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,

nearly into the creature that he wished. She knew too
little of the man justly to estimate his character. It
remained to be ascertained whether his purposes were
consistent and upright, or were those of a villain and
betrayer.
Meanwhile, what was to be done by Helena? Marriage had been refused on plausible pretences. Her unenlightened understanding made her no match for her
lover. She would never maintain her claim to nuptial
privileges in his presence, or, if she did, she would never
convince him of their validity.
Were they indeed valid? Was not the disparity between them incurable? A marriage of minds so dissimilar could only be productive of misery immediately
to him, and, by a reflex operation, to herself. She could
not be happy in a union that was the source of regret to
her husband. Marriage, therefore, was not possible, or,
if possible, was not, perhaps, to be wished. But what
was the choice that remained?
To continue in her present situation was not to be
endured. Disgrace was a demon that would blast every
hope of happiness. She was excluded from all society
but that of the depraved. Her situation was eminently
critical. It depended, perhaps, on the resolution she
should now form whether she should be enrolled among
the worst of mankind. Infamy is the worst of evils. It
creates innumerable obstructions in the path of virtue.
It manacles the hand and entangles the feet that are
active only to good. To the weak it is an evil of much
greater magnitude. It determines their destiny; and
they hasten to merit that reproach which at first, it may
be, they did not deserve.
This connection is intrinsically flagitious. Helena is
subjected by it to the worst ills that are incident to humanity, the general contempt of mankind, and the reproaches of her own conscience. From these there is
but one method from which she can hope to be relieved.
The intercourse must cease.
It was easier to see the propriety of separation than
to project means for accomplishing it. It was true that
Helena loved; but what quarter was due to this passion