“I do not know, so much would depend on circumstances; but that I would abhor the actors in the scene of barbarous cruelty, I can well imagine.”

This was not the kind of a reply expected, and Durant changed his discourse from an insinuating tone to a direct manner.

“I perceive it will be necessary for me to render my meaning more explicit, and I now change the form of my query, and beg to know how you would probably feel, were you compelled to witness the burning of your lover at the stake?”

A momentary paleness blanched the cheek of the fair girl, as this heartless interrogation was fully comprehended, but recovering herself quickly from the rude shock, she replied: 

“I doubt not the sight would be a harrowing one, but I do not anticipate such an unlikely event.”

“Pardon me, but I may as well tell you at first, that this fate is in store for you.”

“Why do you persist in this attempt at refinement of cruelty?  Bad as you are, I give you credit for too much humanity to believe your words are more than an idle threat, which you have no intention of putting into execution.”

“Then you have given me credit for more humanity than is justly my due; for I never was more earnest in my life, and it is my fixed determination to do exactly what I have intimated.”

Ellen, who had all the time been really alarmed, now gave way, in her reduced strength of body, to the feelings which, until now, she had kept in subjection; and, changing her tone, commenced pleading with the miscreant: 

“Mr. Hamilton has never harmed you, and can, therefore, only be hated by you through me; do not, then, make him the object of your wrath, but let it fall on me.  I will readily burn at the stake to save him.”

This last remark, as it showed the depths and tenderness of her love for his rival, only excited him the more, and he repeated his intention of burning Hamilton at the stake in her presence, with many additions, purposely introduced to make a more horrifying impression.  In vain she pleaded for her lover, and offered herself as the sacrifice; the only effect of her prayers was to render him more savage and determined in his intentions and avowals.  The excitement of the interview, however, in her case, superinduced a state of fever, which bid fair, for a few days, to render her recovery very doubtful.  This result was not expected by Durant, and he in turn became alarmed, lest his dearly bought vengeance should yet slip from him.  Every exertion was put forth for her restoration, and finally success crowned the well directed but ill intentioned efforts of the villain.  Ellen’s fever abated, and she again began to mend.  It would be some time, however, ere the monster would dare renew his threats, and in the interim, he set his wits to work with a little different object in view.  A new thought had entered his mind, the ultimate end of which he would endeavor to carry out.