ferings while confined in that, to me, dreadful place. 
 It was too intensely dark to walk, and yet I was com 
 pelled to keep in motion, to prevent the cold air from 
 overpowering me. Time passed on painfully slow, 
 and all the while no hope, no prospect of release. 
 
 I knew that in the world above, at last the light 
 of day was shining; for I could hear the vehicles 
 passing and re-passing overhead, and occasionally 
 catch the sound of a human voice hut to me all was 
 dark, dark night. I wandered up and down- -groping 
 my way hither and thither sometimes moaning with 
 anguish, and sometimes weeping with despair. My 
 feet and legs grew numb with cold, while my head 
 burned with a violent fever. But that I possessed 
 a strong and unimpaired constitution, I should have
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 255 
 
 sunk down and died. As it was, the struggle was 
 doubtful. 
 
 As time passed away, the gnawings of hunger be 
 gan to rend my bosom, and add to my other sufferings; 
 and my heart beat dreadfully with the overwhelming 
 intensity of my feelings. At length, I felt though 
 I had no means of knowing that the day must be 
 passed, by the great length of time I had been lock 
 ed up. And yet there was no chance of escape no 
 one visited the tunnel. 
 
 I knew that I had grown thin, and pale, and hag 
 gard, even in the short time that I had been confined 
 in that dreadful place ; and I could feel, though I could 
 not see, the alteration in my appearance. Such feelings 
 as agitated my heart soon produce a visible effect. 
 
 You may wonder that I was not missed in the Se 
 minary, and searched for. Doubtless I was. But in the 
 tunnel would have been the last place they would have 
 thought of looking for me. The reasons are obvious. 
 I was a stranger but just arrived, and consequently 
 could not be supposed to know of its existence. 
 
 At length, after the lapse of an almost unbearable 
 space of time, my heart leaped into my throat, for my 
 quick ear detected the approach of some person in the 
 vault under the Seminary. It sounded as joyfully to
 
 256 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 me as " pardon'' does to the poor criminal in his dreary 
 dungeon. And yet it might not betoken safety. I 
 heard the key placed in the lock, and I crouched 
 down again close to the wall ; the bolt was slowly 
 withdrawn ; the door opened, and the light of a lan 
 tern again illuminated that black cavern. One per 
 son only appeared in the doorway. For a moment the 
 light blinded me ; but soon recovering my faculties, I 
 cast my eyes upon the intruder. I almost cried aloud, 
 as I recognized the visitor. 
 
 "He here, and so soon!" I thought, as my straining 
 eyes fell upon the dark and furrowed countenance of 
 Father Huestace. "The end then is come" so ran 
 my reflections " and I was not held a captive here 
 for nothing.- Deep, dark, inscrutable destiny is at 
 work." 
 
 Father Huestace did not stop tolocK the great door, 
 but only closing it, passed on. His mind appeared to 
 be absorbed, and the abstraction of his manner led me 
 to hope that he would pursue the same course with 
 the other door ; as I felt confident that it was his in 
 tention to visit Madelon, wherever she was; and I 
 had determined upon following him, let the issue be 
 what it might. 
 
 On we went, with but the space of a dozen yards
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 25 Y 
 
 between us. Little did the plotting and unscrupu 
 lous priest imagine who was dogging his steps. As I 
 have said before, I was an altered person then ; and 
 though not yet what I should be, a wise God had 
 made apparent to my mind the errors of my creed. 
 I hated priests hated Romanism almost hated my 
 self for the life I had mis-spent trebly hated Fa 
 ther Huestace for the great influence which he had 
 hitherto exercised over me to my degradation. 
 
 The Jesuit was arrayed in the garments generally 
 in vogue, with the exception of the dressing of the 
 feet, which consisted of a description of thick, but 
 pliant moccasin. His head was ornamented with a 
 tight fitting black velvet cap an article in common 
 use among the Catholic clergy. In personal appear 
 ance he was the same as when I last saw him; and 
 judging from his wrinkled brow and compressed lips, 
 his feelings still maintained about the same balance. 
 
