wine mounted to my head. Bumper after bumper was poured down by the party, and I, yielding to example and excitement, was very soon in as inebriated a condition as the rest-my contrition, as well as my ill conduct, all forgotten.

It is needless to follow up this disgusting subject; suffice it to say, we drank, and smoked, and quarrelled, and finally stretched ourselves wherever we were overtaken by sleep, till at length our drunken snoring was the only sound to be heard in the apartment.

Morning broke in bright unclouded splendor into that vile scene of human bestiality; its slanting rays also shone on the sun-browned face of a peasant girl, who, with the old woman who attended the chambers, was inspecting each of the drunkards in succession, as if anxious to discover some well-known face.

"Here he is," at length, said the hag, pointing to where I was lying half off a sofa, with one foot and one hand dangling on the floor. The young girl approached; she could hardly believe that the livid countenance before her was that of her brother: need I say it was my sister Antonia.

With difficulty they roused me, and as soon as I became conscious, Antonia informed me, that unless I made great haste, I should never see my poor father alive, for that he had returned the day before dreadfully ill, and became every moment visibly worse; after much entreaty, he had permitted her to come for More horror-struck than I can express, at finding myself in such a state, at such a time, I hurried

me.

away with Antonia, and jumping into the first vehicle I found for hire, soon arrived at the long unvisited cottage. My haste was vain; I paused a moment at the threshold then rushed in to see my wretched, illused parent, a lifeless corpse.

For years I had not prayed; I now threw myself beside that miserable pallet, and uttered execrations on myself, screeching wildly, and denouncing myself as the murderer of my father. Whilst I was in a paroxysm of agony, the small window of the room became darkened: I looked to see the cause, and beheld, what restored me to a sense of my condition, the delighted countenance of the Priest Seifenblase, glaring on me with malignant satisfaction. I rushed from the house; I could not stand the scene, of which I felt myself the guilty author. In a state bordering on phrenzy, I returned to my chambers, and sending a sum of money to Antonia, had the selfishness to shut myself up, refusing to see any one, and feeling, by anticipation, all the horrors of Pandemonium. The misery of those days has never been obliterated from my mind, during any of the events or vicissitudes of my after career; nay, at the present moment, I think I see the pale, cold, emaciated, yet tranquil, face of my father in its death stillness, reproaching me for my culpable and unnatural conduct, and the devilish leer of the Priest I had so unjustly pun

"Ha!" cried Howard; "the Count is fainting; draw away those pillows, and help me to lay him flat. Your salts, lady; this recital has worked too much

upon his feelings, and his weakened frame is unable to bear it. You need not be alarmed. It will not signify; he will soon revive; but we must keep him quiet."

Thanks to Howard's attentions, the Count did recover; but several days elapsed before he was able, even had he been permitted, to continue his recital.

During this period, Forrester managed to engage his attention, by entering into many discussions with Howard on points of doctrine: and in these, his extensive knowledge of Holy Writ, and his mild firmness, caused him particularly to shine, and the Count, who was naturally quick of mind, perceiving the beneficial effects resulting in others, from a firm and Biblegrounded faith, used frequently to ask the gentlemen to read and explain to him some part of the Word of God. This was usually their evening occupation, till slumber overcame him; and as his bodily health began to improve, he used to jest with his kind physician, saying-That he thought Forrester's mental Anodyne gave him sweeter sleep than all the Morphia employed by Howard to obtain the same end.

"Yes," said Forrester; "but my Anodyne will bestow rest and tranquillity, perfect peace, on the greatest sufferer throughout all eternity, whilst that of my good friend here, only has power to lull some of the passing pangs of time: mine, by repetition, increases in the intensity of its action, whilst his, loses its effect with every dose, till at last it becomes powerless and inert. The difference between them, is nearly the same as between the works of God and those of

art; perfection on the one side, and an ever-wanting something on the other. But the grand distinction between Howard's medicine and mine is, that mine is received through the ear, or may be administered through the eye, and will not poison, but rather conduce to life in its largest doses; whilst his, must go through the vulgar channel of the mouth, and a little too much will certainly prove fatal. I have one other argument and perhaps the best-it is, that in order to be sound, the physician himself must take largely of my medicine."

CHAPTER VIII.

"Rome sends her smooth-faced Jesuit to the world,
Gifted with learning, talent, converse, all
Those secret arts to please, which can be curl'd
Up in one wily head, round which the pall
Of ostentatious piety is furled;

Which looks so winning, yet is serpent's gall:
Men who believe the means are little matter,

So as the ends attain'd, may serve their Church to flatter!"
UNPUBLISHED POEM.

FROM the period mentioned in the concluding part of the last chapter, Forrester's anodyne was called into daily use; and the Count acknowledged, that although he felt his spirit humbled, and his energy of thought somewhat crippled, still, he experienced a tranquillity and calmness, which he had never known before.

He now listened with attention, asked questions, gave audible responses to Forrester's simple and beautiful prayers, and borrowed "the Book," which he had all his life neglected, in order to study it when alone.

Seeing such a pleasing change in the feelings and disposition of the Count, the two gentlemen redoubled if possible, their attentions; and, in addition to the gratification they felt, at being permitted to be the agents of good, they were rewarded by the grateful looks, and cheerful smiles of the softened, but not saddened, Amelie.