evidence, and if irrelevant to the case, the court will order it to be ruled out. Unless you declare on oath that you can not answer this question without criminating yourself, the court must insist upon your replying."

After a moment's pause, during which bully looked with an air of triumph toward the jury, Mr. Perry further expostulated:

"No, judge, I am not in the least, afraid of criminating myself; but I have frequently been summoned as a juror before you, and I have always observed that when witnesses were insulted by insnaring and improper questions, the bench interposed. Now, the question asked me is one that, in its connection, is plainly designed to convey a reproach. I was summoned here to testify concerning a land title. The first question asked me is, am I a Royal Arch Mason? I claim your protection, judge, and decline to answer.

And not another word would the badgered individual say, though the bully foamed and the court threatened. In the upshot, he was imprisoned for contempt of court.

Being a gentleman of considerable distinction, he was visited by members of the bar, who labored with all their might to change his mind, and the judge himself condescended to apply to him through the jail-door. All in vain.

At last, as the suit could not progress without him, counsel consented to waive the question, and Mr. Perry was released to answer relevant questions.

The Duel.

A TALE OF MASONIC INTERPOSITION.

Inscribed to M. W. Harvey T. Wilson,

OF SHERBURN, KY., GRAND MASTER.

"When thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, his blood will I require at thine hands."

URING the campaign in Northern Mexico, which resulted in the capture of Monterey, there were various outbreaks among the American soldiers, in which they avenged themselves upon the inhabitants, by acts of cruelty and injustice, for the annoyances they experienced from the guerrilla bands.

It is not to be doubted that the guerrilla warfare is one well calculated in itself to stimulate revenge, even to ferocity. To be waylaid at every step; to be shot down like wild beasts, even in sight of camp; to sleep in hourly expectation of the fatal dagger; to drink water and eat bread at the imminent risk of poison from the desperadoes that infested the country -these were provocations to a furious retaliation, especially from an unscrupulous soldiery. But vengeance is blind. It sates itself without discrimination when its unholy fires are once lighted, and the

nearest unfortunate is too often made the victim upon its unhallowed altars. Well does the genius of Masonry deprecate the whole business of war. In the campaign above referred to, the blood of innocent persons often flowed; the humble roof of many a harmless family blazed over the cruel torch.

Among other recorded acts of atrocity, a case had occurred in which a whole Mexican family was butchered by a lawless party from the American camp.

By what individuals this dreadful guilt was perpetrated, or from what precise motive, was never ascertained; but suspicions pointed out certain members of Captain Y―'s company of State volun

teers, and such, to this day, is the general sentiment.

Some members of that company having, a short time afterward, met the members of Captain A-'s company, from the same State, insulting charges were made, connected with this affair. Hot recriminations followed, and in a few minutes a general fight was in progress among scores of men. Fortunately, none had deadly weapons in their hands, or much blood would have flowed.

Ah! it was wise in the great King to forbid ax, hammer, and all metal tools in the building of the sacred fane. Our statute that prohibits wearing concealed weapons, is founded broadly in WISDOM.

No lives, then, were lost, but several of the party were cruelly beaten, and the tumult was at its hight, when a couple of officers, summoned by the din, came simultaneously upon the ground, and ordered the men

B

to their quarters. They were both lieutenants, and, as it happened, one from each of the companies in dispute. Unfortunately, these gentlemen had not been on friendly terms for several weeks, and some words hastily dropped by R were caught up by Ras personally insulting. When we are at outs with a person, we readily distort everything he says. A hot retort followed; replication of an offensive nature flew back and forth, and the result was a challenge; a duel to the death with pistols, at sunset, a gunshot from the camp!

Seconds were selected; testamentary papers signed; letters of farewell to friends beloved.

As the sun went glowingly down beyond the Cordilleras, the opponents - both in the prime of days and hopes-met in the little glade that had been designated for the scene of blood. God had never created it for such a sanguinary purpose. It was an opening in the musquit and prickly pear, of about an acre in extent. The thick wire-grass of the country made a mat below, while above them was the blue vault of the rainless sky of that clime.

Was that blue arch to behold that verdant mat dyed scarlet? The ground was speedily marked out; the parties were placed in positions; not a tremor visible; no paleness; no desire to spare or be spared. Ah, no! hatred had done her worst work, and usurped the spirit's throne.

The weapons were skillfully loaded and pointed, and now only the word was wanting for Satan's triumph. "Let there be death, and there was

death," might well be inscribed on every duelist's tomb.

Although the fact of the challenge had been carefully concealed, yet a report of such things will struggle out despite of all precaution, and, to the great annoyance of the parties, a considerable crowd of spectators had collected,. and were lining the edge of the little opening, and waiting with breathless expectation for the result. It was still more perplexing that others were continually arriving from the camp, for the probability was imminent that notice of the intended duel would reach the commanding officer, in which event the whole affair would be summarily stopped.

Among others who came running into the opening, just as the parties were placed, was Captain Flately in command of a company in the regiment to which the lieutenants belonged, but badly wounded at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, and consequently absent for several months on leave. Captain F was a mutual friend of the contending parties, and, of course, shocked to hear, upon his arrival in camp, that a deadly duel was in progress between them. As he bore letters and kind messages to each from absent friends, he engaged a soldier to show him the way, and hurried, as we have seen, to the spot. He was barely in time.

"Now, my dear young friend R," he began, "my excellent friend B, let me say a word before you shoot. Here's a letter for you, Rfrom your mother. You certainly won't refuse to