The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-14

were fed with criminals only to disgorge them again many times more wicked than when they went in.
 This knowledge is necessary to prevent the assumption that "The Mysteries of Paris is merely and purely melodrama. The world of crime there described, which Is qiitet impossible today, was a legitimate friutage of the galleys and the prisons
 Y N the beginning of the second quarter
 of the 18th century the most brilliant 4 and admired among the sovereigns of Europe was the Grand Duke of Gerol- stein, Gustavus Rudolph.
 Clever, handsome, a man of singular strength, both mental and physical, ruler of one of the richest of the states of the Germanic Federation, his lot seemed so happy that to name him was to envy.
 Even his court loked upon him as a mortal happy beyond doubt Only one man, old Sir Walter Murphy, an English baronet, who had trained him in boyhood and who had been his adviser and friend ever since, knew the remorse that preyed on the Grand Duke continually.
 To a man of lesser mind and soul the fault for which Rudolph of Gerolstein suffered might have seemed slight, espe cally in a sovereign but the Grand Duke, reared during all his youth in the simple pursuits of wood and field and trained to the clearest possible sense of private honor and royal duty by the honest, simple Englishman, made his life one of expiation for a misdeed that had been forgotten by the world.
 It had occurred when he was IS. Sir Walter had gone temporarily Eto Engl1nd and Rudolph was placed under the care of a celebrated man, Dr. Caesar Poldori, an Italian as interruptions as he was learned
 Bent on attaining riches and power, Poldori knew that both could be more readily gained under a corrupt rule than under a strict, grave court, organized with typically German propriety such as Gerolstein then was under Rudolphs fa- ther. He set about the work of corrupt ing the heir with such cunning that Ru- dolph insensibly fell under his spell.
 Before Sir Walter returned Poldori had made such progress that he began to see In himself the future Richelieu to the young Prince.
 As if to play into his hands, beautiful Scotchwoman arrived at court. She was Lady Sarah McGregor-a woman who to rare charms of person added a mind that was as ambitious and cold as that of Polidori himself. She had come to Ger olstein with the determination to become the wife of the future sovereign.
 With the keen scent of one adventurer for another, the Italian perceived her plan and resolved to aid her. With all his arts of suggestion and intrigue he helped her arts of allurement. Within a few months Rudolph was 1oundering in the net, overwhelmed by an infatuation that the country-bred young Prince im- agined to be love.
 Infatuated though he was. he was not blind enough to imagine that the Grand Duke would permit marriage. He lent ready ear, therefore. to Poidori's sug- gestion that there be a private wedding.
 Sarah consentedly willingly. The Grand Duke was old and infirm, and she ex- pected that it would not be long before she would be able to appear as the Grand Duchess and take her place arcons the sovereigns of Europe.
 But the old ruler did not die as she had hoped. She became more and more m- patient. At last her fixed ambition to ascend a throne became overpowering and destroyed even her cool judgment.
 She betrayed her secret purposely to the court. The Grand Duke, furious at the revelation of what struck him as lit tie short of disgrace, swore that he would place her in the pillory.
 Rudolph, carried away by rage, drew his sword and attacked his father, being prevented from parricide only by the opportune arrival of Sir Walter, who dis armed him.
 He was imprisoned secretly. Poldori arrested at the same time, confessed and furnished proofs htat the marriage had been a mock one. arranged by himself so that he should have double power He gave up Sarah's letters in which she spoke with icy disdain of the Prince, dis closing her real character and making no concealment of the fact that she had iured him into marriage merely to satisfy her ambition.
 The venerable Grand Duke, without a word of reproach, showed his son the letters. Rudolph fell of his knees and asked pardon. Like a sudden flame the disclosure awoke his soul and effaced from it what he had thought was love. He consented at once to the annulment of the marriage and left Germany with Sir Walter on long voyage.
 Then began an expiation as original as 1t was ambitious. Unable to forgive him. self for having embittered his fathers 8 last years, he ayowed to give up his whole life to personal efforts to help the needy. succor the suffering. save the per- secuted and punish the guilty.