as they were, some centuries since, in much request by the most skilful necromancers. If you wish to try their efficacy, I must warn you against making any exclamation during Perfect silence is neces-the performance of the charm.

sary to complete success when you make an experiment; a word will cause its immediate failure. You are desirous of knowing in what employment your cousin has recently been engaged. Lend me the bottle given you in the Brocken, at the witches' jubilee."

I had always carried about me the strange little vial of which I had become possessed at my initiation into the mysteries of spiritual things, intending at a proper opportunity to make use of it to my advantage. The time seemed now to have arrived. He poured out of the bottle three drops of the fearful liquor it contained, which fell within the circle upon the plate; and as soon as they touched the metal, three columns of smoke arose of a peculiarly aromatic odour. I gazed on in silence and amazement. Soon the vapour dispersed, and I began to observe moving objects as if within a mirror. They were at first shadowy and indistinct, but in a very short time I could distinguish a On the left hand large room with fluted pillars round it. side was a raised orchestra of small dimensions, in which a band of musicians were performing. The apartment was thronged with persons of distinction of both sexes, whose features were familiar to me. Most of them were dancing. It appeared to me as if all who were worthy of admiration in rank, fashion, and beauty, had congregated in one spotand that place I recognised as Almack's. Most prominent among the dancers I discovered Dora and the visyoung count. Both seemed flushed with the exercise, and each seemed equally to enjoy the presence of the other. I could have turned from the sight and cursed them in the bitterness of my heart, but a strange fascination bound my eyes to the mirror, and I gazed on with smothered imprecations in my breast. The dance concluded, and I saw Lord Lupin whisper something in my cousin's ear. She looked displeased and confused-presently he whispered again, and she appeared less displeased and evinced more confusion-again he murmured his hated request, and her looks expressed assent, though deep blushes crimsoned her cheek. They left the room. A slight cloud now seemed to pass over the mirror and

when it had disappeared, I observed my detested rival and the deceitful Dora proceeding down a flight of stairs, pass through a throng of servants who waited in the hall, and from thence into a carriage that stood near the door. A thin veil of mist again prevented me for a few seconds observing their proceedings. Again I saw them in a chariot, drawn by four fleet horses going at the height of their speed, proceeding along the north road. Her hand was in his, and his arm was round her waist. She looked disquietude-he rapture. Presently he spoke, seemingly with a passionate eloquence, and his eyes kindled with the fires of his detested love. The disquiet left her features, and she looked more satisfied. He rapturously kissed her hand, and she, smiling, drew it coyly away. By heaven! he raised his lips to hers; and she, with slight reluctance, yielded them to his caresses! I could endure it no longer. I found that I loved too well to see her become the prize of another. As I gazed upon the amorous scene before me, my blood went rushing at my breast with the impetuous force of the mountain torrent. maddened with rage. "Ten thousand furies!" I exclaimed aloud, as I attempted to dash towards the loving pair and interrupt their happiness. In a moment the vision disappeared, and I beheld nothing but the metal plate.

I felt

"The charm is broken!" said Mephistophiles calmly; "your rashness has destroyed all.”

"By heaven and hell!" I shouted in an ungovernable phrensy of passion, as I clutched Mephistophiles by the arm, "I must be revenged!"

"That is in your power !" said the tempter.

"How? Show me the way! If it sinks me to everlasting perdition, I will do it! Fool that I was! to have been so easily deluded by a designing woman, a crocodile, a sy

ren, a

"A common case!" remarked my companion, in a consolatory tone. "But you were warned. I hinted to you more than once that you were deceived."

"You did! you did!" I replied with bitterness.

"Well, I am ready to assist the wronged. I am naturally fond of justice!" observed Mephistophiles, sneeringly. "Listen! your cousin is now in her chamber, where her youthful bridegroom will shortly join her."

"My curse be upon him!" I exclaimed.

"By the exercise of my art I can transport her in a sound sleep into this apartment. I leave the rest to you.”

"Let it be done quickly!" said I, with unnatural exultation.

"I am your slave in all things. Your will is my law!" he exclaimed, with apparent humility. "Still it is but right I should inform you, that if you allow the present opportunity to pass by, it will not be in my power to offer another of a similar nature. Your revenge, to be perfect, must be immediate."

