AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE. 
195 
her filled with water ; into this, when the signal 
was given, she was suddenly plunged. Though she 
scarcely remained a dozen seconds in the wooden 
trough, she was perfectly insensible when withdrawn 
from the water. In fact, the dreadful shock of con- 
viction alone that she was cast into boiling oil had 
produced an entire suspension of her faculties ; so that 
if the attendant functionaries had really immersed 
her in the heated fluid, her death would not have 
been at all severe. 
So long a time elapsed before animation returned, 
that fears were entertained she would not recover. At 
length, however, to the joy of the anxious husband, 
who manifested it by hysteric sobs, she began to show 
signs of life, and was finally restored at once to 
consciousness and to the privileges she had so inno- 
cently forfeited. 
Upon her perfect recovery, the president of the 
council which had condemned her to the penalty of 
being immersed in boiling oil, addressing her, said, 
“ Your fortitude and sincere repentance have restored 
you to your husband and to society. Had you de- 
murred at the dreadful penalty which had been ad- 
judged to you, not only the forfeiture of life would 
have followed, but that also of your everlasting enjoy- 
ment in the eternal abodes. Your pious determina- 
tion to submit to the doom passed upon you has ob- 
tained for you redemption from past condemnation, and 
you are now received among us with all your for- 
feited privileges renewed. May you be as happy as 
you and your husband deserve to be !” 
She threw herself into the arms of her husband. 
