Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/221

My conscience, which had been lulled asleep, recovered its power by degrees, and the sleeping viper of remorse was roused by the general tempest which was raging within my breast; the hatred I bore the human race turned its dagger against myself—I was reconciled to human kind, and cursed nobody but myself: The dreadful consequences of vice stared me grisly in the face, and my natural good sense dispelled at length the delusions which had led me astray from the blessed path of virtue; I felt how deep I had fallen, and gloomy melancholy stepped in the place of gnashing despair: I wished, with weeping eyes, to have it in my power to recall the times past, and was convinced that I would make a better use of the hours I had dedicated to the vile service of gilt; I began to hope that I yet would reform, being sensible that I should be able to effect a reform. On the highest summit of depravity I was more inclined to tread in the"steps