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deceived by your feigned confession?—No, daughter, no. I will render you a more essential service. I will rescue you from perdition, in spite of yourself. Penance and mortification shall expiate your offence, and severity force you back to the paths of holiness. What, ho! Mother St. Agatha!"
"Father! by all that is sacred, by all that is most dear to you, I supplicate, I entreat———"
"Release me. I will not hear you. Where is the domina? Mother St. Agatha, where are you?"
The door of the vestry opened, and the prioress entered the chapel, followed by her nuns.
"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Agnes, relinquishing her hold.
Wild and desperate, she threw herself upon the ground, beating her bosom, and rending her veil in all the delirium of despair. The nuns gazed with astonishment upon the scene before them. The friar now presented the fatal paper to the prioress,informed
