"I cannot," said Cain.

Astiville replied, soothingly, "If you have I was not extinguished, but he thought to erred, you have suffered. Do not torment gratify it in a different way. He took yourself further. The sacrifices which you leave of the recluse, and rode off briskly. have made, prove your penitence--this re- Scarcely, however, was he out of sight of tirement proves it, and surely neither the the cabin, than he dismounted, and returnlaw of God, nor that of man can require ed stealthily on foot. Crouching within a more. It is sufficient that you deny your- thicket, which commanded a view of the litself all pleasure; do not assume unrequired tle garden, he waited patiently for the time pangs. But let us think of something else. when Cain should walk forth to the edge of I want you to point out to me, Henry, the the Hardwater. After the hands on Astiprecise situation of the patent corner on the ville's watch had marked the lapse of a full Run. Come, lead me to the spot." hour, he observed the tall white-haired figure emerge from the cabin-door, and descend the hill. The watcher followed, and, as he got near the bottom, quickened his step, in order to distinguish, with more certainty, the place where Cain should stop, which place, he doubted not, must be the site of the corner. As he was creeping rapidly along, with his eyes fixed upon the person in whose footstep he was following, his toe caught in a beech-root, which extended itself across the path. Before he could recover himself, he stumbled, and fell. Cain heard the noise, and, turning with a startled expression, beheld his disconcerted pursuer rising from the ground.

"And will you deny me so small a favor, Henry? Is this the fruit of that gratitude and regard, which you just now so earnestly professed?"

Cain answered: "I will not, I will not suffer any human being to accompany me there. Let that spot be covered and hid. Let no eyes look upon it, but those, which, like mine, can penetrate the sand and the sod, and view all that earth attempts to conceal in her bosom. I dare not take you with me. Whenever I approach that fatal place, the man of blood stirs within, the felon hand again is raised to deal the blow, -oh, in those moments, may Heaven send no victim across my path!"

"This is frenzy," said Astiville. "Call reason to your aid, and lead me to the corner."

"Frenzy, say you? Ay, surely, it is frenzy, and shall you be exposed to its insane violence? And what right have you, or any other man, to look on that which the Ruler of the elements has hidden? What claim has the ignorance of innocence upon sin's knowledge? No! I will perish, sooner than uncover that stone to the sight of any mortal."

Astiville rejoined: "Yet it is necessary that I should know the corner. I cannot otherwise establish the bounds of the patent. A portion of the inheritance may even be usurped by others."

"What of that?" exclaimed Clain. "Better that the whole should be lostbetter that land and forest, and Greywood itself, should be swallowed up, than that corner, so fatal to the race of Astiville, should be brought to light. It is at once my punishment and my privilege to visit that spot, and indulge in the meditations which it excites."

Astiville's desire to find the corner-stone

"Can I have no peace?" exclaimed Cain. "Must I be dogged and watched in this way, and by you? Has it come to this, that I may not endure my penance uninterrupted?"

"Do not be angry, Henry," said Asti

ville.

"It is not anger which I feel," replied the other, "but sorrow :-and not on my own account, but yours. That accursed head-stone is hidden, and Heaven grant that it may remain so. And must I betray the spot, which can bring only misfortune and ruin to every Astiville who visits it? No -a merciful Providence cannot require that horrid office of me. It is pardonable to cut short a life, which cannot be protracted, without bringing destruction upon those whom I ought to save. I am thankful that this day has come. I can now behold the term of my agony. Yes, I see my way clear, I have endured all that life has of wretchedness, and am now permitted to try what death holds in reserve. ends of Justice, also, will thus be best accomplished; life for life is the demand of nature, and of God."

The

"Henry, Henry," said Astiville, exhibiting the signs of real emotion, "do not

indulge in those wild and wicked thoughts. I promise, solemnly, to watch you no more. Go, and meditate where you please, without apprehension of any witness. Be satisfied with this assurance, and do no violence to yourself."

"I will think of it," answered Cain, gravely, and then, with his usual long strides, hastened back to the cabin.

Joshua Evans, in the meantime, had returned to Alonzo Safety's. Early in the morning he gratified his portly hostess by the assurance that he would probably have no occasion to trespass again upon her hospitality. As the traveller rode slowly along the front of Munny's store, he noticed a tall man, with long and hoary locks, standing by the counter, and receiving from the hand of the clerk, a small glass vial.

