Jaspar

was poor, heartle , and wicked; he lived by highway robbery, and robbery led to murder. One day he induced a poor neighbor to waylay his landlord; but the neighbor relented, and said, “Though dark the night, there is One above who sees in darkne .” “Never fear!” said Jaspar; “for no eye above or below can pierce this darkne .” As he spoke an unnatural light gleamed on him, and he became a confirmed maniac.—R. Southey, Jaspar (a ballad).