 Ai length, he drew near to the other end of the 
 tunnel, and finally the reflections of the light struck 
 upon the iron pivots in the cumbrous door. Hither 
 to Father Huestace had pursued his way -with his 
 head bowed down, as if in deep meditation ; now he 
 raised his face, and looked anxiously around. A few 
 steps more brought him in direct contact with the
 
 258 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 barrier. Placing the lantern upon the ground, he re 
 moved the key from his bosom, and unlocked the 
 door. Again my eyes penetrated the great vault be 
 yond. Father Huestace then took up the lantern, and 
 passed through the aperture. I reached the door just 
 in time to see it close. Again I was surrounded with 
 intense darkness; but I thought not of that another 
 feeling filled my heart; would he lock the door? I 
 felt that if he did, I should shriek aloud with the 
 mad agony of my emotions. I bent my head down 
 and listened. Hist! a step light as a feather but 
 still a step. Thank God, he passes on without lock 
 ing it! was my inward congratulation. I drew along, 
 long breath, and then seized the heavy knob of the 
 door. Slowly I turned it ; and by degrees pushed it 
 back the distance of a foot probably. It was a criti 
 cal moment for me, but I did not shake or falter. 
 Pushing my body through I entered the vault, and 
 then silently closed the door. It was a miracle how 
 I ever accomplished the feat, without attracting the 
 priest's attention. But the dark shadow of destiny 
 rolled up between the Jesuit and myself. 
 
 As I emerged into the cellar, Father Huestace was 
 just in the act of ascending a flight of stairs at the 
 farthest extremity. With a rapid but silent movement
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 259 
 
 I drew near to the spot, reaching it just in time to see 
 him pass through a trap and disappear. I ascended 
 the steps as quick as a flash, and placed my ear to the 
 trap. The shutting of a door, which was barely au 
 dible, advised me of the priest's disappearance from 
 the room, with which the trap evidently communicat 
 ed. I listened again all was still as the grave. Slow 
 ly I pushed up the trap and peeped into the room. A 
 gush of warm air pleasantly contrasted with the cold 
 atmosphere of the damp vault. The apartment was 
 dark, and not a sound disturbed the heavy silence. A 
 gleam of light which shone through a crack, inform 
 ed me of the direction in which Father Huestace had 
 gone. Dragging myself through the trap, I crawled 
 into the room on my hands and knees. Following the 
 streak of light I came to a door, which I softly open 
 ed, and emerged into a hall from which a flight of 
 winding stairs led, as I correctly judged, into the up 
 per portions of the Nunnery ; for in that building I 
 felt positive I was. What I had already seen con 
 firmed my previous suppositions. 
 
 The Jesuit was just winding around the top of the 
 first flight of stairs, for I had gained upon him rapid 
 ly. I drew back until he had passed the turn, and 
 then crept, with a noiseless tread, after him. I be-
 
 260 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 lieve that I could have struck him down, and killed 
 him, at any moment, and without a struggle; but 
 even then my mind did not contemplate murder was 
 not, in fact, fixed upon anything further than to 
 watch the now hateful Jesuit. 
 
 The second flight of stairs brought us for I fol 
 lowed close behind Father Huestace to another long, 
 dark hall. The priest turned to the right and pass 
 ed on. As yet we had not encountered a living soul, 
 or heard the slightest noise. And yet I knew that 
 beneath that ponderous roof were many sleepless 
 eyes many wakeful hearts, throbbing with feelings 
 of unutterable passion, or unutterable agony. 
 
 From the manner in which the Jesuit proceeded, 
 I concluded that his visit was at once expected, and 
 arranged by some one in the building some one, too, 
 who had power. What was his intention I could but 
 guess. No good that was as certain as destiny it 
 self. 
 
