for his enterprize, took his station upon the Downs immediately above the village in which Helen resided; and wrapping himself in his loose cloak, beneath which his pistols were cona cealed, heard, with an indescribable emotion, the church clock strike five, which had been fixed upon as the signal for his descending the steep road with the pretended message to his mistress. As if afraid of trusting himself with a moment's hesitation, he ran rapidly down the descent; and encountering Helen in the little garden before the Parsonage House, he delivered the preconcerted message, although in a hurried and incoherent manner. This she attributed to the speed with which she had seen him coursing down; and being as unsuspicious of guile in others, as incapable of it herself, and anxious, moreover, to show immediate respect to Mr. Goldingham's wishes, she instantly opened the little gate, and accompanied him up the hill, walking at a brisk pace.

open

Scarcely, however, had they reached the country, when a lurid glare was cast over the whole horizon by a dark cloud that was

seen lowering above them; a sudden and vio

lent

ran

gust of

the dust, straw,

and pebbles, in circling eddies; while a few detached but unusually large drops fell around them, which were presently succeeded. by a fulous torrent of rain. There happened to be an open shed at a little distance, to which they for shelter, and which they had hardly gained, when the artist, upon looking up, saw the black cloud open the forked lightning leapt forth, and plunged into the smoking earth immediately before him; while, at the same moment, a tremendous clap of thunder, which seemed as if it would split the solid globe, burst above their heads.

Strongly susceptible of religious impressions, although their influence was evanescent, and his notions gloomy and fanatical, he saw in this occurrence a manifestation of the divine wrath at his

his contemplated crime, A fiery portent seemed to have been sent from heaven, to warn him from his enterprize; his conscience smote

him; him; and he stood for some time with downcast

within m; every evil thought was rebuked w

looks, astounded, awe-stricken, and penitent. The storm ceased as suddenly as it had come on; when, rousing himself from his prostration of spirit, he seized Helen by the arm, led her, or rather dragged her, back to the road leading to the village, hurried down the declivity without uttering a word, and, upon reaching the gate of her residence, gave her a gentle push towards the house, shouting out, "We are both saved! we are both saved!" and again ran up the hill.

When he had once more reached the heights the sun was shooting forth a brilliant parting ray, the birds were singing merrily in the trees, the earth sent up a fresh and fragrant smell, and a rainbow spanning the sky, tinged with a party-coloured radiance a grove of trees into which one of its distant extremities appeared to descend. In the rapid transitions of his mind the remorse which had been generated by terror was succeeded by new waverings: he began to accuse himself of imbecility and superstition, and was stalking eagerly forward, more than ever irritated against himself and all

the world, when he was accosted by Chinnery, who introduced Hartfield as the gentleman that was to assist them in their enterprize, informed him that every thing was in readiness, and inquired what had become of Miss Trevanian, with whom they had seen him walking before the storm shrouded them from their view.

no

far

"I have carried her back," replied Basil; "I have altered my mind I shall go ther in the enterprize."

Changed your mind

go no farther!" shouted the Squire; "what do you mean, sirrah ?"

"I mean what I say," replied Basil sullenly; "I conducted her back, and I have done with the affair."

"'Sblood! then you are a liar and a coward,” roared the disappointed Squire, reddening almost to scarlet, and becoming hoarse with rage.

The artist's sallow countenance assumed a livid hue, and his bloodless lips quivered as he replied with a forced calmness, "Beware, Sir, how you tempt a desperate man; I have the means of vengeance about me, and I value not

my life a doit since I have lost the last hope of obtaining Miss Trevanian."..

"Whoop! You obtain her!" shouted the Squire. "Sink me, you blind buzzard, you were but our tool, our fool, our cat's-paw, our decoy-duck. It was I who was to have carried her off; and as soon as you had inveigled her hither, I had given orders that you should be chucked into a horse-pond for your pains."

A vengeful scowl flashed darkly from the artist's eye as he threw back his cloak, and snatching his pistols exclaimed, “Then it is you who are the liar and the scoundrel, and unless you wish me to add coward to the list, you will afford me an opportunity of punishing you as you deserve." At these words he tendered one of the pistols to the Squire, who fiercely snatched it, calling out to Chinnery to measure the ground instantly, and drop his hat when they were to fire.

In vain did the terrified Chinnery implore them to be pacified, or at all events to wait till another second could be found. Furious at his hesitation the Squire pointed his weapon at his