by fresh acts of enormity. The measure of crimes is full."

your

There was a dead pause, during which the two young men continued to regard each other with a fixed and steady gaze. Edgar's countenance was firm and determined; but Martindale's seemed agitated with a variety of contending emotions. His eye was bent on Edgar with a glance that seemed to wish, if possible, to penetrate to his very soul, and decide from that scrutiny, whether it were better to bid defiance to the storm, or to bow before its fury. At last he spoke, but the words seemed almost choked in his throat. Arlington, I am in your power— What do you propose to do ?"

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"I did not come here," said Edgar, "to triumph in I had a proposal your humiliation; to make to you, which your late attack upon me shall not alter. Your reputation, your very life are in my hands; but I have associated with you as a friend, and you carry in your veins the blood of those who are dear to me. You are safe. I know that Kreutzer has transferred to you the profits of your joint iniquity; restore

me this quit the settlement-assign what reason you think fit for your absence-and that secret, which is now known only to ourselves, and to Him whose eye penetrates the deepest abysses of nature, shall never be revealed to mortal man. Go, sir; seek some distant retreat, and as you carry with you the pardon of him who could. visit your crime with earthly retribution, endeavour by penitence to obtain His, who can visit it with that of heaven."

During these words, Martindale's eye, which till then had confronted Edgar's with as proud and lofty a bearing as its own, and answered the glance of honest indignation with the reckless hardihood and defiance of desperation, gradually sunk under that of the speaker, till it fixed itself upon the ground; and when Edgar had concluded, he replied without raising it, but with a voice and manner which shewed that his passions still struggled with his better feelings, and that he spoke in bitternnss of spirit; "Arlington, you shew me what I am!"

"We now understand each other," said Edgar, not appearing to notice the observation,

K

which so noble an instance of Christian superiority had wrung from his fallen foe; "I have no wish to triumph, and I have enough of man's natural feeling, to find my blood still move quick and hot in your presence. Let us then close an interview, which must be painful to both. Restore me my property, and we part for ever."

Without any reply, Martindale went a second time to his escrutoire, drew out a bundle of papers, and laid them before Edgar.

There was a momentary smile of proud gratification, which curled the lip of the latter, as he laid his hand upon the documents which restored him to what he had been; but it faded as his eye rested on the wild and agitated countenance of his wretched companion. He advanced towards him. "Martindale," he said, and the tones of sternness and resentment sank into those of pity and regret-" we have stood beside each other in the hour of peril, and in that of pleasure-in the whirlwind of the battle-field, in the dance and the banquet hall; our hands have been clasped in fellowship, and our

hearts have seemed united to each other. What demon could have lured you to plan the ruin of one, who never, even in thought, did anything to injure you."

His words appeared a spell, to conjure up the demon of whom he spoke; for the blanched face of Martindale suddenly flushed to the very temples, and his eye flashed fire as he exclaimed, “Name it not the thought of it has again roused the tempest within. May every curse!-no, no-you have acted nobly, and I will not think of it. But leave meI will do what you propose. You shall no more be shocked by the sight of such a wretch as Martindale. I will do all-but leave meleave me for I am not master of myself."

The violent paroxysms which distorted his features-the quivering of his clenched handsand the almost unearthly roll of his perturbed eye, gave full confirmation to his words; and Edgar, with a sigh of compassion for the wretched being, and an ejaculation to Him who alone can speak peace to the soul of the reprobate, quitted the apartment.

CHAPTER XIV.

"-Soon again shall music swell the breeze;
Soon issuing forth shall glitter through the trees
Vestures of nuptial white, and hymns be sung,
And violets scattered round, and old and young,
In every cottage porch, with garlands green,
Stand still to gaze, and gazing, bless the scene;
While, her dark eyes declining, by his side,
Moves in her virgin veil the gentle bride."

ROGERS.

Ir is scarcely necessary to say, that the late events opened a new and bright prospect upon our hero's destiny. With Mr. Aimwell, the marriage of his daughter, like any other business transaction, resolved itself into a question of figures. If the amount which ought to form the assets of the proposing party, fell short