At that instant something rose in the air and descended again, and a wild shriek, a woman’s wail of agony, rent the air.

Elsie flew over the ground as though she had been a winged creature, her father having to exert himself to keep pace with her.  But the whip had descended again and again, another and another of those wild shrieks testifying to the sharpness of its sting, ere they were near enough to interfere.

So taken up with the excitement of the revolting scene were all present, that the landing and the approach of our friends had not been observed until Elsie, nearing the edge of the crowd, called out in a voice of authority, and indignation, “Stop! not another blow!”

The crowd parted, showing a middle-aged negress stripped to the waist and tied to a whipping post, writhing and sobbing with pain and terror, while a white man stood over her with a horse-whip in his uplifted hand, stayed in mid-air by the sudden appearance of those in authority over him.

“How dare you! how dare you!” cried Elsie, stamping her foot, and drawing a long, sobbing breath.  “Take her down this instant.”

“Mr. Spriggs, what is the meaning of this?” asked Mr. Dinsmore, in tones of calm displeasure; “did I not forbid all cruel punishment on this estate?”

“I’ve got to make ’em work; I’m bound they shall, and nothing but the whip’ll do it with this lazy wretch,” muttered Spriggs, dropping his whip and stepping back a little, while two stalwart fellows obeyed Elsie’s order to take the woman down, a murmur at the same time running from lip to lip, “It’s Marse Dinsmore, and our young missus.”

Elsie shuddered and wept at sight of the bleeding back and shoulders.  “Cover her up quickly, and take her away where she can lie down and rest,” she said to the women who were crowding round to greet and welcome herself.  “I will speak to you all afterwards, I’m glad to be here among you.”  Then leaning over the sufferer for an instant, with fast-dropping tears, “Be comforted,” she said, in tones of gentle compassion, “you shall never have this to endure again.”

“Come, daughter, speak to these eager people, and let us go into the house,” said Mr. Dinsmore.

“Yes, papa, in one moment.”

Drawing herself up to her full height, and flashing one look of scorn and indignation out of her dark eyes upon the crest-fallen Spriggs, she addressed him with the air of a queen.  “You, sir, will meet me in the library at eight o’clock this evening.”

Turning to the men, “Dig up that post, and split it into kindling-wood for the kitchen fire.”

Her father, while shaking hands with the blacks, speaking a kindly word to each, regarded her with mingled curiosity and admiration; thoroughly acquainted with his child as he had believed himself to be, he now saw her in a new character.

She took his arm, and he felt that she was trembling very much.  He supported her tenderly, while the women flocked about them, eagerly welcoming her to Viamede; kissing her hand, and declaring with tears in their eyes, that it was just their “dear dead young missus come back to them, like a beautiful white angel.”