through the stormy scenes of life, and give me peace of mind here, and heaven and happiness hereafter. Oh, me! what a wreck is now of that fond hope! Or can it be that one who has spread destruction around him, and has his hands imbrued in the blood of a fellow-creature whom he has slain, can such a one hope to enjoy in heaven the society of the pure and good?"

"Tell me, Franklin, tell me," and he grasped my arm with a firmness that astonished me, "Do you think that it can be so?"

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Through the merits of the Redeemer," replied I, "much may be done."

"I believe it," he exclaimed joyfully," and God be praised that it is so." He was silent for a few minutes, and then, with a sigh, proceeded as follows.

CHAPTER XII.

"O peace of mind, angelic guest !
Thou soft companion of the breast!
Dispense thy balmy store.

Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies,
Till earth, receding from our eyes,

Shall vanish as we soar."

GOLDSMITH. "The Captivity."

THE influence that the consciousness of having gained Margaret's affections acquired over my conduct and feelings was frequently, on reflection, matter of no little surprise to me; for not only in all essentials did I act as though she were my monitor, and to neglect the observance of them would incur her censure, but in cases of minor importance also, and which I had hitherto looked upon as harmless, to say no more, if indulged in, I now looked for her approval as though she had been present. And yet she had never told me that she loved me, and, probably, had the question been put, would have been at a loss to answer it. Be that as it may, I resolved to make myself worthy of her, and, by no longer indulging in the frivolous amusements of the University, to gain the inward

satisfaction of being able with pleasure to recall to mind the happy days that I had passed under her father's roof. Many were the sneers indulged in, at my expense, by my former companions, on observing my altered behaviour, and more particularly at the more strict observance of the Sabbath which I chose to practice, and many were the attempts, by an affectation of friendship, to turn me aside from the path I had chalked out for myself, and to cause me to relapse into my former habits. Though I saw all that they attempted to conceal, and heard all that they wished to say, it had no effect upon my resolution beyond confirming it, and I swerved not from the line of duty which I had marked out to pursue. conscia recti" is worth all the wealth the

The "mens

world can

give; and to lie down at night, and rise up in the morning, at peace with one's Creator amply, and more than amply, compensates for the neglect of hollowhearted friends, and triply arms one against the machinations of enemies. And amply was I repaid when, after the lapse of several weeks, I returned to The Grange, in compliance with an invitation from Captain Atherling to spend part of the long vacation with him, and I again entered Margaret's presence. That one moment of conscious pride, in which I felt my cheek glow as I pressed her hand once again, and a still small voice within my bosom whispered "thou art worthy of her now, for thou hast done thy

duty," was almost more than an earthly feeling; and when she said, "it seems an age since we met, Mr. Stanton," it appeared to me as if, indeed, an age had elapsed, for I could scarcely credit my own identity.

"O God!" I exclaimed, as I threw myself on my knees ere I slept that night, "How bountiful Thou art! How insensibly Thou leadest thine erring creatures to the path of good, and in Thy mercy deignest to'shape our ends, rough hew them as we will!' Bounteous Lord, be Thou my guide henceforth here on earth; but, oh! let me not tempt Thy providence again, for, alas! like a fool in his folly, I had almost said, 'there is no God,' but now I can exclaim, ‘O my Creator, doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth!""

Need I tell you, Franklin, that with such words on my lips, and such feelings in my bosom, I slept in peace, and awoke with joy? The morning air was fresh and exhilarating; the heavens had a bland and soothing aspect; the birds carolled forth their lays, as if all rejoicing; and the deep lowing of the cattle, and gentle bleating of the sheep in the distance, told me that other creatures were cared for as well as I; and as I looked upon the heavens in their brightness, and the earth in its verdure, and considered how great that Divinity must be, and, insignificant as I was, how gracious to watch over one so frail and foolish, I blushed for shame at the thought

of the past, and, hiding my face in my hands, felt all the agony of an accusing conscience. Carried away by my feelings, I had wandered to some distance from the house, and was returning by the avenue, when, at a turn of the road, a large dog of the Newfoundland breed came bounding towards me with a loud bark, and disappeared as suddenly to the summons of a shrill whistle.

Neptune, Neptune," said a voice, which I recognized as Margaret's. “Oh, fie, is that the way you

treat my friends?"

The dog crouched at her feet, and looked up in her face as if to ask forgiveness.

"Go," she said, "and ask Mr. Stanton's pardon." The sagacious animal immediately came and thrust his huge muzzle into my hand, as if to propitiate me, and then wagging his tail, lay down at my feet.

"Good morning, Mr. Stanton," said Margaret, as she advanced and extended her hand to me; "I did not know that you were so early a riser, or I should have invoked your services this morning; Neptune and I have had a long walk. I dare say you will not guess the object of my excursion," said she archly, at the same time accepting the offer of

my arm.

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No, indeed," replied I; " but I am sure you have been on some good errand, and, if I read aright, your mission has been not altogether unsuccessful."