was the ruling passion. Of a family distinguished not only as ancient, but for its long line of celebrated men, both in the field and in the councils of the realm, Fitzgerald had much thus to gratify it; and he highly valued himself upon being their descendant. One thing, however, he appeared totally to have forgotten, and that was, that no small number of these honourable men had been Protestants, men, some of them at least openly so, distinguished for their piety, and for that religion which had exalted Britain to the pitch which she holds amongst the nations of the earth. Fitzgerald was a Roman Catholic. The treasures of this world had been preferred for him, to more weighty considerations; and his father had given his ready consent to this his second son (at the desire of a very distant relation) being brought up a Roman Catholic, in order to inherit a large fortune.

Fitzgerald, seemingly born with the spirit and bravery of one of this gentleman's ancestry, who had signalised himself in the crusades, exerted his whole energies to advance

the cause of the Roman Catholic religion. It seemed as if that alone was the object for which he lived; and well had it been for him had this zeal been with knowledge; but, alas! mistaken man, he was as the blind leading the blind.

Fitzgerald was not slow in insidiously ingratiating himself with Millicent; and he had not been long at Ashton Hall before he gained very considerable influence over her. She consulted him in everything regarding the newly-projected building, to which we have before alluded, and spent a considerable time every day in superintending the improvements going on in the private chapel, upon which she was expending a very large sum. On his objecting to the chaplain she wished to make choice of, she immediately yielded to his opinion. He evidently regarded Mr. Vernon with very great uneasiness and dislike, treated him with great coldness whenever he met him, and not unfrequently rallied Millicent on her partiality for him.

Ashamed to differ from him, she withdrew,

by degrees, the little countenance she still gave to Mr. Vernon; her visits to the rectory, which had been seldom, were now never paid; and an allowance, which she had permitted Mr. Vernon to dispense for her, amongst some of the poor of the parish, was entirely withdrawn, with an intimation that she found she had sufficient call for her money to those who were, strictly speaking, of her own communion.

Mr. Vernon felt these things, and deeply; but he had anticipated them. It was his earnest endeavour to deliver to his people the whole counsel of God; and he did not now, when, in the very midst of his parish, the grossest error was taught, deny his Master; in the full confidence of one who had ever found God faithful, he turned not aside to lies, he dissembled not, to win the favour of men; but, obedient to the Captain of his salvation, he determined in his power to preach his word, till death should call him from a world of ceaseless sorrow to that holier and happier world beyond.

He regarded not the increase of Roman

Catholicism as a light matter; it was to him one causing him to be deeply humbled before the Lord; but it did not suffice him to press truth in opposition to error upon his fellow men; he carried his request fervently, devotedly, and humbly to God, and besought him that he would open the hearts of his fellow-sinners to discern the fair beauty of the King of saints.

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CHAPTER VIII.

MR. VERNON had not only put it in Beroni's power to obtain the New Testament, but had further ordered, on his application to his friend, that he should receive the Old Testament likewise.

Some time, however, had elapsed since Mr. Vernon had received any letter from Beroni; and he sometimes feared that he was no more; at length the following letter assured him that he was yet, though in a very precarious state, an inhabitant of this lower world. Still he was silent as to his place of residence.

66 TO THE REV. L. T. VERNON.

"I have not been able sooner to reply to your last kind letter, though I have fre