How do I wire a thermostat without dying?

... or starting my house on fire? I've searched BYC, and all I've found are small ones with two posts. Looks easy enough, but the one I bought is much different! It's the only one they had at Menards, and that's the only HI store in the town where I was today. It's bigger, and it has 4 screws. Two outer ones that look similar to the one everyone else is using, and two inner ones with a jumper between them. The opposite side has two holes with threads. Can someone please tell me what to do? My motto, when it comes to handiwork, is "if you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem."

 

I can't get a better pic. The screen on my camera is broken, and it's all a guessing game. I can't even adjust the flash! I did spend a few minutes drawing a diagram of what I have. I'm sure that one of the heating element wires gets attatched to two screws, with a jumper between them, but I can't decide which screws. I'm used to screwing up, and I don't mind having a learning experience when the consequence is a waste of time or money. I just don't think I can afford to make a mistake with this one. Granted, the firehouse is next door, and this is the house that the fire chief grew up in.......

 

MMMMM... Idunno,
I did some rewiring a while ago, and I got quite a shock! I need to be able to try this thing out without touching it if I'm not sure I'm doing it right. Right now, I can't think of anybody who owes me THAT big of a favor.

 

Okay, what if I wire it however I think it goes, then I plug it into an outlet that is not energised? I go downstairs and screw in the fuse, and I'll be far away from any explosion? Of course, I WILL be trapped in the basement.......

 

I can't take it back because I already ripped it open. I did cut the wire and attatch it to the two screws that were there. I stood on a thick rubber mat, put on thick rubber work gloves, and plugged it in. I am still alive, and I think it works. Believe me, if they had the one with just two screws at the store, I wouldn't have shelled out $4 extra to get this confounding contraption! It seems that all the extra parts of that thermostat are superfluous to our needs.