“I lived—after suffering all the ills and evils of babydom, and grew strong and healthy. When I arrived at the unripe and vicious age of ten, an old gentleman, a retired merchant, attracted by the comeliness of my face and form, adopted me, giving me his own name—Robert Davis.
“I was a quick-witted, jovial little chap, and if I do say it myself, was very fair and handsome. Being petted and caressed by all the women both old and young, of the neighborhood, I easily grew into the belief that I was something superhuman—in fact a genius, one day to be the President of the country. It is true, that notwithstanding my good-nature and affability, I was at times seized with fits of quiet, inordinate cruelty, which made me a demon, and at these moments everybody avoided me.
“As years went on these attacks became more frequent and violent. Before, when under the influence of them, I restrained myself, and was content with murdering all the small animals within my reach. But now, I became more bloodthirsty and ferocious—attempting, though vainly, the lives of all my companions.
“Then they avoided me, and feared the very ground I trod. This incensed me and I grew more violent. At last, on my twentieth birthday, a fit, stronger and more uncontrollable than any before, seized me. Without provocation of any kind I fell upon a comrade and attempted his life. I failed, though he was made a cripple for life, and I was buried in an insane asylum, a monomaniac. I was not insane but only a monomaniac, yet that was sufficient to cause my incarceration.
“In five years I was pronounced cured, and was freed. I went back to my old haunts, penitent and resolving to do all in my power to alleviate any suffering I had caused. But I was too late; the friends I sought were gone. My adopted father was dead, the one whom I had made useless for life had gone, no one knew whither; and weary of lingering near the scene of so much unhappiness I went South.
“If you recollect, or if you ever knew, a most horrible robbery and murder occurred in Charleston, a few years since. The perpetrator was never discovered, though long and vigilant search was made for him, and large rewards were offered for his apprehension. I see by your face you recollect the event—it was the talk and alarm of the whole country. I will not tell you what reason the murderer had for his outrage; I need not dwell upon the subject, but will only say that he escaped scot-free, plunged into the western wilds and organized a band of robbers. Miss Jeffries, the man who stole into a banker’s house for purposes of robbery (and to gratify a grudge) and who, being discovered, took the lives of him and his servant, then made off with a rich plunder, stands before you.”
She started up wildly, then after gazing at him in terror, clasped her hands and sunk to the ground, unnerved. He smiled.
“I did not relate the narrative for effect—if I had I would have told it minutely and in much greater length; but I told it briefly to make you aware with whom you are dealing. And, to conclude, I will tell you my name is not Danforth, but Captain Downing, chief of a bandit band, and that I was never yet thwarted. Have you your answer ready?”
She slowly arose, pale, but firm and calm. Smiting him with her eyes she regarded him steadily until his own quailed. Then she spoke in a strange, grating voice:
“Were I in the power of one ten times the villain that you are; were I looking forward to a fate worse than death; were I doomed to eternal future pain and misery, instead of knowing that you can but take my life; I would still have the same answer—I shall never wed but one man, and he is your opposite.”