when, feeling in his bosom for the Book which he had brought off from the Tower of Glendearg, he found it was amissing, which he could only account for by supposing it had been stolen from him during his trance.

"If I confess this strange visitation," thought the Sub-Prior, "I become the ridicule of all my brethren-I whom the Primate sent hither to be a watch, as it were, and a check upon their follies. I give the Abbot an advantage over me which I shall never again recover, and Heaven only knows how he may abuse it, in his foolish simplicity, to the dishonour and loss of Holy Kirk.—But then, if I make not true confession of my shame, with what face can I again presume to admonish or restrain others ?-Avow, proud heart," continued he, addressing himself," that the weal of Holy Church interests thee less in this matter than thine own humiliation-yes, Heaven has. punished thee even in that point in which thou didst deem thyself most strong, in thy spiritual pride and thy carnal wisdom. Thou hast laughed at, and derided the inexperience of thy brethren-stoop thyself in turn to their derision affirm - tell what they may not believe that which they will ascribe to idle fear, or perhaps to wilful falsehood-sustain the disgrace of a silly visionary, or a wilful deceiver.-Be it so; I will do my duty, and make ample confession to my Superior. If the discharge of this duty destroys my usefulness

in this house, God and Our Lady will send me where I can better serve them."

There was no little merit in the resolution thus piously and generously formed by Father Eustace. To men of any rank the esteem of their order is na→ turally most dear: but in the monastic establishment, cut off, as the brethren are, from other objects of ambition, as well as from all exterior friendship and relationship, the place which they hold in the opinion of each other is all in all.

But the consciousness how much he should rejoice the Abbot and most of the other Monks of Saint Mary's, who were impatient of the unauthorized yet irresistible controul which he was wont to exercise in the affairs of the convent, by a confession which would put him in a ludicrous, or perhaps even in a criminal point of view, could not weigh with Father Eustace in comparison with the duty which his belief enjoined.

As, strong in his feelings of duty, he approached the exterior gate of the Monastery, he was surprised to see torches gleaming, and men assembled around it, some on horseback, some on foot, while several of the Monks, distinguished through the night by their white scapularies, were making themselves busy among the crowd. The Sub-Prior was received with an unanimous shout of joy, which at once made him sensible that he had himself been the object of their anxiety.

"There he is! there he is! God be thanked there he is, hale and fear!" exclaimed the vassals; while the Monks exclaimed "Te Deum laudamus -the blood of thy servants is precious in thy sight!"

"What is the matter, children? what is the matter, my brethren ?" said Father Eustace, dismounting at the gate.

Nay, brother, if thou know'st not, we will not tell thee till thou art in the refectory," answered the Monks; "Suffice it that the Lord Abbot had ordered these, our zealous and faithful vassals, instantly to set forth to guard thee from imminent peril.-Ye may ungirth your horses, children, and dismiss; and to morrow, each who was at this rendezvous may send to the convent kitchen for a quarter of a yard of roast beef, and a black-jack full of double ale."

The vassals dispersed with joyful acclamation; and the Monks with equal jubilee, conducted the Sub-Prior into the refectory.

CHAPTER IX.

Here we stand

Woundless and well, may Heaven's high name be bless'd

for't!

As erst, ere treason couch'd a lance against us.

DECKER.

No sooner was the Sub-Prior hurried into the refectory by his rejoicing companions, than the first person on whom he fixed his eye proved to be Christie of the Clinthill. He was seated in the chimney-corner, fettered and guarded, his features drawn into that air of sulky and turbid resolution with which those hardened in guilt are accustomed to view the approach of punishment. But as the Sub-Prior drew near to him, his face assumed a more wild and startled expression, while he exclaimed-"The devil! the devil himself, brings the dead back upon the living!"

"Nay," said a Monk to him, "say rather, that Our Lady foils the attempts of the wicked on her

"Lives and moves!" said the ruffian, rising and shuffling towards the Sub-Prior as well as his chains. would permit; "nay, then I will never trust ashen shaft and steel point more— -It is even so," he added, as he gazed on the Sub-Prior with astonishment; "neither wem nor wound-not so much as a rent in his frock!"

"And whence should my wound have come?" said Father Eustace.

"From the good lance that never failed me before," replied Christie of the Clinthill.

Heaven absolve thee for thy purpose!" said the Sub-Prior; "wouldst thou have slain a servant of the altar?"

"To choose!" answered Christie, "the Fifemen say, an' the whole pack of ye were slain, there were more lost at Flodden."

"Villain! art thou heretic as well as murderer?" "Not I, by Saint Giles," replied the rider; “I listened blithely enough to the Laird of Monance, when he told me ye were all cheats and knaves; but when he would have had me go hear one Wiseheart, a gospeller, as they call him, he might as well have persuaded the wild colt that had flung one rider to kneel down and help another into the saddle."

"There is some goodness about him yet," said