Chapter I: Front Matter

CRUEL AS THE GRAVE

A NOVEL.

BY MRS. EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH.
AUTHOR OF "SELF-MADE," "ISHMAEL," "SELF-RAISED," "FAIR PLAY," "VIVIA,"
"MISSING BRIDE," "A BEAUTIFUL FIEND," "CHANGED BRIDES," "RETRIBUTION,"
"HOW HE WON HER," "A NOBLE LORD," "BRIDE'S FATE," "FALLEN PRIDE,"
"LADY OF THE ISLE," "THE MAIDEN WIDOW," "ALLWORTH ABBEY,"
"GYPSY'S PROPHECY," "LOST HEIRESS," "WIDOW'S SON," "INDIA,"
"THREE BEAUTIES," "BRIDE OF LLEWELLYN," "BRIDAL EVE,"
"DISCARDED DAUGHTER," "FATAL SECRET," "TWO SISTERS,"
"CURSE OF CLIFTON," "TRIED FOR HER LIFE,"
"PHANTOM WEDDING," "LOVE'S LABOR WON,"
"FORTUNE SEEKER," "FATAL MARRIAGE,"
"MOTHER-IN-LAW," "CHRISTMAS GUEST,"
"FAMILY DOOM," "WIFE'S VICTORY."

"He to whom
I gave my heart, with all its wealth of love,
Forsakes me for another."--MEDEA.

"And we saw Medea burning
At her nature's-planted stake."--BROWNING.

NEW YORK:
THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY,
Nos. 72-76 Walker Street.

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Copyright, 1888,
By T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS.
Cruel as the Grave.

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CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I.--THE BERNERS OF THE BURNING HEARTS 21

II.--JOHN LYON HOWE 26

III.--SYBIL BERNERS 32

IV.--THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER 45

V.--THE LANDLORD'S STORY 48

VI.--ROSA BLONDELLE 59

VII.--DOWN IN THE DARK VALE 71

VIII.--BLACK HALL 76

IX.--THE GUEST-CHAMBERS 84

X.--THE JEALOUS BRIDE 91

XI.--LOVE AND JEALOUSY 104

XII.--"CRUEL AS THE GRAVE" 112

XIII.--MORE THAN THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH 126

XIV.--THE FIRST FATAL HALLOW EVE 132

XV.--THE MASQUERADE BALL 142

XVI.--ON THE WATCH 147

XVII.--DRIVEN TO DESPERATION 154

XVIII.--LYING IN WAIT 175

XIX.--SWOOPING DOWN 188

XX.--THE SEARCH 191

XXI.--SYBIL'S FLIGHT 198

XXII.--THE HAUNTED CHAPEL 207

XXIII.--THE SOLITUDE IS INVADED 218

XXIV.--THE VERDICT AND THE VISITOR 225

XXV.--THE FALL OF THE DUBARRYS 238

XXVI.--THE SPECTRE 250

XXVII.--FEARFUL WAITING 264

XXVIII.--A GHASTLY PROCESSION 273

XXIX.--GHOSTLY AND MYSTERIOUS 292

XXX.--FLIGHT AND PURSUIT 306

XXXI.--THE ARREST 324

XXXII.--A DESPERATE VENTURE 334

XXXIII.--A FATAL CRISIS 344

XXXIV.--THE PURSUIT 354

XXXV.--THE FUGITIVES 363

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CRUEL AS THE GRAVE