"Yes."

"Know you, therefore, if there be any one dish, of which Father Cavendish alone partakes ?"

"There is."

"That will do."

"You propose to accomplish it by poison, then ?" whispered the young man.

"Yes, by medical ingredients, with which you must drug his food. Think you, you can find the opportunity?"

"Leave that to me," said the young man, licking his lips, like a young hound who has got the first taste of blood.

"Well, be careful, and I will supply you with the compounds; but you must use them in the exact proportion I point out: too large a dose might create suspicion, and we have time enough." "I shall be careful."

"I know it. Farewell," said the priest, looking proudly and kindly at his pupil, as he retired from the private conference.

Were these men acting the hypocrite, or under some damnable delusion, when meditating murder, and speaking of dying for their Church?

They were, to some extent, sincere, and, to the same extent, deceived; but they must have been conscious of practising deception upon themselves,

or of giving themselves up to the enthusiasm excited by a grand object, which seemed to justify any means for its accomplishment. Church as well as political policy-but here both were combined-often oversteps the barriers of morality, without hesitation or compunction. Conduct of this kind is too common to be curious, or to render an analysis of the state of mind of those who practise it, in any wise interesting; all men are, to a greater or less extent, practising the same kind of self-deception, while the conscience continues to "accuse or excuse" it.

CHAPTER XXVI.

"Virgin, awake! the marriage hour is nigh."

POPE.

"Give me to live and die

A spotless maid, without the marriage tie."

DRYDEN.

"A superior being can defeat his designs, and disappoint all his hopes."

TILLOTSON.

A FORTNIGHT after the interview between Archer and Mac Rory, the old priest called the Earl and Miss Spenser to his room, and thus addressed them:

66

My Lord, I sent for you and this dear child, to speak on a matter which is now to me the dearest earthly object of my heart-your marriage. The time fixed for it is, I believe, a fortnight from today; would it be convenient to you to have it celebrated before this time ?"

"Dear uncle, why do you ask?" said Ellen.

"It may be weakness in me, but for the last few days I have not felt as I used to do; I suspect the days of my pilgrimage are drawing to a close, and before that time comes, I should like to place your

hands together, for you would, I am sure, find a difficulty in getting another to perform the ceremony, after I am gone."

"Oh! uncle-dear uncle, speak not so: God, will spare you to us for many years to come."

"May be so, my dear child, but I fear not, and it is best to be prepared for the will of God. Now kiss me, and go and consult your mother about the matter; but fix on the earliest day."

"What day would you propose, sir?” said the Earl, who had not spoken up to this period, but who had kept his eyes fixed on the old man's face,while he was speaking,-in a deep and sorrowful scrutiny.

"Would to-morrow be too soon ?"

"To-morrow! uncle."

"Yes, my dear, I should like it; delays, you know, are dangerous, to a proverb."

Ellen stood for some minutes looking at her adopted uncle, or parent, in mute astonishment, and then escaped from the room, to give free vent to her feelings of mingled sorrow and surprise.

"What mean you, sir ?" said the Earl, after Ellen had left the room-" what mean you by this?"

"I believe, my Lord, I am very near my end; indeed, I feel certain I cannot live more than a few

-a very few days. A strange change has come

over me during the last fortnight.

I feel as if

my vital energies were dried up, and the blood had ceased to circulate in my veins."

"I have observed a change," replied the Earl, with deep seriousness; "but you may rally, sir."

"Never, my Lord-never; my days are numbered, and the number is now few; so let me beseech you to use your influence, not to have this marriage delayed-if you wish me to perform it for you-beyond to-morrow."

"Do you think it necessary it should take place

to-morrow?"

"I think so. Yes," said the old man, after a deep inspiration, from which he seemed to draw further confirmation of his danger,-" I think so; there is no time to be lost. Let it be to-morrow, my Lord. Go now, and use your influence with the ladies."

The next day was fixed for the wedding; for the words and manner of the old priest were solemn and prophetic.

It is the bridal day. The sky is wild and tempestuous. The storm of the over-night has stripped the trees of their blossoms. The bride's cheek bears the pale pink tint of the fading hawthorn. She is dressed in white :