and sparkling streams. I almost envy your happy life, spent among such pleasant scenes.'

"Yes,' replied the minister, sorrowfully, if the moral picture were as untainted and beautiful, it would, indeed, be a pleasant spot in which to spend one's days; but the fact, that beneath that smiling exterior, impure desires and heartless deeds lie concealed from the common eye, causes a deep and lasting shadow to overcast the beautiful landscape.'

"A shade of gloom again came over the stranger's spirit, and they walked on in silence. They had passed the Plans and were now approaching the village. Crossing the river the minister kindly assisted the stranger to keep his balance on the old rickety planks, and while he did so, felt the arm he held tremble like an aspen in his gentle grasp. Attributing this to nervous feeling caused by his weak state of health, the good man spoke still more kindly to him, inviting him to spend the evening at the manse, which they had now almost reached.

"I would prefer a quiet walk in the churchyard,' replied his companion; and while proceeding thither the door of the little parish school quickly opened, and like bees issuing from their byke, out rushed the noisy happy throng, shouting, and singing, and trampling upon each other's heels in their eager ness to escape into the free, breezy, exhilarating air.

"God bless their little happy hearts,' said the minister, "The stranger made no reply, and they both passed into the churchyard in silence.

666

"Whose solitary resting-place is that?'-suddenly asked Captain Vernon, pointing to Lucy Johnstone's unnamed grave. "That is the grave, alas! of one,' replied the minister,— 'once the purest and loveliest amongst the creatures of God. "Her name?'-interrupted the stranger.

"She and her babe, together.'

"Both dead?'

"Father and mother, besides.'

"Her home?'

"Desolate and waste.'

"The night air comes chilly over me-let us go.'

"And with the same oppressive silence as they entered, they returned from the churchyard.

"Politely declining the good man's reiterated invitation to the manse, the stranger bade adieu at the gate, and proceeded on his way to Thornton.

"Several days passed away without the minister either seeing or hearing any more of the stranger, at which he was both puzzled and surprised. Ruminating one evening as to what might be the cause of his non-appearance, his musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance of a messenger from! Thornton, with an urgent request from Captain Vernon that he would hasten without delay to see him.

"Promptly obeying the summons, the minister was instantly on his way to the neighbouring hamlet. On arriving at the cottage where the Captain resided, he was immediately shown into his bedroom. On the bed, his head propped up by pillows, lay the stranger, who held out his hand in token of welcome, as the minister softly approached. The change in his general appearance was so great that the latter could not, without an effort, recognize in the shrivelled attenuated frame, and pale and ghastly features of the sick man, the handsome and athletic-looking stranger so lately introduced to him. Dashing back his dishevelled hair, which had fallen in thick damp clusters over his brow, the Captain faintly said, "I have been ill, sir.'

"I am extremely sorry, indeed, to see you in such a weak and exhausted condition. Has any medical man been called in to see you?' replied the minister.

"Doctors, I am afraid, can do me no good. The root of the disease is beyond their ken, and the cure above their skill.'

"My dear friend,' said the minister, still affectionately pressing his hand, 'you must not give way to despair. These gloomy forebodings only aggravate your disease. Our family physician shall be immediately sent for, and'

"Take a chair by my side, and listen,' interrupted the sick man. "If I fail to convince you that my case is altogether hopeless, you may then send for medical assistance. My name is-Walter Ogilvy.'

"Walter Ogilvy?'

"Yes, forgive your old friend Graeme, as well as myself, for the fraud we have jointly perpetrated. It was done in this wise. On my arrival from Australia, I sought out the old companion of my youth, and to him disclosed the true cause and nature of my malady. Perceiving I was resolutely bent on revisiting Kinnettles he advised the change of name out of deference to my feelings, until it should be seen what effect the visit had on my spirits. To save any further crossquestioning, I may as well at once proceed with the narrative of which I wish to make you the recipient.'

"Walter Ogilvy!' again, half incredulously exclaimed the minister.

"Do not shrink from me, good sir, I am now more an object of pity than contempt; but as I feel my time is short, forgive me for detaining you a very few minutes while I have strength left for the recital. To be brief, then, nothing went well with me in Australia. My mind, filled with remorse, could not settle itself to any steady pursuit, and the natural consequences of the want of any fixed purpose, coupled with neglected business, soon followed with retributive swiftness; my health began to give way; and broken in fortune and in health, I returned to Scotland.

"A strange fascination impelled me to revisit the scenes once so purified and blessed by the presence of Lucy Johnstone. A sense of shame, however, prevented the accomplishment of my purpose, until Mr Graeme suggested the project of a visit under an assumed name. Feeling safe, then, from detection,

my whole appearance being so much changed, I came to Kinnettles, not certainly with the purpose of practising any criminal deception, but that I might, unmolested, again survey and penitentially visit those scenes in which I felt myself now so deeply interested. But I had calculated beyond my strength. Every field, and hedgerow, and meadow, reminded me of Lucy Johnstone. The winds, the birds, the streams ever whispered her endearing name. Her once

happy home of innocence and love, the humble cottage on the hill-side-but my imagination supplied the picture—I could not venture there. Neither could I find courage to breathe her name, or to ask any questions concerning her or her family; the more especially, since I felt I had actually been discovered on the very day after my arrival, while furtively searching in the burial-ground for what I instinctively felt was there, although entirely ignorant of the fact until the harrowing revelation fell from your own lips. Then, again, the effects of an evil conscience were evinced in connection with almost every passing occurrence. The subject of your discourse on the Sunday the remark you incidentally made at the Memorial Stone in the wood of Thornton-the picture you drew of the landscape when we again came in sight of the valley of Kinnettles-your allusion to the happy hearts of the children as they escaped from the bondage of the little village school. But your solemn yet cutting replies to my home questioning in the church-yard, gave the death-blow to all my hopes of forgiveness from the lips of her whom I had so deeply wronged. The disclosure burst like a thunderbolt on my accursed soul, crushing it at once beyond hope of revival. My dear sir, God and myself only know what I have suffered since that to me fatal revelation. Yet you see I am comparatively calm. I speak not in cant, or rant, or rhapsody. Still waters run deep. The heart is smote the sorest when it sheds no tears. With me the bitterness of death is past. I know you will pray for me. I have almost ceased to pray for myself. God of justice have mercy on me! I shall soon go hence and

be no more as to this world. When I die, bury me near HER. This is my last request, sir :-fare-you-well!'

"He fell back utterly prostrated by the exertion and excitement of the recital; and the minister, commending him to the special care of the sick nurse, took his departure with a heavy heart.

"Three days after, the mortal remains of Walter Ogilvy were consigned to the tomb.

"His dying request was not forgotten, and he sleeps in the quiet churchyard of Kinnettles, side by side with Lucy Johnstone."

Jeanie Morrison after spending a pleasant week at Airniefoul, bade an affectionate adieu to her dear and early friend, returning to her city home to increase by her radiant presence its purity, its happiness, and love.

Kate, in course of time forgot her early sorrows, having become the happy wife of a neighbouring farmer in the Howe, whose descendants still occupy the "bonnie farm."