it, I came here, but a few days since, with an intention to watch it as my prey and to destroy it. Perhaps, I am destroyed myself; but, whether or not, this arm shall never be lifted against your safety, or that of your father's house. If I die, you are safe by my destruction: if I live, you are safe by my gratitude; for that life will be owing first to your gallantry, and next to you. kindness; and you will not have preserved it for the destruction of your own: wicked as I am, I am not wicked enough for that."

Frederick was afraid that the ardour of his emotions, with his exertions to express them, might be prejudicial to his recovery. He gently hinted this to him-wished him to be calm until medical aid should arrive, which he expected every minute. He then assured him, that he hoped this introduction, although it had taken place under such unpromising circumstances, might lead to a fortunate issue, by bringing their families to a better understanding.

He had scarcely finished these remarks, when the surgeon, who had been sent for, entered. He soon examined and dressed M'Manus's wounds; and declared, that he expected a favourable termination of his case; but that calmness and repose were necessary to ensure it.

On examining the soldier whom Frederick had

struck, it was found necessary to trepan him, as the blow had occasioned a considerable fracture and depression of the skull. He finally recovered; and stood his trial, as did Skipdale and the other accomplice, for the assault, &c. They were ordered to the halberts; Skipdale to receive five hundred lashes, the other accomplice four hundred, and the wounded man three hundred, to be given when sufficiently recovered from the effects of the fracture and the consequent operation.

As for M'Manus, he was able to walk in about a fortnight, and in another was able to return to the North, which he did without reluctance; as, after the departure of Frederick, who, in a day or two after the foregoing transactions, had to proceed with the troops on their destination to Athlone, he felt rather uneasy under Lord Rosendale's roof. Before leaving him, Frederick had counselled him not to make known the hostile purport of his visit to his lordship, nor the antipathy he had so long nourished against his family.

"For," said he, "my brother is rather of a jealous and impatient disposition, which, I perceive, the fretfulness of disease is every day increasing. Permitting your real name to be known will do no harm, as it will, in some degree, be reposing a confidence in him which may please him : but should he suppose that you entertained any

rancour respecting old family differences, you would become immediately the object of his suspicion and dislike-nay, perhaps of his fears; and your residence here, which is now for some time necessary, would be rendered disagreeable and painful, both to yourself and to him."

M'Manus replied, that he had no desire to make his lordship acquainted with either his name, or his character; and that, perhaps, the concealment of both might not be improper.

"From your rejection of the five guineas reward," said Frederick, "his lordship already suspects that you are not altogether the character you seem. His curiosity is, therefore, raised respecting you; and there would be no impropriety whatever in permitting him to know who you are. His own good name will oblige him to treat the representative of the M'Manus family with respect, however much he may differ with him in his views of religion, government, or property."

McManus acquiesced in the design of acquainting lord Rosendale with his name and lineage. "For," said he, "I really feel it unpleasant to be on the land of my fathers, unknown and unacknowledged as their son."

The curiosity of his lordship being gratified, he was much pleased with the information; for he felt as if it added to his hereditary importance, to

be the heir of a race that had vanquished and dispossessed the ancestor of so valiant a person. But it was not long until his usual haughtiness broke out on several occasions, in Munn's presence; and in such a manner, as required from the latter all his respect for Frederick to enable him to brook with any appearance of good temper. He was heartily glad, therefore, when his convalescence enabled him to take leave of Rosendale House; which he did, however, with such feelings as might have resulted in evil to its lord, had he not been an invalid, and his lordship's heir-apparent a gentleman, and the friend and preserver of a M'Manus.

1

CHAPTER XV.

O, Conspiracy!

Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O then, by day

Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough

To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, Conspiracy!
Hide it in smiles and affability;

For, if thou put thy native semblance on,

Not Erebus itself were dim enough

To hide thee from prevention.

SHAKSPEARE.

In a few months after the preceding occurrences, the depredations of the Hearts of Steel became very alarming to the country. The association had prodigiously increased in numbers, very soon after its organization. The zeal and intrepidity with which they conducted their nocturnal enterprises, enabled them always to effect their object, and kept the country in perpetual disturbance or apprehension; while their disguise, secrecy, and fidelity to each other, secured them from detection.

As the inhabitants of Ulster were chiefly of the reformed religion, it was considered, and had actually for a long time been, the most peaceable and