Jerome had beheld some of these scenes.

The wife who, after years of separation, had escaped from her prison-house and followed her husband had told her story to him.

He had seen the newly-arrived wife rush into the arms of the husband, whose dark face she had not looked upon for long, weary years.

Some told of how a sister had been ill-used by the overseer; others of a husband's being whipped to death for having attempted to protect his wife.

He had sat in the little log-hut, by the fireside, and heard tales that caused his heart to bleed; and his bosom swelled with just indignation when he though that there was no remedy for such atrocious acts.