between you and me, if I can prevent it. Allan and Beatrice, my dear young friends,-were these the last words I am ever to speak to you both, I should say this: and if you forget all else that I ever said to you-if you forget me and all the love I have borne you, still remember thisBeware of a Jesuit. As you value truth, honour, independence, and a direct access to your own Creator, avoid a Jesuit. Guard your Protestant principles now, as you would guard the flickering light of a taper in a storm. I know not why, but there is an unusual solemnity in my thoughts today. Is it that some coming event has already cast its shadow on my spirit? None can tell; but be the events of life or death as God ordains, nothing can be a real evil, dear children, to one who adheres to his Bible and to the promises which it addresses to all. Come what may, I am ready."

After a pause of very earnest thought, Sir Evan continued, "The founder of these formidable Jesuits is said in history to have been either the greatest saint or the greatest hypocrite of his time, and I have little doubt myself of what he was, any more than I have now that Mr. Talbot has most shamefully deceived us. Remember, then, that the doctrine of infallibility in their own church is the only support of the Jesuits through all the strange delusions they teach, and without

that belief there would be a rent in the balloon that must bring it at once to the ground. Theirs is an Icarian flight with wings that melt before the sun's light; but you have a very excitable and vivid imagination, Allan; therefore beware. As for Mr. Talbot, how truly has Lord Bacon said of such men, Hollow church papists are like the roots of nettles; which themselves sting not, but yet they bear all the stinging leaves.""

From that day Sir Evan never rested till he had placed Allan, now a model of health, strength, and beauty, at Oxford, where he not only distinguished himself in every learned acquirement, but likewise in all athletic exercises. No one equalled him in pulling an oar, in spearing a salmon, in hurling his cricket-ball like a thunderbolt, or in clearing every fence in the hunting-field; yet so gracefully did he bear all his newly acquired classical laurels, that while all applauded not one among his companions ever envied him. Many were the rival achievements on land and water, during which he came in competition with others, and none could excel Allan McAlpine in feats either of strength or of dexterity, till at length Sir Evan, delighted and happy at the brilliant success of his promising young nephew and heir, jestingly quoted Byron to Mr. Clinton, saying

"I'd send him out betimes to college,

For there it was I pick'd up my own knowledge."

CHAPTER V.

"Princes and priests may flourish and may fade,
A breath can unmake what a breath hath made.
But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroy'd, can never be supplied."

GOLDSMITH.

SOME of Lord Eaglescairn's villagers, struck with the obvious fact that they existed only as impoverished slaves to Father Eustace, were at length heard to speak of Sir Evan occasionally, with tears of admiration, and would gladly have sent their children to the Clanalpine Schools, where the Chief would as gladly have welcomed them, but both priest and peer forbade their doing so under penalty of excommunication. The Popish landlord and his confessor were quite aware that

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Knowledge is power," but that was a power which they were determined not to extend in the village, that as many deluded votaries as possible might still submit in body and soul to the blasting dominion of Popery. Sir Evan, accustomed to consider all mankind as the "hoping, trembling creatures of one God,” held wide open the door of

knowledge for all, but his benevolent endeavours to enlighten these ignorant Romanists were neutralized by Father Eustace, whose sole object was by keeping them ignorant, superstitious, and brutralized, to render them all as implicitly obedient to him as a dog to his master. In their abject superstition, the Popish villagers were without will, thought, liberty, or intelligence, except through the despotic sway of their priest. Their homes were dirty, dingy, and every way detestable, while candles enough were burned, at the expense of these poor deluded villagers, in the chapel, during a year, to have illuminated St. Peter's. Among these misguided peasantry it proved most sadly true that wherever monks are in the greatest force, religion is in the least, and that where there are confessionals, there shall be abundance to confess; for not more soiled, degraded, and disordered were their homes than their consciences, while the absolution of Father Eustace could do no more to purify their souls, than the words, "Be ye warmed and clothed" could have administered the necessaries of life to their bodies.

Sir Evan, with Lady Edith, and their two young protegés, taught in every cottage the great truth of truths by simply distributing and reading the Bible, while at the same time sending the people instructors in every simple branch of rural education. Sometimes

Allan and Beatrice were allowed, as a reward, and a most welcome one, for their diligence in the school-room, to present a Bible of the largest type to "the oldest inhabitant," or to the most indigent. Then to witness the joy with which this precious gift was received by the honest-faced, open-hearted peasantry, gave to those young people a deep impression of its inestimable value, while this conviction of its unspeakable worth increased day by day, when they saw how devotedly it was studied by Sir Evan himself, and how it served as his revered guide to all the good he did, to all his hopes of happiness here and hereafter.

Beatrice was astonished about this time to receive a large box of books, sent to her anonymously, with a few lines inclosed, saying, "These are the works of Protestant authors, and if you have any desire ever again to see your unknown relatives, read them carefully alone, show them to no one, and consider well their contents."

Beatrice felt greatly agitated by this first acknowledgment which had ever reached Scotland since the one adventure of her being kidnapped in childhood, that a living individual beyond the walls of her present home felt any interest in her fate and feelings. It seemed to take the weight of worlds off her heart to think that some one knew her origin. Nevertheless, Beatrice took the box in