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unfortunately encountered, and the deed was done, before the writ had been served.

In the morning he listened with demoniac transport to Bates's account of his having murdered Lewson, and to Dawson's recapitulation of the dreadful scenes of terror and affliction which had taken place at the house of Beverley; and now, secure from detection, as he supposed, he bid defiance to fortune, and walked proudly triumphant in his guilt and infamy.

Jarvis had followed his master when dragged from his home, and contrived to gain admittance to his prison, where all the long night he watched by his side, as he lay stretched upon his pallet, in speechless agony. Towards morning Beverley became more composed, and listened with patience to the consolations of his faithful old steward, which at first he had repulsed with anger, and almost violence; and Jarvis, as soon as he perceived him thus tranquil, hastened to his beloved mistress, to conduct her and Charlotte to this gloomy abode of wretchedness. On his way he met a messenger express from the country, inquiring for Beverley's lodgings, with intelligence of the death of his uncle. The poor old man, under less painful circumstances, would have lamented the death of his old master's brother; but the misfortunes of his young master overpowered every other feeling, and the tears he shed were rather tears of joy than sorrow: yet they almost choked his utterance when he imparted the glad tidings to Mrs. Beverley and Charlotte, who immediately hastened to the prison of their afflicted

husband and brother.

On their arrival, Beverley received them with a sort of gloomy horror, as if he shuddered at their approach; and when Mrs. Beverley told him to be of comfort, for that "Providence had seen their sorrows and sent the means to help them by the

death of his uncle," he started, and bade them, if they meant to bring him comfort, to say that he was living! When assured of his death, and that his whole estate was bequeathed to him, he gazed wildly upon them, bidding them kneel and curse him, as a wretch detested of Heaven; for he had sold the reversion the preceding night for a scanty sum, ard lost it amongst villains. Then seizing the hand of his wife, he again bade her "kneel and curse him!!"

She threw herself upon her knees and earnestly implored the protection of Heaven upon her beloved husband-implored that sorrows might be accumulated upon her head, so he might be happy. "These hands (she cried) shall toil for his support; these eyes be lifted up for hourly blessings on him; and every duty of a fond and faithful wife be doubly done to cheer and comfort him! So hear me ! So reward me 199

"I would kneel too (replied Beverley), but that offended Heaven would turn my prayers into curses -for I have done a deed to make life horrible to you."

At that moment Stukely without ceremony entered, and presenting a paper to Mrs. Beverley, informed her it was her husband's discharge. The arrest last night was meant in friendship (said the specious villain), but it came too late-I would have saved his hands from blood, had it been possible : but Lewson's murdered !"

An exclamation of horror burst from the lips of the affrighted Charlotte, who, grasping Stukely's arm with terrific energy, implored him to deny the dreadful assertion-"Say but that he lives (sobbed the terrified girl), and I will kneel and worship you."

"In pity so I would (returned he), but that the tongues of all cry murder. I came in pity, not in malice, to save the brother, not kill the sister: your Lewson's dead, and here's an evidence !"

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This evidence was Bates, whose arrival Stukely eagerly expected; and who came, instructed by him, to fix the guilt of Lewson's murder upon Beverley. With malignant exultation he awaited the circumstantial evidence of Bates, when the door burst open, and, to the astonishment of all present,, Lewson stood before them! alive and without any wound.

Bates and Dawson, though they had been the willing agents of Stukely's villany, as far as robbery was concerned, yet had shuddered at the idea of murder; and, shocked at the extent of Stukely's malice, resolved to presesve the life of Lewson.. They imparted the meditated murder to him, with various other instances of Stukely's treachery; and for the more complete detection of this remorseless fiend, Lewson consented to secrete himself for a few hours. Fatal delay! his kindness came too late to save the poor unfortunate Beverley !

Stukely was immediately taken into custody, and removed from the presence of his devoted victim. When Lewson approached to offer his congratulations to Beverley, he was shocked to behold him.. His eyes were glazed; his looks were wild; his senses unsettled; and his whole frame convulsed. It was long ere he spoke in reply to Lewson's kind and repeated inquiries, of how he found himself At length in a tremulous voice he answered

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'Why, well-who's he that asks me ?"

"Tis Lewson, love (said Mrs. Beverley). Why do you look so at him?"

They told me he was murdered," replied Beverley.

Strong convulsions now seized him-fever raged through his veins--he was torn with agony-and scarcely could obtain a moment's pause from pain, to disclose the fatal secret, that" pressed with shame-pent in a prison-tormented with the

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thoughts of his afflicted family-driven to despair and madness-in a fatal moment-he had swallowed poison!"

Oh! who shall paint the agony of Mrs. Beverley at this dreadful discovery! She gazed in speechless horror on the distorted features of her dying husband, as he bent his trembling knees to earth,

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and feebly implored the blessings of Heaven upon them! She grasped his hand in wild agony !-No sigh heaved in her bosom. The mute image of despair, she stood transfixed; her eyes, distended, seemed bursting from their orbits; yet no tear escaped. His dying looks were bent on her, till the glazed film of death shut out perception-and when the last sad sigh had issued from his quivering lips, and the poor lifeless hand relaxed its hold-when every hope was fled-she started, gave a piercing shriek a long, an agonizing shriek, and fell senseless on the bosom of her departed husband!!!

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Oh! God of heaven, from thy throne look down,
In mercy look on this afflicted one;

Give her that peace, which thou alone canst give;
That peace of mind, which rests its hope on heav'n,
When hope on earth has flet the breast for ever.

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They stood as 'twere upon a precipice,
Chased by a demon to its very brink,
The gulf perceptible before their view,
Arother step, and they must fall-Aye, must!
And perish in the fall-or if not perish,
Still it were worse to live a mangled life,

The scorn of that proud fiend, who spurned them down,
And demon-like exulted in their ruin.

But that Omnipotence which guides the waves,
Which stills the tempest in its utmost rage,
And whom he will brings safely to the shore,
Gave not permission to the sinful deed!

HYPOCRISY in any shape is baneful to happiness and virtue: but religious hypocrisy is the very worst species; the most injurious in its effects, the most deliberate in its operations, and the most dreadful in its influence; since it teaches the weak minded, when imposed upon by depravity sacrilegiously clothed in the garb of sanctity, to despise religion itself. Among the number of those who chose this system of deception to promote their worldly welfare, was Dr. Cantwell, a man of low origin, uneducated, and uninformed; who, in assuming an outward show of devotion, had by means of art risen from

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