It was a fatal admission.

"You had better confess all, and give glory to God!" said Squire Gedney solemnly.
"I trust I shall always be ready to give glory to God," answered the old man stoutly; "but I do not see that it would glorify Him to confess to a pack of lies.

You have known me for many years, Master Gedney, but did you ever know me to speak an untruth, or seek to injure any innocent persons, much less women and children ?" Squire Gedney said that he had known the accused many years, and had even been at sea with him, and had always supposed him to be an honest man; but now he saw good cause to alter that judgment.
"Turn and look now again upon those afflicted persons," concluded Squire Gedney.
As the accused turned and again looked upon them, all of the "afflicted" fell down on the floor as if he had struck them a heavy blow--moaning and crying out against him.
"I judge you by your works; and believe you now to be a wicked man and a witch," said Squire Gedney in a very severe tone.
Captain Alden turned then and looked directly at the magistrate for several moments.

"Why does not my look knock you down too ?" he said indignantly.

"If it hurts them so much, would it not hurt you a little ?" "He wills it not to hurt you," cried Leah Herrick.