John Jago's Ghost; or, The Dead Alive

"An Englishman, Philip Lefrank, visits his distant relations, the Meadowcrofts, in rural America. The family consists of the father, Isaac, two sons, Ambrose and Silas, and a middle-aged daughter. Another member of the household is Naomi Colebrook, Isaac's niece, whom Ambrose wants to marry. John Jago, the farm manager, is also in love with Naomi and there is a strong mutual dislike between Jago and the Meadowcroft brothers. When Jago disappears and remains are found in a lime pit, Ambrose and Silas are arrested for murder. Despite the absence of an identifiable body, they are convicted and sentenced to death. Just in time to save the brothers, Jago returns and confesses he disappeared deliberately. The disenchanted Naomi leaves for England to marry Philip."—<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://www.wilkie-collins.info/books_frozen_deep.htm">Wilkie Collins Information Pages</a>

"Short story originally published as 'The Dead Alive' in the Home Journal, 27 December 1873 - 4 February 1874; New York Fireside Companion, 29 December - 19 January 1874; and the Canadian Monthly, January - February 1874. It was reprinted in book form, Boston 1874 [1873], Toronto 1874, and in The Frozen Deep and Other Stories (London 1874). Written during Collins's reading tour of America, it is based on the true story of 'The trial of Jesse and Stephen Boorne' of Manchester, Vermont. "—Wilkie Collins Information Pages