 On either side of the passage in which I then found 
 myself, were a number of doors, communicating, as I 
 well knew, with the Nun's cells. At none of these, 
 however, did Father Huestace stop; but with a rapid 
 motion he passed onward. Directly he disappeared. 
 On arriving at the point at which I had last seen him,
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 261 
 
 I found that the passage abruptly turned off to the 
 left, and appeared to lead round into another, and 
 less frequented portion of the building. The Jesuit 
 was just in advance of me. 
 
 Suddenly Father Huestace stopped, and stooping to 
 the keyhole of a solitary room, listened for some mo 
 ments very attentively. Then he applied his eye to 
 the same aperture, and finally set down the lantern, 
 drew a small key from his pocket, applied it to the 
 lock, opened the door softly, and disappeared within. 
 And either from a sense of security, or the pre-occu- 
 pation of his mind by other thoughts, he entered the 
 room without locking the door after him. 
 
 In an instant after his disappearance, my eye was 
 pressed to the keyhole. The view within was partly 
 obscured, but still I could manage to distinguish the 
 occupants of the room, and mark their conduct. 
 
 As I suspected, the apartment was Madelon's prison 
 for to her it was little else. My previous excite 
 ment, which had somewhat subsided during my chase 
 of the Jesuit, now began to creep over me again. 
 Once more my blood boiled my temples throbbed, 
 and my heart palpitated wildly. 
 
 Evidently the girl had been asleep, and the light 
 put out. When I applied my eye to the keyhole, Ma-
 
 262 Maddon Haivley, or 
 
 delon, white as a marble statue, and still clad in the 
 solemn grave-robe, was reclining upon the side of the 
 bed, with her eyes fixed upon the motions of the 
 priest, as if fascinated. Father Huestace had remov 
 ed the candle from the tin-lantern, and was just in 
 the act of depositing the former upon a rough table 
 which stood against the wall. This was the position 
 of things. 
 
 It was a picture. Within the shadowy room the 
 dark, mendacious priest, and the pale, persecuted 
 woman ; without, crouching down, and peering 
 through the keyhole, the thin and haggard spy. 
 
 Father Huestace soon turned from the table and 
 faced the marble looking woman. There was in his 
 steady gaze a fearful combination of bad passions, in 
 explicable to all but himself. Hate, however and 
 such a hate, as none but the very fiends experience 
 predominated. And he had, doubtless, come there to 
 gratify the feeling gratify it in the worst form. Ma- 
 delon, as she looked upon him, shook as with a chill. 
 The basilisk eyes of death could not, for the moment, 
 have held her more spell-bound. 
 
 Thus they stood for a brief space. 
 
 "Madelon!" said the Jesuit, at length, in low tones. 
 
 No answer.
 
 Tlie Jesuit and his Victim. 263 
 
 "Madelon!" lie repeated, in a louder key. 
 
 Still no answer. 
 
 And the girl never removed her eyes from his face, 
 or stirred a limb. 
 
 "Madelon!" he reiterated again, and this time 
 loudly and angrily. 
 
 The girl started, and drew her thin, white hand 
 across her eyes, as if just awaking from a dream. 
 There was a moment of deep and solemn silence. 
 
 "Who calls Madelon?" she repeated, slowly and 
 quietly. 
 
 " One who may be her friend or foe, as she wills," 
 responded the Jesuit, softly and hypocritically 
 
 There was another moment of silence, and Made- 
 Ion's eyes, from wandering around the room, finally 
 settled upon the dark visage of Father Huestace. 
 
 "You!" exclaimed the girl, with almost a shriek; 
 and at the same time she slid from the bed and stood 
 erect upon the floor, the fore-finger of her left hand 
 pointing towards the priest. 
 
 There was a quivering of the muscles in the face 
 of Father Huestace, and already his breast began to 
 surge with rising passion. 
 
 "Just like her mother!" he hissed, between his 
 clenched teeth.
 
 ^ 64 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 The words seemed to concentrate and intensify all 
 the whole energy, passion, despair, and grief of the 
 girl's nature. 
 
