“In a few months my diploma was obtained, and I commenced the practice under the most favourable circumstances.  My late preceptor was now my partner.  Nearly a year elapsed before Wold returned to New York.  But a rumor preceded him which again opened all the fountains of bitterness in my heart.  It was said (and only two or three were possessed of the secret) that he had betrayed and ruined the lovely Laura!  I sought him, to ascertain from his own lips if he had truly committed the act imputed to him.  I resolved to avenge her!  But Wold avoided me.  I could not obtain his ear, and all my notes to him remained unanswered.  Despairing of getting an immediate answer from him, I repaired to Mrs. Arras.  Her house was in gloom and sorrow.  When she appeared, my heart sank within me to behold her sad and mournful brow.  She pressed my extended hand, while a flood of tears gushed from her eyes.

“I knew by the disconsolate aspect of the aunt that the niece had been dragged down from her high estate of virtue, fortune, and fame.  I sat down, and bowed my head in sorrow many minutes before the first word was spoken.  I still loved Laura.  What could I say? how begin?

“‘It is true!’ I at length exclaimed, rising up, and pacing the floor rapidly, while many a tear ran down my cheek.

“‘Alas! it is too true,’ iterated Mrs. Arras.

“‘The black-hearted villain!’ I continued.

“’Ah, Mr. Glenn, her fate would have been different, if your addresses had not been so cruelly spurned!  God knows I was not to blame!’ said she.

“‘No, Mrs. Arras,’ said I; ’had your will been done, I had not been made miserable by the bereavement, nor the beautiful, the innocent—­the—­Laura, with all her errors, dishonoured, ruined, crushed!  But the betrayer, the viper that stung her, still breathes.  I loved her—­I love her yet—­and I will be her avenger!’ Saying this, I rushed away, heedless of the matron’s half-uttered entreaties to remain and to desist from my plan of vengeance.

“There was a young student of my acquaintance, a brave, chivalrous, noble Virginian, to whom I imparted Laura’s sad story.  He frankly agreed with me that the venomous reptile in the human shape that could beguile an unsuspecting and lovely girl to minister to his unhallowed desires, and then, without hesitation or remorse, abandon her to the dark, despairing shades of a frowning world, while he crawled on to insinuate his poison into the breasts of new victims, should be pursued, hunted down, and exterminated.  Yet there was but one way for me to punish Wold.  The ignominy of the act, and the indignation of a virtuous community were to him matters of indifference.  The circle in which he moved would smile at the misfortune of his victim, and applaud his address, were the affair published.  I resolved that he should answer it to me alone.  I had sworn in my heart to be Laura’s avenger.