Ordeal

In many cultures, trial by ordeal has been used as a test of innocence or guilt. The person or persons involved perform some act which would normally result in injury (handling red hot metal, plunging an arm into boiling water); if there is no injury or if injury is limited to a predetermined extent then the person is innocent. A conviction of innocence on the part of the person taking part is said to have actually resulted in succeeding in the ordeal.