 " Yes, vile priest," she cried, in tones of withering 
 scorn "just like my mother. Like that mother 
 whom you basely sought to rob of life's best jewel 
 its brightest ornament; you see I know you; like 
 that mother who out of revenge you tormented but 
 not openly to death; like that mother whose bless 
 ed spirit now hovers over her child, and gives her 
 strength to brand you with your myriad crimes. I 
 know you well well! The dark face that frighten 
 ed my childhood, has never escaped my memory. It 
 is there ! there !" 
 
 She pointed to the priest's working countenance. 
 
 " Mad girl, you know not what you do !" he hissed 
 out, and his whole frame quivered. 
 
 In that moment the Jesuit looked not like a human 
 being. His fingers worked; his lips, lividly white, 
 trembled violently; his eyes stood out like balls of 
 fire ; and the great veins on his forehead looked like 
 dark chords. He was the very personification of un 
 hallowed passion. Madelon, too, was madly excited; 
 while my feelings almost defied restraint. 
 
 "Wrong, wrong!" continued the girl, with intense
 
 The Jeswit and his Victim. 265 
 
 wildness ; " and yet I have not you to thank that I 
 do. Hearken to my words, base, ignohle priest ; for 
 the true God has given me power to speak; me, a 
 weak, trembling, sick, and dying girl. Not content 
 with murdering the mother, you have sought to rob 
 and murder the child me, the image of her, beneath 
 whose scornful gaze your vile soul shrunk to nothing 
 me, who inherited the wealth, which enriched the 
 mother, whom you could not degrade. And not con 
 tent with all this " 
 
 "Devil!" shouted the priest, almost crazed 'by the 
 girl's reproachful words ; " cease, or your words will 
 yet provoke your death!" 
 
 As he spoke he raised his arm and strode towards 
 
 her. 
 
 
 
 " Approach me not, accursed man!" cried Madelon, 
 with passionate dignity. " Off oif! or the weight of 
 your sins will strike you dead!" 
 
 He stopped abruptly. There was something in the 
 girl's manner, more than her words, that would have 
 terrified a greater villain than even the Jesuit. 
 
 " And not content with all this, I say," continued 
 
 Madelon, undaunted, "you murdered another one 
 
 whom I loved, and who loved me one who never 
 
 wronged you one whose mother never turned you 
 
 12
 
 266 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 forth, from beneath the roof your presence had pollut 
 edone whose only fault was, that he loved her 
 whose mother scorned your base proposals she, w.hose 
 wealth tempted your cupidity. 0, Frank, Frank," 
 and Madelon wound her white hands through her 
 dark hair " I can almost fancy that I see you now, 
 struggling in the cold waters struggling for that 
 life which was so dear to me ; and here, here before 
 me" again she turned wildly upon the priest 
 " stands the dark man who murdered you. Will not 
 your pure spirit rise up to curse him, as I do now?" 
 
 Falling upon her knees, she lifted her eyes upward, 
 and stretched forth both her hands wildly. In that 
 moment, that pale woman looked supernaturally 
 holy. 
 
 "Maledictions on your cursed tongue!" cried Fa 
 ther Huestace, clenching his hand and shaking it to 
 wards Madelon. 
 
 And yet he seemed grown to the spot held spell 
 bound by the whirlwind of the girl's agony. 
 
 " 0, God, the Father, hear me !" continued Madelon, 
 appealing to high heaven ; " let not this bad man es 
 cape the punishment of his sins let him not live to 
 blast the earth with more wrong, more murder ; palsy 
 the hand that robs innocence of virtue put out the
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 267 
 
 mind that brings forth only that which is sinful and 
 corrupt; and still the voice that breathes forth naught 
 but rapine and murder. Earth is weary of the mon 
 ster, and the spirits of his slain victims circle him 
 about, and cry aloud for vengeance vengeance !" 
 