"I should know that face," thought Evans, "yet the hair is different. Pshaw -I must be mistaken. How silly to think of such a thing."

"Can you tell me the name of that long-bodied man ?" he inquired of a negro, who was loitering in the road.

"Its Mr. Cain," was the answer.

desist from his search, until the approach of evening threatened to add darkness to the other vexatious difficulties which combined to baffle all his skill and patience. He then went to lodge with Mr. Newlove. While sitting there in front of the cheerful fire, which the frosty air of autumn made acceptable, he happened to allude to the subject of the grave at the Fourth Corner. At this, Absalom Handsucker intimated it was in his power to throw some light upon the matter. "Mrs. Safety," said he, "told me all about it. It seems, however, that the Astivilles have been very particular to keep the story shut up, and Mrs. Safety, she's some relation to the Astivilles, said she gave it to me in confidence, and did'nt want that I should talk of it to others."

"Had Mr. John Astiville anything to do with the affair?" inquired Somers.

66

No, sir, of course not-at least, he's no more concerned in it than his father was before him. You know the grave was made a long time ago."

It was never easy for Absalom to refrain from telling a story, which, he was sure, would be listened to with interest, and, before bed-time, he had disclosed all that Mrs. Safety had entrusted to his dis

"I knew it could'nt be him," muttered Evans, passing on. Yet, in spite of his efforts, he could not shake off the impres-cretion. sion which the sudden sight of those long, sharp features had left upon his mind. His horse had walked several hundred yards, when, as if sympathizing with the rider's wavering purpose, he stopped short. "I would give anything," said Evans, to himself," "for five minutes talk with that man. I have a great mind now to turn about, and go to him."

The impulse was not yielded to, and by evening Joshua Evans was many miles beyond the limits of Redland.

As for Richard Somers, whom we left wandering through the woods between the two branches of the Hardwater, he did not

The lawyer was greatly chagrined at this overthrow of the hypothesis which he had built up of so many plausible circumstances. He saw, with indescribable mortification, that Astiville was entirely guiltless of the villainy which he had charged upon him. Yet he felt more of anger than of humiliation. Notwithstanding all evidence, he would not believe that Astiville, whose meanness and purse-proud insolence were equally his dislike, had not been engaged in sins of a darker hue. Whether Somers retired to his chamber that night in charity with all men, may be doubted.

CHAPTER VIII.

lost from view in the wide forest, which extended from the edge of the lawn to the forks of the Hardwater. As he proceeded he urged his blooded bay faster and faster; but no sooner was the log-chimney of the cabin distinguished through the trees, than the gallop at once subsided to a walk. The horseman displayed not then the impetuous haste of the courier, who flies to arrest an execution, but the reluctant, dragging face of a culprit, about to confront the witness and the judge. Ri

Ir the lawyer felt discomposure, in reviewing the incidents of the day, the slumbers of his antagonist were also disturbed by uneasy reflections. Astiville could not forget the purpose of self-destruction, which had been darkly hinted by Cain. Selfishness whispered to the rich man, as his head sank upon a pillow of down, that the act of suicide, if committed, would rather promote than oppose his interests. "Why should I grieve, when he manifests a purpose to do that which it is best for me that he should do? And have I not ever gener-ding up close to the low fence in the rear, ously endeavored to dissuade him? No more can be done ;-let fate decide the matter. Does he live? I shall not wish him dead. Does he destroy himself? I will be resigned to the dispensation of Providenceand not only resigned, but content, for, so long as Henry lives, I cannot be free from anxiety."

But conscience would not be lulled. From the moment when he threw himself upon his bed, till the distant cock saluted the dawn, Astiville enjoyed no rest. When he arose, he tried to calm himself with the thought that all was now over. "What has been done, has happened without my will or desire-nay, I resisted it with all my might. I argued, I entreated, and if my efforts were vain, surely the fault is his own, not mine."

Astiville's ear was startled by his unuttered words. Echo seemed to repeat them over and over again. Then the severe internal monitor, whom no sophistry can silence, took them for a text: "He to be blamed, and not you? Does not the lie stick in your throat, and strangle you? You told him that suicide is wrong-was that a sufficient discharge of duty? You should have thrown yourself at his feet, begging, protesting, weeping;-and never have ceased to plead until he had relented, and promised to spare a life which should be dearer than your own.".

