THE TEMPTATION TO KILL.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."1 Sin, —A terrible anecdote in the striking article so named in your issue of July 30th reminds me of an incident almost exactly similar told in a novel by the late Mr. James Payn. Robert, the wife-poisoner (but not a clergyman), on finding himself detected by an analysis being made of the food he carefully prepares and administers to his invalid wife, drowns himself in a neighbouring river, and the wife does recover and does erect a monument in the parish church " to the best of husbands." Can Mr. Payn also have heard from the " dis- tinguished physician" the story related by the author of that article ? If not, the coincidence is rather curious. I am sorry not to be able to recall the title of the novel, published some eighteen years ago, but am certain of the incident and the
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