Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXV, No. 5, November 1849

Jasper St. Aubyn is a young man whose love for Theresa Allan borders on obsession, yet his pride and love of danger push him toward deception rather than honesty. He convinces the pure‑hearted Theresa to break her sense of duty, stealing her away on a storm‑tossed autumn night for a clandestine wedding in an empty church. The scene unfolds beneath a wan moon, with howling winds, creaking oaks, and a lone vicar bearing witness to a bond forged in darkness.

The tale moves slowly through the inner turmoil of both lovers, exploring how passion can corrupt virtue and how pride can blind judgment. Its gothic atmosphere—cold mist, rustling leaves, distant owl cries—creates a haunting backdrop for the moral choices the characters face. Listeners will find a richly drawn portrait of love's dangerous edge, a story that lingers long after the final echo of the midnight bells.