"I'll not let you be hanged," said Awdrey, rising. "Get up, Hetty; do not kneel to me. You don't quite know what you have done for me to-night. Sit on that chair--compose yourself--try to be calm. Hetty, you just came in the nick of time. God and the devil were fighting for my soul. In spite of all the devil's efforts God was getting the better of it, and I--I didn't want him to get the best. I wanted the devil to help me, and, Hetty, I even prayed to him that he might come and help me. When I saw you coming into the room I thought at first that my prayer was answered. I seemed to see the devil on your face. Now I see differently--your presence has lifted a great cloud from before my mind--I see distinctly, almost as distinctly as if I were in hell itself, the awful consequences which must arise from wrong-doing. Hetty, I have made up my mind; you, of all people, have been the most powerful advocate on the side of God to-night. We will both do the right, child--we will confess the simple truth." "No, Squire, no; they'll kill me, they'll kill me, if you don't help me in the only way you can help me--you are stronger than me, Squire--don't lead me to my death." "They won't kill you, but you must tell the whole truth as I will tell the truth. It can be proved that you gave the poison to your husband with no intent to kill--that matter can be arranged promptly. Come with me, Hetty, now--let us come together. If you falter I'll strengthen you; if I falter you'll strengthen me. We will go together at once and tell--tell what you saw and what I did nearly six years ago." "What you did on Salisbury Plain?" she asked. "Yes, the time I killed that man." "Never, never," she answered; she fell flat on her face on the floor. Awdrey went to her and tried to raise her up. "Come," he said, "I have looked into the very heart of evil, and I cannot go on with it--whatever the consequence we must both tell the truth--and we will do it together; come at once." "You don't know what will happen to you," said Hetty. She shivered as she lay prone before him. "No matter--nothing could happen so bad as shutting away the face of God. I'll tell all, and you must tell all. No more lies for either of us. We will save our souls even if our bodies die." "The pain--the pain in my side," moaned Hetty. "It will be better after we have gone through what is before us. Come, I'll take your hand." She gave it timidly; the Squire's fingers closed over it. "Where are we to go?" she asked. "Where are you taking me?" "Come with me. I'll speak. Presently it will be your turn--after they know all, all the worst, it will be your turn to speak." "Who are to know all, Squire?" "My wife, my sisters, Mrs. Everett, my friends." "Oh, God, God, why was I ever born!" moaned Hetty.