Breakfast had passed, the dinner-hour approached;-Astiville could preserve the semblance of tranquillity no longer. He called for his horse, mounted, and was soon

he was able, without dismounting, to observe through the aperture, which served as the window of the rude hut, nearly everything within. That instant's fearful glance revealed to him Cain stretched at length upon the floor, his long, snowy hair hanging in disorder about his rigid features. But there was a living human form bending over the corpse. In that person the spectator recognized his own son, Howard. Even more shocked at this sight than at the other, Astiville turned hastily away, and dared not again draw bridle, till his steed, panting and bathed in sweat, recoiled from the iron gate of Greywood.

Howard Astiville had gone out that morning, with gun and pointer, in search of game. A flock of pheasants, pursued from thicket to thicket, led the eager sportsman to the little clearing which surrounded Cain's cabin. Howard, aware, by report, of the unsocial character of the inmate, had never before intruded upon him, but he now felt a sudden inclination to learn something of a hermit's mode of house-keeping. His surprise at seeing the old man prostrate on the floor, was changed into horror, when he read the label, "Laudanum," of the partially emptied vial, which stood on the table. Raising the body in his arms, he was rejoiced to find that life was not extinct. He knew of nothing else which he could do but to await in intense anxiety the result of unassisted nature's struggle against the narcotic. Finally, the would-be suicide opened his eyes, and made a languid attempt to

"Howard Astiville? Yes, I might have recognized you by the coarse hair, black as the raven's wing. Young man, I could tell you of that, which, once understood, would prevent any disposition, in future, to rescue me from my fate. Are you so young as not to know that there are those who do not deserve to live ?"

"I know this," replied Howard, "that the Creator has given no man authority to be his own judge and executioner. If it be that you have committed crime, and wish to undergo the penalty, there are Courts to which the sword of justice is confided-look to them."

"Yet," said Cain, "what if my offence is one which no earthly tribunal will pun

יי? ish

ville, of all others-from a member of that hot and hasty race, whose custom it ever has been to exact the severest amends for a very small injury. You preach forgiveness and long-suffering with fluent diction; suppose I were to tell you that it is you and yours that I have wronged? What say you now? Is poison too bad for the wretch who has done harm to an Astiville ?"

"I can pardon you," said Howard.

"Hold! Before you utter forgiveness, Iwould it not be well to learn the crime? Pardon !-'tis a word easily uttered. But whom can you pardon? The rival who impedes your advancement?-the knave who picks your pocket?—or the slanderer, who defames and villifies you? Pshaw! why do I speak of such things? Yonder stands your dog-no doubt you cherish and admire him; he is your companion, perhaps, your friend, and faithful follower. Suppose, now, I snatch that fowling-piece-I, who have never drawn trigger these thirty years-and cause your dog to welter in blood before your eyes. That would be a little thing;-for, what is a dog, that you should resent his destruction? Yet would you pardon me ?"

Howard made no answer.

Cain's lip curled contemptuously. He took up young Astiville's gun, which lean"Then wait," returned Howard, "tilled against the wall, and said: "I am the great Judge of all shall, in his good pleasure, summon you to attend his bar."

strongly tempted to try you, but let the
brute live-he is not human." After a
brief pause he added, "This is a hand-
somely finished
gun-I presume you value
it very highly?"

"Hear me further, young man. When a wrong is done, those injured must desire the punishment of the wrong-doer-ought they not to be gratified? When they cry "I do for it is a present from a very vengeance, vengeance on the guilty, shall dear friend, and the giver is now dead." their reasonable demand be baulked? Is it just, that because the law of man is impotent, they should be compelled to wait for the tardy interposition of the decree of Heaven ?"

Howard answered: "Vengeance does not belong to man. It little becomes those who sin continually against their Maker, to be harsh and unforgiving to each other. If the persons you have offended are capable of contemplating, with pleasure, your self-murder, they forfeit, by their want of charity, all title to atonement."

"You talk with Christian mildness," retorted Cain, jeeringly. "These are fine sentiments, indeed, to come from an Asti

Cain immediately beat the gun violently against the chimney. One barrel exploded, filling the room with smoke, but he did not desist till the stock was shivered into fragments. Then he threw what remained upon the floor, and looked at Howard, saying: "Pardon me."

The young man's cheek, which had paled a little at the discharge of the loaded barrel, was now flushed with passion. His breast heaved, and his clenched hand was half extended."

Cain smiled. "I thought the Astiville had not changed his nature. Behold how meek, how patient, how forgiving!"

Howard, unable to restrain his wrath,