Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/222

 steps of virtue, than before I had commited the first lawless deed."

"A war had broken out in Germany at that time, and recruits were raising every where, which gave me some hopes to retreat in an honorable manner from my associates, and turn a useful member of human society: I wrote a letter to my prince, the copy of which you will find in my pocket book."

"The letter was produced and read by the clerk, the purport of it ran, as much as I can remember, as follows:"

"If your Highness does not think it beneath your dignity to condescend to a viilain like myself, if a criminal of my atrocity is not entirely excluded from your mercy, O then do not reject the humble petition of a repenting sinner—I am a mur-