proud and a powerful soul. Mine thou must be Nay, start not," he added, « it must be with thine own consent, and on thine own terms. Thou must consent to share with me hopes more extended than can be viewed from the throne of a monarch-Hear me ere you answer, and judge ere you refuse. The Templar loses, as thou hast said, his social rights, his power of free agency, but he becomes a member and a limb of a mighty body before which thrones already tremble; even as the single drop of rain which mixes with the sea becomes an individual part of that resistless ocean, which undermines rocks and ingulphs royal armadas. Such a swelling flood is that powerful league. Of this mighty Order I am no mean member, but already one of the Chief Commanders, and may well aspire one day to hold the baton of Grand Master. The poor soldiers of the Temple will not alone place their foot upon the necks of kings—a hemp-sandall'd monk can do that. Our mailed step shall ascend their throne our gauntlet shall wrench the sceptre from their gripe. Not the reign of your vainly-expected Messias offers such power to your dispersed tribes as my ambition may aim it. I have sought but a kindred spirit to share it, and I have found such in thee.»>

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Sayest thou this to one of my people?» answered Rebecca. " Bethink thee»

« Answer me not," said the Templar, « by urging the difference of our creeds; within our secret conclaves we hold these nursery tales in

derision. Think not we long remained blind to the ideotical folly of our founders, who forswore every delight of life for the pleasure of dying martyrs by hunger, by thirst, and by pestilence, and by the swords of savages, while they vainly strove to defend a barren desert, valuable only in the eyes of superstition. Our Order soon adopted bolder and wider views, and found out a better indemnification for our sacrifices. Our immense possessions in every kingdom of Europe, our high military fame, which brings within our circle the flower of chivalry from every Christian clime-these are dedicated to ends of which our pious founders little dreamed, and which are equally concealed from such weak spirits as embrace our Order on the ancient principles, and whose superstition makes them our passive tools. But I will not further withdraw the veil of our mysteries. That bugle-sound announces something which may require my presence. Think on what I have said. Farewell!-I do not say forgive me the violence I have threatened, for it was necessary to the display of thy character. Gold can be only known by the application of the touchstone. I will soon return and hold further conference with thee.»>

He re-entered the turret-chamber, and descended the stair, leaving Rebecca scarce more terrified at the prospect of the death to which she had been so lately exposed, than at the furious ambition of the bold bad man in whose power she found herself so unhappily placed. When

she entered the turret - chamber, her first duty was to return thanks to the God of Jacob for the protection which he had afforded her, and to implore its continuance for her and for her father. Another name glided into her petition-it was that of the wounded Christian, whom fate had placed in the hands of blood-thirsty men, his avowed enemies. Her heart indeed checked her, as if, even in communing with the Deity in prayer, she mingled in her devotions the recollection of one with whose fate her's could have no alliance--a Nazarene, and an enemy to her faith. But the petition was already breathed, nor could all the narrow prejudices of her sect induce Rebecca to wish it recalled.

CHAPTER XI.

A damn'd cramp piece of penmanship as ever I saw in my life. She Stoops to Conquer

WHEN the Templar reached the hall of the castle, he found De Bracy already there. «Your love-suit," said De Bracy, «< hath, I suppose, been disturbed, like mine, by this obstreperous sumhave come later and more reBut you luctantly, and therefore I presume your interview has proved more agreeable than mine.>>

mons.

Has your suit, then, been unsuccessfully paid to the Saxon heiress?» said the Templar.

<< By the bones of Thomas-a-Becket,» answered De Bracy, the Lady Rowena must have heard that I cannot endure the sight of women's tears.>>

k

Away!" said the Templar; « thou a leader of a Free Company, and regard a woman's tears! A few drops sprinkled on the torch of love, make the flame blaze the brighter.>>

Gramercy for the few drops of thy sprinkling,» replied De Bracy; « but this damsel hath wept enough to extinguish a beacon-light. Never

was such wringing of hands and such overflowing of eyes, since the days of St Niobe,* of whom Prior Aymer told us. A water-fiend hath possessed the fair Saxon.»

« A legion of fiends hath occupied the bosom of the Jewess,» replied the Templar; «for, I think no single one, not even Apollyon himself, could have inspired such indomitable pride and resolution. But where is Front-de-Boeuf? That horn is sounded more and more clamorously.»

« He is negociating with the Jew, I suppose,» replied De Bracy, coolly; « probably the howls of Isaac have drowned the blast of the bugle. Thou may'st know, by experience, Sir Brian, that a Jew parting with his treasures on such terms as our friend Front-de-Boeuf is like to offer, will raise a clamour loud enough to be heard over twenty bugles and trumpets to boot. But we will make the vassals call him.">

They were soon after joined by Front-de-Bœuf, who had been disturbed in his tyrannic cruelty in the manner with which the reader is acquainted, and had only tarried to give some necessary directions.

<< Let us see the cause of this cursed clamour, »> said Front-de-Boeuf-« here is a letter, and, if I mistake not, it is in Saxon.»

I wish the Prior had also informed them when Niobe was sainted. Probably during that enlightened period when

«Pan to Moses lent his Pagan horn.>>

L. T.