 My own feelings had by this time become so deep 
 ly enlisted, and my emotions so powerfully agitated, 
 that my limbs would scarcely support the weight of 
 my body. 
 
 Madelon had barely concluded her appeal, when 
 the now infuriated priest sprang towards her. Eter 
 nal Truth had pierced even his callous heart; but in 
 stead of deterring, it only urged him on to new scenes 
 of violence. 
 
 " Be that word the last you shall shriek in my ear, 
 proud, defiant woman!" he shouted, terribly. 
 
 There was a blow a faint scream a running of 
 blood. The priest had stricken the girl with the 
 heavy iron-key which opened the doors of the tunnel. 
 
 I looked on horrified, for my mind was not prepar 
 ed for such a sight. For some moments I could 
 scarcely comprehend what had occurred. At length 
 the reality burst upon me. 
 
 With the yell of a madman I dashed into the room. 
 The Jesuit turned and glared at me affrighted; and
 
 268 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 Madelon fell quivering to the floor, her white clothes 
 dyed with the purple stream. 
 
 " Mother Frank I come !" she murmured faintly 
 gasped for breath moaned, and died. 
 
 In that terrible moment, so fatally consecrated to 
 blood and murder, that poor, persecuted girl thought 
 only of those whom she had loved, and who had lov 
 ed her. Even as her spirit, pure, and holy, and unde- 
 filed, tottered upon the brink 
 
 " Of that tremendous precipice, whose depth 
 No thought of man can fathom," 
 
 her final living thought lingered lovingly around the 
 memory .of those who in her tender heart she recog 
 nized as nearest and dearest. 
 
 There was a deep, oppressive pause. 
 
 I turned to the priest our eyes met, and for an in 
 stant our gaze was fixed. 
 
 " Fiend!'' I shouted, crazy with the scene ; " behold 
 another murder is committed another victim is add 
 ed to your long catalogue. The ^ spirits of the many 
 murdered are waiting to drag you down to hell. I 
 hear their voices in the whispering air. They clamor 
 for retribution. Come come come !" 
 
 With a bound I was by the Jesuit's side, and with 
 supernatural strength I seized him by the throat, and
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 269 
 
 bore him to the floor. Then dragging him across the 
 room to where the bloody Madelou lay, I held his 
 face down to her's, and again hissed "murderer" in 
 his ear. And all the while my grasp upon his throat 
 tightened. All the accumulating hatred of the past 
 was concentrated in that grip,^ and I experienced a 
 maniacal joy, as I felt the priest's writhings and 
 twistings, and gazed into his fast bloating counte 
 nance. 
 
 But he was a strong man, was Father Huestace; 
 and in great despair he made a terrible struggle for 
 his life. The madness of the moment had made a 
 giant of me, but the spring of the priest took me by 
 surprise. For a moment he escaped my grasp, and 
 shrieked with all the intensity of a lost soul. But 
 that cry was his last. Bounding upon him with all 
 the ferocity of a madman, I again bore him to the 
 floor, and twisted my fingers about his neck. 
 
 A shuffling of many feet, and an echoed exclama 
 tion in the room, attracted my attention. I looked 
 up from the body of the Jesuit. Around me were 
 gathered several priests and monks. How it happen 
 ed that they were so prompt on the first alarm, and 
 what they were doing in the Nunnery at that time of 
 night for I now think that it must have been near
 
 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 on to the mid-hour I leave you to conjecture. My 
 brain was too hot to think of anything then. I saw 
 them there, and that was all I knew. From them I 
 turned again to Father Huestace, whose throat I still 
 grasped. He was quiet and immoveable. In speech 
 less silence several moments elapsed. At length there 
 was another bustling at the door, and then Father 
 Kewlinn followed by several priests hurried into the 
 room. And lastly the Lady Abbess, with some other 
 heads of the establishment, appeared upon the scene. 
 I remembered it all afterwards. There was much 
 confusion, horror and dismay. The priests in the Se 
 minary had evidently been alarmed by some one 
 hence their sudden and abrupt appearance. 
 
