Wieland

Henry continues his account: He says that three days have elapsed since he saw those disjointed lines in her journal. He finally made up his mind to speak to her directly, confess his sin in accidentally reading her journal, and ask for clarification. He was on his way to the planned gathering in the temple when he stopped at Mrs. Baynton’s house. While there, he glanced at a newspaper and saw a notice offering a reward for information about an escaped criminal from Dublin: one Francis Carwin, wanted for the murder of Lady Jane Conway* and robbery committed against one Mr. Ludloe. On further investigation, Henry learned that Carwin was known for his alliances with evil spirits and other accomplices.

Henry intended to rush home immediately and reveal what he learned, but he was stopped by an encounter with Bertrand, a servant he left behind in Germany. Bertrand brought news that forced Henry to change his plans. He turned over his horse to Bertrand and walked the last five miles to Mettingen. What Henry leaves out of his account is the fact that Bertrand has brought him news that Theresa is alive. She spread the rumor of her death to cover the fact that she was traveling to Boston where she now waits for Henry. That is where he planned to go as soon as he secured Clara’s safety from Carwin.

On the way to Mettingen, he passed by the summerhouse under the bank. There, he heard Clara’s voice and that of Carwin. The voice he believed to be Clara’s was confessing to a relationship of the most disreputable kind with Carwin in full knowledge of his crimes.

Clara perceives that there is no truth she can offer that will overcome Henry’s fixed belief in her guilt. She leaves.

Stopping at Mrs. Baynton’s house on her way home, Clara finds a letter from Carwin. In it, he apologizes for his misconduct of the previous night. He begs to be allowed to make up for it by meeting Clara alone at her house that night, at which time he will tell her something critical to her happiness. Clara hurries home, debating with herself. She wants to know anything that might restore her reputation and Henry’s regard for her, but she cannot trust anything Carwin says, and he might still intend to harm her.

She makes plans to stay with her brother and sister at the mansion. Arriving there, she finds the door unbarred and a candle burning, but her brother and sister are not there. Clara wakes their young ward, Louisa Conway, and leaves a message with Louisa that she is going to her own house for a few minutes. She heads for home, finally determined to meet with Carwin and find out what he has to tell her.

Approaching her house, she sees a light flitting back and forth in her window. She enters through the kitchen and approaches the stairs to the second floor. Something causes her to look behind her just as a ghastly face appears for a moment from behind a corner. A familiar voice at her shoulder cries, “Hold! Hold!” She recognizes the distorted face as that of Carwin, but she strongly believes she has imagined it. The voice is the one she has heard twice before, warning her of danger. She believes the entity behind the voice to be benign. She trusts its warning but feels driven to proceed. Entering her room, she finds a note left by Carwin. It says that Carwin was there but could not stay, then the writer makes an obscure reference to an inexplicable transaction, an unexpected event, and a horrible site.

Clara passes her bed on the side where the curtain is pulled back and sees her sister-in-law. Catherine has been strangled to death in Clara’s bed.