chofen as their chief. New scenes of defolation opened on me--I found my comrades firm and refolute in the cause of depravity, and founded them on an attack of the castle of Alwyne. The encounter was perilous, and the danger confequent on such procedure, rather damped the hue of resolution in my companions.

:

'Hovering one morning in search of prey, near your abode, we discovered your childrenthis was a prize indeed-we bore them off-you became the victim of deep dejection. Oh! how I triumphed at the forrows of Elwina!

A prudent dame, who refided in the village near the Coquet, received the little innocents, and fondly reared them as her own.

'Some years elapsed ere I again saw my youthful relatives. I beheld, though not with pleafing rapture, the blooming beauty of the girl, and the noble generofity of spirit concomitant to the boy. Anna was noted for her beauty, and her blameless conduct claimed juft admiration, nor could malicious slander tinge her cheek with blushing shame. The peasant boy is worthy your noble house my every art could not feduce the fon of Alwyne from the path of moral rectitude-I return him pure as the day I treacherously bore him off-for his fake, when my eyes are closed in death, and when this body is mouldering in decay, let not thy virtuous lips open with a curse!

'Thou wounded fufferer in the tide of villainny, call every foothing cordial to thy aidnow, alas! I probe the deepest wound-I speak of Elwina! Prepare to hear a deed of horror!

* My careful spies brought me the wished intelligence of your giving orders for the chace. This, faid I, is now the time to seize this boafted fair one. Now shall Hubert revel o'er her charms, and leave an infatuated brother the remnant of a coftly treat. A domeftic of the castle was in my pay-he led me, early in the morn, to the entrance of the western ftaircafe, and by means of a trap door, unknown to any, fave myself, I easily gained her apart

ment.

"Soft balmy steep had lighted on her eyelids-her lily arm lay careless o'er her fnowy bofom-and her honied breath caft a sweet perfume o'er the enchanting scene. She appeared an angel refting on a journey, diffusing happiness to thankless mortals! -I doomed the fleeping beauty a prey to ruffian violence, and fastening my filken belt across her mouth, to prevent her hrieks from reaching the inner rooms, perpe strated a deed of matchless depravity!

'The daughter of virtue knew me, notwithstanding my disguife-fearful of difcovery I drew my dagger- Add not,' she piteoufly exclaimed, 'Murder to incest-think you I wish to live dishonoured-no!-but thou, thou perfidious incestuous villain, think of thy fufferings hereafter-and finner as thou art, remember me!'

Lost in bewildered amazement, I strove to fly-but perceiving my intent she seized me by the skirt of my mantle - loudly cried for helpher attendants heard, and the echoing of their footsteps roused me from a stupor! no time was to be loft-she closely clung to me-the door began to move, and to escape, one dreadful alternative alone remained-I plunged my dagger in her fide-she fell and fmeared with the blood of the dying victim-I fought the door, which furnished my escape from this chamber of horror!'

(Sir Alwyne dropt insensible on the floor-he lay some moments entranced Is it possible!' faid the trembling chieftain.

'Possible!' exclaimed a voice, and the shade of Elwina fleeted before him.)

' On regaining my associates in infamy, they observed me unusually dejected-nor could every endeavour, nor hardened scenes of guilt rouse the fettled melancholy which had taken

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poffeffion of me-when reclining on the rushy couch, the spectre of Elwina ever stood before me-fleep, foother of the cares of the wretched, fled-nor could the strongest opiate feal my eyes in leaden slumber.

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To relieve for a moment the torture which every where accompanied me, I fought the humble dwelling of your children. Edwy had chofen a partner, chaste as Dian, beautiful beyond picturing-and shortly meant to lead her to the altar.

'Anna, the child of Elwina, the tender gentle Anna, fleeps in peace, a decline cropt the fairest flower that ever shed its fragrance o'er the wild -or graced the daify-covered banks of Coquet.

(The furrowed cheek of the venerable chieftain glistened with the tears of parental affection -fuddenly he brushed them off-and recalled the words of the vision to his remembrance'Thou shalt yet be happy.')

'Every hour expect your youthful hero-the peafant Edwy - he brings not with him as a bride the daughter of an humble vassal, nor the lowly offspring of a cottage-expect him with the charming heiress of the princely Witherington, who boafts an ancestry great as thine. On the wings of filial affection he flies to greet a new found parent.

This boy so copied the bright example of his fire, that he revived the finking spirit of revenge within my bosom-as I tortured the mind of the father, I was refolved to continue it to the fonyour murder would accomplish this design-I decreed him, when rushing with fond maternal tenderness to your manfion, a father weltcring in his blood. With this intent I took my journey-heaven faw the accursed deed in its true light. The mask of hatred fell from my face, and the small still voice of gratitude ftole upon me-I seized the moment of your absence to pen this narrative-you may perceive it wet with tears of anguish!

The boundless scene of eternity opens before me, and when the dread catalogue of villainy is opened, muft present my naked foul before the august Judge of Heaven. Injured brother, pray for the companion of thy youth. The pious ejaculations of the virtuous, are heard before the throne of mercy: Remember the son of thy mother, and the poor penitent exclaims, 'May angels guard thee!'

As Sir Alwyne had concluded the narative, the found of a bugle-horn was heard from the castle-gates. The chieftain started, and ere he could enquire into the cause, a youth of noble deportment entered the room he fell upon his knee, and fought a father's blessing. The transported baron clasped him in his arms, and