phrases seemed as completely in disorder as had been his actions. The surprise was palpable. "Sam Frasier! and what do you know of him, may I demand?"

"It was of him, as relating to Morgan's concerns, I intended to converse with you this evening."

"That wretch is dead and buried weeks ago," said Darmaya, with a sardonic sneer. Then glancing round the half-lighted chamber, he fancied he beheld a figure gliding along in the shadowy distance; and, turning ghastly pale, as if dreading that the spectre of Nichols might approach, he became dizzy from the thought, and trembled, as he listened eagerly.

"I accidentally was the means of prolonging that wretched man's life for a little span. He had been enveloped in snow, and his shrillsounding whistle attracted my attention as I was crossing the heath from Mr. Harley's. When I found him, he was at the point of death. However, I now blew the whistle which Nichols mechanically grasped in his hand, and three of my former castle incendiaries rushed from the rocks. They were not

pleased at encountering me; for, as I spoke, they recognised my accent. However, I thought it advisable to give them my gold, and show them my pistol, and entreat them to take the old man to some habitation, for death ever inspires compassion. But I had an idea that I should discover a clue also, through these untransported comrades, as to why I had been so unmercifully dealt with in your chateau. I was with him, as you may guess from all I have stated, at the moment of his decease, and received his dying thoughts and confessions. He was the agent in that conspiracy, as you know."

At this crisis Darmaya's agitation increased; but Lorevaine went on, without seeming to regard the variation of countenance. "I should have informed you of the circumstance immediately, Lord Darmaya, but for the consideration that it must involve and cause vexation to dear, kind friends. So, on reflection, I thought it right to wait, and follow Morgan's wishes upon the course to pursue. Make a full and sincere disclosure of all within your knowledge, connected with the robbery committed

in his house;"-the Duke rather turned towards the dark recess, which was obscured by drapery and shelves;—" but," he rejoined, "if you refuse me your assistance, I shall proceed accordingly."

Lord Darmaya became alarmed. He was unable to cope with the argument. An enemy seemed to have arisen to scare him into difficulty.

"What we would be instructed in now, is the abode of Issachar, poor Ruth's wild boy. She referred me to you for this explanation; for it is through him she fancied that the deeds might be traced and recovered. There was an old tradition floating in the hamlet, that they had been buried in the vaults at the cloisters; but I had them searched, and proved the fallacy of the belief. Now where is Issachar ?" "Is Ruth dead ?" demanded the Earl, striving to regain his voice.

"Yes."

"And you have no clue to Issachar ?"

"No," was the reply.

"Nor have I, Duke

not the least.

In

short, it is utterly out of my power to give

the Morgans any further aid in life than I have given; and since that villain Sam Frasier, which was his real name, has implicated me by innuendo and mad confessions, I hold it a bounden duty to vindicate my tainted honour, and shall, as you suggest, tell you, as a friend on whom I may safely depend, the whole of the affair."

A smothered laugh and a gentle rustling noise were heard in the shade.

"Have you any rats in this old mansion, Lorevaine ?"

66

My dog detects the rats, and frightens them too. But there are stories of ghosts and goblins; and it was in this apartment that my great grandfather was murdered, in a history too well known to recount. But pray

proceed."

"Where was I?" inquired Darmaya, wildly. "You were going to begin with plain truth," Lorevaine said. "You have nothing to fear, Lord Darmaya; and the more you abide by the promise you have made to tell all you know, the greater probability of leniency from your former playmate. It will never do to

fall into shallow subterfuge and equivocation. Do be candid-open yourself to me; surely I know you, and can therefore advise and palliate; and I am too deeply interested for poor Morgan not to solicit this as a personal kindness from you to me."

The Duke said this with an anxious solemnity, as if he would convince the Earl of his sincerity, and so, if possible, accomplish his purpose by inspiring trust. But Darmaya could not trust any man-he could supplicate and beg, but not commit himself. He was afraid to utter, lest he should tell something as yet unknown. Still the opportunity of fixing Lorevaine as a mediator might be judicious; and after a tedious consideration he broke from the restraint of doubt, and began

"You know that old Sam was Morgan's factotum, and the greatest villain alive. He led me into peccadilloes, just for his own views, and then showed me up to my father and his own, who, by the by, was never good-natured to me--he lent me money, and made me pay ' him interest."

"So he confessed," Lorevaine added.