"Le Monastère S. Abélard, Piedmont.

"Dear Annie,-I was indeed shocked and grieved to find, from a newspaper that has been forwarded to me here, the death of our beloved grandmother. I wish I could have been present to receive her dying blessing. She was always a kind and liberal guardian to us. May the Lord reward her. May He have mercy on her soul; and may she rest in peace!

"You would, doubtless, about three weeks ago, receive a letter from l'Abbé Montélarde, written at my request, to inform you of my serious illness. At that time my life was despaired of; now, however, I am quite restored to my wonted health, and hope next week to proceed direct to Rome, where in future all letters must be addressed.

"You would also learn from l'Abbé Montélarde's letter, that I have openly been received as a member of the Latin Branch of the Holy Catholic Church. I long have desired to avow my faith, but judged that by denying myself this privilege, I could better advance the cause of Catholic revival in England. I have, therefore, till within the last month remained within the Anglican Church.

"I trust, my dear sister, that my example will stimulate you to do likewise, and, ere it be too late, lead you to shake off the trammels of cold, dry, speculative Protestantism, and yield yourself to the loving, protecting arms of the holy, blessed, Mother Church. Till you do so, I can never regard you with a brother's eye: there must be a barrier in all our future intercourse.

"Dear Annie, in childhood you always submitted to my directions: do so now, I entreat you. Be no longer deceived or misled by the Protestant friends by whom you are surrounded. If I were in England I would at once

remove you from this snare.

But this cannot be. The duties of the Church call me elsewhere; and her claims are higher than those of kindred and affection,

"In conclusion, dear sister, let my last words be-Oh! hearken to my warning voice! Beware of Protestantism! "I remain,

"Your affectionate Brother,

"ARTHUR DE Vere."

CHAPTER XVI.

"Yes, blessings far surpassing all

The joys of earth below,

His chosen bride, redeemed from earth,

His risen Church shall know."

A YEAR passed away! a year of chequered happiness to our friend Annie de Vere. When forsaken by her brother a home had been offered to her at the Vicarage, where she was considered and loved as one of the vicar's own family. She was there surrounded by those who sympathized in all her joys and sorrows.

Hark! now the church bells are ringing; joy and gladness are in the sound. The little village is astir. The vessels in the harbour hoist their flags. The school children and the villagers in their holiday attire hasten to the church. The little orphans from the orphanage stand on each side of the churchyard-path with bouquets of white

rosebuds to strew the path of their favourite teacher. The sight of these little orphans almost overcame Annie as she passed between them to enter the church to take her place beside Allan Arundel. Who am I, thought she, as she hastily wiped away a tear of gratitude, that so much kindness should be shown towards me!

Protestant feeling was strong in Westcombe: the fact that Sir Arthur de Vere had joined the Church of Rome, and ultimately forsaken his place as the natural protector of his sister, had strongly excited the indignation of the inhabitants of the village, and called forth this warm sympathy towards Annie de Vere.

Captain Arundel was also a favourite with the people; indeed any event connected with any member of the pastor's family was an object of affectionate interest among this warm-hearted community, Around the chancel rails that day stood a happy united family. The sun shone brilliantly upon them, reminding us that this world is not always a vale of tears. There are, it is true, frequently dark clouds to be seen in many a landscape, but they have their silver lining, and are often chased away, and blue sky and snowflake vapours take their place. Neither is this world always a dry and parched wilderness; there are green spots and wells of refreshing water to cheer the pilgrim on his journey through it. There are seasons when joy and gladness seem to rest upon us and to form the very atmosphere we breathe. So thought Annie as she left the village church that day, followed by the prayers and blessings of all who knew her.

Here then must we take leave of our friends, and may we learn a lesson from our parting interview.

Though Christian marriage is in no sense a sacrament, seeing it has "not any visible sign or ceremony ordained

N

of God," yet it is used in the Bible as a familiar emblem of that union that must subsist between Christ and every member of His true Church; that Church, which He has redeemed; that Church, which is spoken of as a bride "adorned for her husband," "waiting to go in to the marriage supper;" that Church, to whom it shall be granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, which "is the righteousness of the saints;" that Church, whose dwelling-place shall be the New Jerusalem, that "holy city, wherein shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." May the writer and the reader of these pages be a member of the same.

In striking contrast to the bride of Christ and the heavenly Jerusalem, is another woman and another city mentioned in the Bible. The woman's name is Mystery; the city where she dwells, Babylon. The woman is described as being "decked with purple, and scarlet, and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication." She is further said to be "drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus!"

Can we doubt whom this woman, so described, represents? Is she not a faithful portrait of the great apostacy? Rome's priest, and they that glory to resemble them; are they not decked in gold, purple, and scarlet? The woman's name was Mystery. Mystery! is not mystery the very key-note of Catholicism? It could not survive without it. Mystery in worship! mystery in doctrine! mystery in practice! The woman is also said to be drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus! Ah! the sound of the Sicilian vespers have not yet died upon the ear! the

blood that stained the fertile soil of France may be concealed by fruitful vineyards, but it is still seen by the eye of God. Likewise the blood of our Marian martyrs ascends to God with the cry, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood?" And the city, where this woman dwells, what a contrast her position to the heavenly Jerusalem. "Babylon ;"" Babylon the great, the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean bird."

If these pages should fall into the hands of any who may be captivated by the "lovely song," or "gorgeous ceremonial," that is being now introduced into the Church by those whose aim is by means of Catholic ritual to teach Catholic doctrine, may they listen to the warning voice of God ere it be too late. "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

FINIS.