[_After some pleading from MARIA, a desperate struggle takes place--that is, they catch one another's wrists, and walk up and down together. MARIA calls upon her Mother's spirit, whereupon a very youthful Angel is seen floating above the couple._ _The Female S._ (_triumphantly_). Theer now--theer ain't bin no murder yet, and theer's th' Gho-ast sure enough! _Swain_ (_who is not going to own that he is mistaken_). That ain't naw Gho-ast! _Female S._ What is it, then? _Swain._ Why, it's the "De-cep-ti-o Vissus," as was wrote up outside. [_The Guardian Angel vanishes; WILLIAM _gets a spade, and aims at MARIA, who takes it away, and strikes him; he is then reduced to the pick-axe, but she wrests this from him too, and hits him in the face with it. He pulls her coat off, and her hair down--but she escapes from him a third time--on which he snatches up a pistol, and fires it._ _William_ (_with unreasonable surprise_). Great Evans! What 'ave I done? I, am become a _Murderer_! The shot 'as taken effect! See, she staggers this way! (_Which MARIA does, to die comfortably in WILLIAM's arms_.) I 'ave slain the only woman who ever truly loved me; and I know not whether I loved her most while living, or hate her most now she's dead! (_The Curtain falls, leaving WILLIAM with this nice point still unsolved, and the Audience profoundly unmoved by the tragedy, and evidently longing for more of the Comic Countryman._) ACT III.--_Interior of Old MARTIN's Cottage. He attempts to forget his anxiety about his daughter--who he fears, with only too much reason, has come to an untimely end--by going to sleep in a highly uncomfortable position on a kitchen-chair. The Murder is re-enacted in a vision, in dumb-show. The form of MARIA appears in the tweed suit, and urges him to search for her remains in the Red Barn._ _Old Martin_ (_awaking_). I have 'ad a fearful dream, and I am under the impression that MARIA has been foully murdered in the Red Barn. [_He calls the Comic Countryman to help him "to commence a thorough investigation"--which he does, in a spirit of rollicking fun befitting the occasion, as the Scene changes to the Red Barn._ _Old M._ (_finding the spade_). What's this? A spade--and, by its appearance, it 'as recently been used, for there are marks of blood upon it! I now begin to be afraid my dream will come true. [_Roars of laughter when the Comic C. discovers the body, and implores it to "say summat!" Change of Scene. WILLIAM CORDER discovered At Home, in a long perspective of pillars and curtains, ending in a lawn and fountain._ _William_ (_moodily_). 'Tis now exactly twelve months since MARIA MARTIN was done to death by these 'ands. Since then, I have married a young, rich, and beautiful wife--and yet I am not 'appy.