'Mr. Sydney,' said the Doctor, much affected--'do you remember that night I met you in the Park, and would have robbed you? I was then moneyless and starving. I will not now stop to relate how I became reduced to such abject wretchedness, but I must do myself the justice to say that my downfall was produced by the rascalities of others. Your liberality to me upon that night was an evidence to my mind that the world was not entirely heartless and unjust; and tho' I did not immediately forsake the evil of my ways, yet your kindness softened me, and laid the foundation of my present reformation.--Noble young man, I accept the offer of your friendship with gratitude, but I will not share your fortune. No--my ambition is, to build up a fortune of my own, by laboring in my profession, in which I am skilled. By following a course of strict honor and integrity, I may partially retrieve the errors of my past life.' 'I cannot but commend your resolution,' remarked Frank--'but you must not refuse to accept from me such pecuniary aid as will be necessary to establish you in a respectable and creditable manner.--But in regard to this miscreant here; you actually intend to kill him by slow torture?' 'I do,' replied the Doctor, in a determined manner--'and my only regret is that I cannot protract his sufferings a year. Do not think me cold-blooded or cruel, my dear friend; that villain merits the worst death that man can inflict upon him. If we were to hand him over to the grasp of the law, for his numerous crimes, his infernal ingenuity might enable him to escape. Our only security lies in crushing the reptile while we have him in our trap.' 'I shall not interfere with you in your just punishment of the villain,' said our hero--'but I must decline being present. The enormous crimes he had committed, and the wrongs which I have sustained at his hands, will not allow me to say a single word in his behalf--yet I will not witness his torments.' 'I understand and respect your scruples; I being a physician, such a spectacle cannot affect my nerves.--You will please assist me to place the _subject_ upon this table, and then you can retire.' They raised the Dead Man from the floor, and placed him on a large table which stood in the centre of the room. Frank then bade the Doctor a temporary farewell, and passing through the hall was about to leave the house, when a servant informed him that Miss Sophia Franklin wished to see him. He joyfully obeyed the summons, and found the young lady in deep distress at the condition of her sister Josephine, and very anxious for an explanation of the terrible cause. Frank stated all he knew of the matter, and we leave him to the task of consoling her, while we witness the operations of the Doctor upon his living _subject_.