“Mr. Sheriff,” said Dr. Bilks, when he had disposed of the letter to his own satisfaction, “I came here for another purpose. I have come to acknowledge that I made a great mistake.” Everybody looked at the doctor. “If not too late, I should like to add something to my testimony-- something of the utmost importance.” The coroner was informed of the fact, and the case was reopened. Dr. Bilks was put upon the stand. “I am obliged to leave town early in the morning, for New York. I shall return in a week. Before I go, I wish to set myself right with God and man; for I have done wrong.” People thought that the doctor was very conscientious, and wondered what could rest so heavily upon his mind. “You wish to correct your testimony?” said the coroner. “Not to correct it--to add to it. Mr. Birch has been my best friend in Poppleton.” Everybody knew this to be true. “I am very grateful to him for his kindness to me. My feeling has been that I would rather die than injure him. That was my feeling when I stood on the stand. I have not told the whole truth. I confess it with shame; but it was only to save my friend from disagreeable consequences. On the night of the murder, I saw Mr. Birch, as I drove along the Point Road, with Buckstone. I have kept this back before.” “Why did you keep it back?” “Because I preferred that Mr. Birch’s connection with Buckstone, since he denied it, should be proved by others.” But even this strong evidence did not create much sensation. It only added another grain of testimony to what everybody believed before. “Do you know when Mr. Birch returned from The Great Bell?” “I do not.” Dr. Bilks had conquered. Dick Birch was arrested, and hurried off to the Summerville jail, to the great grief and indignation of Eugene, who could not even bail him out until morning. The men of power in Poppleton were stern and inflexible, even to superstition, in the discharge of their official duties. But the people, among whom Dick had not been very popular, were prepared for this result. He was a villain of the first water now, who had been plotting to obtain half a million of Hungerford’s expected fortune. It was a righteous retribution upon him; and pious men and women went to bed that night more than ever convinced that the way of the transgressor is hard, and that the evil man shall not prosper in his way. Eugene Hungerford went home to Pine Hill, and told the eminent merchant from Baltimore what had happened to his friend. Mr. Lester made a great many sage reflections, advised his host carefully to examine all his books and papers, assuring him that he would find some startling defalcation, and severely censured him for placing so much confidence even in his best friend. “All men are human, Mr. Hungerford--all men are human,” said the eminent trustee, shaking his head. “But I believe Mr. Birch is an honest man. I know he is!” protested Eugene.