The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

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ORMOND; OR,

lapse of another moment would have placed me beyond
hope.
"My stroke was desperate and at random. It answered my purpose too well. He cast at me a look
of terrible upbraiding, but spoke not. His heart was
pierced, and he sunk, as if struck by lightning, at my
feet. O much erring and unhappy Ormond! That
thou shouldst thus untimely perish! That I should be
thy executioner!"
These words sufficiently explained the scene that I
had witnessed. The violence of Ormond had been repulsed by equal violence. His foul attempts had been
prevented by his death. Not to deplore the necessity
which had produced this act was impossible; but, since
this necessity existed, it was surely not a deed to be
thought upon with lasting horror, or to be allowed to
generate remorse.
In consequence of this catastrophe, arduous duties
had devolved upon me. The people that surrounded
me were powerless with terror. Their ignorance and
cowardice left them at a loss how to act in this emergency. They besought my direction, and willingly performed whatever I thought proper to enjoin upon them.
No deliberation was necessary to acquaint me with
my duty. Laffert was despatched to the nearest magistrate with a letter, in which his immediate presence was
entreated and these transactions were briefly explained.
Early the next day the formalities of justice, in the inspection of the bodies and the examination of witnesses,
were executed. It would be needless to dwell on the
particulars of this catastrophe. A sufficient explanation has been given of the causes that led to it. They
were such as exempted my friend from legal animadversion. Her act was prompted by motives which every
scheme of jurisprudence known in the world not only
exculpates, but applauds. To state these motives before
a tribunal hastily formed and exercising its functions on
the spot was a task not to be avoided, though infinitely
painful. Remonstrances the most urgent and pathetic
could scarcely conquer her reluctance.
This task, however, was easy, if comparison with that