Your caution is unnecessary-keep it for those who want it." I replied scornfully. "Hasten the work, for I am impatient."

Mephistophiles strode into the centre of the apartment. Pointing his finger towards a certain part of the floor, and muttering some unintelligible words, there immediately arose a couch, on which reclined the form of Dora. He then retired to a dark part of the room, from whence I could see his eyes gleaming like two blazing meteors, above the shadowy outline of his body. I hastened towards the couch, and bent in silent admiration over the unconscious form of my slumbering victim. At this instant she awoke. As she glanced-round the room in fear and wonder, her eyes falling upon mine, and recognising me with a smile of the most divine expression, full of goodness, fondness, welcome, and sincerity, she flung herself into my arms. I was unprepared for this. I expected that she would exhibit signs of guilt. The treachery of which she had been guilty ought, I thought, to make her ready to sink with confusion at my appearance; but her looks bore no trace of dread; and although she seemed greatly surprised, her astonishment was too evidently mingled with joy to be unpleasant to her. As I gazed on her radiant eyes and transparent complexion, so soft, so pure, so feminine, I could not help feeling a doubt, that such perfect innocence of manner was the work of deceit. At this moment a voice, whose supernatural and piercing tones I too well knew, exclaimed "REMEMBER!"

Instantly the scenes I had observed in the magic mirror recurred to my recollection, and my diabolical determination was revived with increased strength. I raised her in my arms, and gazed on her face as if I would read the most hidden secrets of her soul. She smiled at my stern scrutiny.

There was so much sweetness, confidence, and devotion in the expression of her pale features, that I paused in my investigation, as if still incredulous of her treachery. Again that accursed voice came thrilling through my veins, muttering the word “Beware!”

Immediately I began to suspect that she was still affecting that guilelessness which first deceived me, and jealousy and revenge again assumed their empire within my bosom. Dora gazed on me with wonder, yet did not seem to have the least suspicion of evil. The fondness with which she at first regarded me, did not for a moment leave her gentle countenance. She appeared as if unconscious of danger. She feared no harm. Her looks seemed to say, with you near me I must be safe. So little alarmed was she that when my hot face approached hers, and I polluted her sweet mouth with my sinful caresses, she pressed her dear lips on Inine with a delicacy so exquisite and so natural, that I once more hesitated in my ungodly purpose.

"HASTEN!" exclaimed the tempter, in a voice that stirred up my unhallowed passion with fresh fury.

I grasped her rudely. I was proceeding to greater violence, and more evident crime, when, with looks all horrorstruck, her cheek pale as marble, her eyes filled with tears, and her hands clasped in supplication, she vanished from before me, and I fell with considerable force upon the floor.

BOOK THE FIFTH.

CHAPTER I.

I find the disclosures of the magic mirror correct.-I am anxious to obtain popularity, and the measures I take to bring myself before the public.-Mephistophiles becomes a general favourite.-The curious manner in which he punishes the Emperor of all the Conjurers.

I RECEIVED a letter from my uncle, in reply to the one I had sent him announcing my success, in which, after congratulating me on the important triumph I had gained, he proceeded in this strain :

"The result of your election is valuable in another point of view. It proves that the country is arriving at a proper sense of the value of good government. The return of a Conservative member will teach a great moral lesson to the experimenting Whigs and mischievous Radicals. It is an unquestionable sign of a powerful reaction. Hasten, my dear Vincent, and take possession of your seat in the House. I am most anxious for your début. Have ever before your eyes the glorious example of the great William Pitt, that heaven-born minister; and I have not the least doubt that our party will quickly oust the detestable faction who have too long disgraced the government of the country."

With much in a similar strain, and continual allusion to the genius of "the great William Pitt," my uncle concluded his epistle. However, there was some intelligence in the postscript, which I then thought of more consequence than anything that had preceded it.

"I have just heard that Dora is not to be found. She went last night with the marchioness to Almack's, and did not return home. It is supposed that that young scapegrace, Lupin, knows something of the subject, for they have both disappeared. Although I do not think it a disadvantageous match, I did hope that you had been her choice; but women are very changeable. I think it was the opinion of the