Page:Black Jacob, a monument of grace.djvu/17

Rh vengeance of God, or the righteous demands of human law. It would seem that Jacob had been, for some time, in the employment of these men as a common labourer, and that for more than a year they had been preparing for the murder of Jennings. During this whole period, they were endeavouring to secure Jacob's consent to execute their bloody purpose. They told him directly, that "he was the very person fitted for the old man's destruction." They promised him, at the same time, their cooperation, and a large pecuniary reward. Jacob for a long time hesitated.

Another, and a desperate effort was made. The wife of one of the parties became an accessary. She was a woman who, till then, sustained a respectable character for intelligence and morality In her opinion Jacob placed the fullest confidence. She was now brought forward to persuade him of the justness and necessity of the act to which he was urged. Yet it would seem his heart