 And still I bent down over Father Huestace mad 
 dened. 
 
 "Blessed Virgin, what a dreadful sight!'' exclaim 
 ed a female voice, each tone instinct with terror. 
 
 "A double murder! horror!" echoed another, and a 
 deeper voice the voice of a novice, probably, or he 
 would not have been so moved. 
 
 " How came he here ?" the Lady Abbess inquired, 
 anxiously, pointing at me, and appealing to Father Kew- 
 lin. " In what manner did he obtain access here ? Not 
 by the usual way, that I am certain." Without wait-
 
 The Jesuit and liis Victim, 271 
 
 ing for a reply, she continued, " what a dreadful deed, 
 and how frightful the man looks. Take him away ! 
 take him away, or he may kill somebody else." 
 
 "Seize him!" cried Father Kewlinn, thus aroused; 
 "seize the renegade priest!" 
 
 There was a groan of horror passed from mouth to 
 mouth. At the same moment I cast Father Huestace 
 from me and sprang to my feet. I, too, was aroused. 
 The body of the priest fell to the floor like a stone. 
 He was dead. 
 
 I sprang forward, but was instantly surrounded. 
 There was a fierce struggle, and I remember nothing 
 more. All was oblivion and darkness.
 
 272 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WEEKS passed before I returned to consciousness. 
 When I did I found that I was in a strange place ; 
 but still surrounded by the priests, and encompassed 
 by the power of the Romish Church. 
 
 The fever of my brain had abated, but not so the 
 hate I felt for priests and priestcraft. Nor could I 
 avoid displaying the revolution which circumstances 
 had wrought in my feelings. For that I in turn was 
 hated. 
 
 From the moment of my revival I was subjected to 
 a persecution of the most fiendish and devilish cha 
 racter. I was looked upon as an apostate a renegade; 
 and my body was subjected to all the tortures their 
 ingenuity could invent ; and their cunning is never 
 at a loss. I bore it as patiently, with as much for 
 titude, as human flesh could. At length I discovered 
 where I was which for a long time I knew not. My
 
 The Jesuit and his Victim. 273 
 
 place of confinement was a farm-house attached to 
 the Seminary, but some miles distant. With the dis 
 covery came a resolution to escajje : and, after much 
 pondering, I could see but one way to accomplish 
 that; for I was too closely guarded to admit of many 
 chances. 
 
 One dark night, having collected together all the 
 combustible material I could find in my room, I fired 
 the building. In the confusion I escaped to the 
 woods and concealed myself. Weeks after, having 
 endured unspeakable hardships and deprivations, I 
 reached the Indian country, in the far, far west. I 
 claimed fellowship with the red men, and was receiv 
 ed among them. They liked me, and I was elected 
 their medicine-man. From that hour I sought ear 
 nestly to atone for the past. I tried to do all the 
 good that was in my power. In the grand old woods 
 I worshipped God untrammelled by creed or super 
 stition in the solitude of the wilderness I sought 
 forgiveness for the misdeeds of 'the past. 
 
 Years passed away, and a measure of peace, sweet 
 peace, came at last. With that feeling of inward 
 quiet there came also a strange and unaccountable 
 desire to revisit this city. I could not suppress it; 
 
 and at length I gratified the yearning. I had amass- 
 12*
 
 274 
 
 ed some little money by trafficking in furs ; and so I 
 left my friends, the Indians, and travelled here ; but 
 the scenes, and the p.eople, all were changed. I, too, 
 was changed ; for I was old, and bent, and wrinkled. 
 They who knew me years before, knew me not then; 
 nor did I wish it otherwise. I took up my lodgings 
 here, and from that time I have lived alone and almost 
 unknown. 
 
