better without Morgan's presence, despatched him to the rectory.

He continued to walk slowly on with his new companion. It was but too evident that death had marked him for his early prey; a rapid consumption seemed already to have committed great ravages on his wasted frame; he was evidently unable to walk erect, and often was obliged, from the violence of a severe cough, to stop to recover himself. His eye was deeply sunk, and his whole countenance pale and emaciated. There was, however, in him somewhat that seemed to rivet the beholder, more even than that usually felt on seeing one in the prime of his years sinking into the grave. His noble appearance and manners bespoke him to be of the higher orders of society. He received Mr. Vernon's attention with evident gratification, but with the expression of surprise, as one to whom the voice of kindness was almost unknown; and, notwithstanding every effort he made to conceal and to conquer his feelings, at times the struggle was painfully obvious. Besides, there was in his face deep

traces of the most heartfelt sorrow-so deep that nothing but death could obliterate them: it was not only the anguish of bodily pain, it was evidently the mind that had suffered— that still painfully, intensely suffered.

Mr. Vernon did not attempt to speak to him, feeling how much to be desired is silence on such occasions; but Beroni, taking him by the hand, thus addressed him in English: "I am not a native of Italy, as you doubtless have supposed from my letters; nor is the name of Beroni, which caution obliged me to adopt, mine. I am your fellow countryman, though not a Briton,"-but here the stranger paused.

"Do not think of any explanation now," said Mr. Vernon: "of whatever country or clime, you are welcome here; I only much regret this fatiguing walk for you."

"Thank you much," said the stranger; and he relapsed again into profound silence.

They shortly reached the house, where Mrs. Vernon met and welcomed the weary traveller, and endeavoured, by every means that humanity and christian hospitality could dic

tate, to enable him to consider her house as

his home.

At the accustomed hour for evening prayer, the family assembled, and Mr. Vernon in an especial manner craved the blessing of Heaven upon their guest.

66

Happy people," said the stranger, when the service was finished; " would that I had been the meanest in this house to have been so privileged; I should have been saved many a year of misery, and of late, many an hour of painful remorse." He covered his face with his hand, and seemed absorbed in overpowering, trying thought. "Happy they," he again said, "who can look back on a wellspent life, in place of the sin that I do. O it is a fearful thing to have acted the part that I have done !"

"None," said Mr. Vernon, " believe me, my dear friend, none can look back on aught but a life of much sin. I entreat of you rather to look from yourself to Christ, and in his atoning sacrifice behold all your sins pardoned. In proportion as you see your sins' enormity, may the Lord give you to

behold his mercy, which reacheth unto the heavens."

"It is not, believe me, my dear sir, that I doubt the efficacy of Jesus' blood; but I believe that I am punished for my great iniquity now: God knows it is a just but a fearful retribution."

"Think more of this promise of our God, my dear friend, said Mr. Vernon: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' Rom. viii. 1. Jesus does not pardon, to retaliate upon us, so to speak, all our misdeeds: believe me, if such were the case, the torments of hell would still be our portion; but Christ hath abolished the handwriting that was against us, and hath nailed it to his cross."

"But all have not sinned as I have done, or deserved such punishment: I am indeed overwhelmed with shame, when I think.... that, had I acted as I ought to have done,— as became a Protestant minister of the gospel of Christ,-I should this night have been with what was once my own flock in Ireland."

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon looked surprised, and the stranger continued:

"Well may you be astonished, my good friends; but so it is. He you have received beneath your hospitable roof, was once a minister of the Church of England..... By means of many circumstances, which at present I am unable to mention to you, ignorant of the vital truths of Christianity, I mistook the shadow for the substance; and human nature hailed with delight a system in which human merit occupies the most prominent point. My renunciation of Protestantism consequently demanded the resignation of my living; but this appeared a light matter to me, in comparison to peace of mind, which I vainly thought I had attained. I left Ireland as a martyr, forgetting indeed, as saith St. Augustine, that it is not the sufferings that constitute the martyr, but the cause," accounting myself happy to have given up so much for conscience sake. Self-righteous, seemingly humble, though inflated with pride, how did I toil to expiate my sins by my own merits! After some time I took priest's