WITNESSETH:

                                                        EXHIBIT 10.67


                     RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE

         THIS  INSTRUMENT is executed as of December 27, 1996, by FLEET NATIONAL
BANK,  a national  banking  association  having an address at 0 Xxxxxxx  Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, as agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for itself
and the other banks party to that certain  Revolving  Credit and Loan Agreement,
dated as of February  1, 1993 (as  amended,  modified  and  supplemented  and in
effect from time to time).

                             WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS,  the Agent is the holder of that certain Mortgage and Security
Agreement, dated as of July 15, 1996 (the "Mortgage"),  from Xxxxx Shoe, Inc. to
the Agent,  recorded with the Norfolk County Registry District of the Land Court
as Document No. 742555.

         NOW, THEREFORE,  for good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt and
sufficiency  of which are hereby  acknowledged,  the Agent  hereby  releases the
Mortgage and the lien  evidenced  thereby and  consents to the  discharge of the
Mortgage of record.

         EXECUTED AS A SEALED INSTRUMENT as of the 27 day of December, 1996.

                         FLEET NATIONAL BANK, a national
                          banking association, as Agent


                           By:  /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                           Title:    AVP

                  COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, ss.                                    December 27, 1996

         Then personally appeared the above-named Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,  the AVP of
FLEET  NATIONAL  BANK,  a  national  banking  association  ("Fleet  Bank"),  and
acknowledged the foregoing to be the free act and deed of Fleet Bank, before me,

                                        /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
                                        Notary Public
                                        My commission expires: May 27, 1997