 My old employer, Madelon's aunt, and many others 
 who had mingled in life's busy scenes long years be 
 fore, slept the silent sleep that knows no waking. 
 Charles Hawley had grown gray during my absence ; 
 and Anna Sinclair was married and living in the east. 
 These things I learned by degrees from hearsay. 
 Winnie had grown quite matronly, was married too, 
 and had a family of interesting children around her. 
 Her husband was an honest, deserving mechanic. I 
 was glad to know that she had not taken my deser 
 tion much to heart. I have seen her frequently, 
 but she never recognizes in the bent old man the 
 dashing and deceitful Joseph of other days. Patrick 
 and you, doubtless, can remember the circumstance, 
 for it has not been many years since, and created 
 much excitement at the time was convicted of the 
 murder of two women, and afterwards hung. The
 
 The Jesuit and Ms Victim. 2Y5 
 
 Church could not save him then, and no Father Hues- 
 tace was at hand. As he had lived, he perished; con 
 fident in the miraculous power of the priest, and the 
 infallibility of his religion. 
 
 Upon the breaking up of the river, which was late 
 in the season, the body of Frank Sinclair who had 
 long been mourned as dead was found, and recog 
 nized by the clothing; but nothing was ever learned 
 of the manner of his death. Patrick died without 
 revealing a word true to one thing at least. 
 
 Madelon's estate, after much trouble and bickering, 
 and after the lapse of several years, was finally se 
 cured by the agents of the Church. 
 
 All now is told the mystery of a plot, and the his 
 tory of a foul wrong is bared to your gaze. My soul 
 is lighter, that the weight of secresy is lifted from it. 
 For the wrong that I did to Madelon and her friends 
 I have deeply, deeply repented; for the death of 
 Father Huestace no man would hold me responsible 
 surely then not a just God. Little more remains now 
 to be told. 
 
 Since my return, but little of importance has oc 
 curred to me nothing connected with my narrative ; 
 except, indeed, that the gray old church no longer lifts 
 its tall spire to the clouds; for a mass of crumbling
 
 276 Madelon Hawley, or 
 
 ruins now marks the spot where once it stood. It will 
 no more sin against God by harboring conspirators 
 and murderers, even though they be priestly ones. 
 
 I am done. My story is told, and finished none 
 too soon, for death tugs impatiently at my heart. 
 The span of my life is run; but in this final hour I 
 can only glorify the Divine Master for the blessed 
 privilege of repentance. He has allowed me years, 
 long years, to wash out the stains of the past, and pre 
 pare for that future which is beyond the grave. Hal 
 lowed be His name, forever and ever, on earth and in 
 heaven; for He is the true God the only Lord and 
 Master of us all. 
 
 The weakness 01 dissolution prostrates alike my 
 mind and body, and the last home of man opens its 
 narrow door to admit me within. All things grow 
 dim and vague ; but in the vapory mist I see the 
 shadows of an angel band. They beckon me away 
 away. I come! I come! 
 
 A" ^ * ^ 2f $fc ^P 
 
 The old man had been gradually growing weaker 
 and weaker ; and at length his voice sank away into 
 a faint whisper. Placing my arm beneath his shoul 
 der I removed the pillows, and laid his drooping
 
 The Jesuil and Jiis Victim. 277 
 
 head back. Then he closed his eyes slowly, and lay 
 motionless. 
 
 The light of day was just breaking in the east, and 
 a pale silver gleam stole into the room, and rested 
 upon his white face, and silvered brow. 
 
 No sound disturbed the deep and solemn silence ; 
 for even the old man's breathing had almost entirely 
 subsided. I bent down over the bed the shadow of 
 the grave rested upon the sleeper's brow. The pale 
 visitor came to the old man kindly and gently, and 
 the tried heart mildly admitted him. Anon, I rest 
 ed my hand upon his pulseless heart, and in the full 
 conviction of his deep and earnest repentance, whis 
 pered: "Peace be with thee!" 
 
 He was dead. 
 
 THE END.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 Form L9-Series 4939
 
 PSL099, B194M 
 
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