tinued to rest upon the spot where it had appeared, as if she expected again to behold it." He is gone," cried she, at length, turning to the hermit; " " but tell me, father, when shall I behold him again? and say, when this danger is passed, shall we be happy at last ?"

The wizard raised his hand, and pointing to the lake, he again took up the measured chaunt in which he generally answered

"When the lightner of the day

First shall pour to-morrow's ray,

Topping every ripple bright

With his glad and golden light,

Let thy boat its journey take,

O'er the soft and sheeny lake;

At St. Mary's sacred shrine

he hum Lift thy prayers for aid divine.
But in gliding o'er the wave,

Shun the conscious blood-stained cave,
Where on limbs of human thrall

Feeds the murdrous canibal *;

But should fortune guide thee there,

Be thy bosom free from care;

I will aid thee with my power,

In sorrow's or in danger's hour."

"Your bidding shall be obeyed, holy father," replied Flora; "but as yet you have not told me-does Edwin love me as I hope?"

Mark," replied the priest, in rather a softened tone

"There is a star in yonder sky,

When day has closed his brilliant eye,
That shines unchanged the livelong night,
Nor ever quits its station bright!
To it each orb that rolling plays,
Through the blue heaven's spangled maze,
Turns as to a beacon fair,

In the trackless fields of air;
Thus to thee his guiding star,
Edwin's heart has turned from far,
Kept thine image in his mind,
With every dearer hope combined;
His love your own in youth became,
And manhood finds that love the same."

"Then I am satisfied," replied Flora ; "then I am happy. Adieu! holy father, aid us with thy prayers; for to thee I shall look in every moment of danger or difficulty."

"Do so, my child,” replied the old man, " and

" and any power that Heaven may lend me shall be always employed to serve you, while you continue thus good and virtuFare thee well! and the blessing of God be upon thy head!"

ous.

CHAPTER III.

A thousand wel

comes hailed his return; a thousand smiles greeted his arrival; but the eye of Flora beamed not upon him, and Fergus the second-sighted looked upon him as a stranger." This is not him," cried the seer, "that my eye has beheld; this is not the habit he should wear."

"Hush, old man!" exclaimed Edwin, haughtily;" cloud not my coming with thy prophecies! But why does my Flora, my betrothed bride, hang back? why does she not greet the man who has loved her through so many years?"

"Am I thy betrothed bride?" asked

"Thou art not like what

Flora, coldly.
I thought to see."

A deep gloom settled upon Edwin's brow.

"How now, my daughter!" cried her father, turning towards her; "is it thus you receive the man I have chosen for your husband? Edwin, give me your hand, for by Heaven I swear, this night shall she be your bride, or her days shall end in a convent! Nay, Flora, I have sworn it!"

"But hear me, my father," she exclaimed; " spare me this night-I have a vow to pay at St. Mary's shrine to-morrow, and after that I will submit to your will."

་

"Speak not to me!" replied he, sternly. "I have given my promise; Edwin must decide."

"Then I will speak for my son,” answered lord Hubert. "Flora, the time be your own, for Edwin, I am sure, will not oppose your wish. But in return, Flora, you that we have all loved so

well,

well, will not certainly refuse him to whom in infancy you were so attached? Come, Edwin, do not frown; let this slight cloud pass away, and be forgotten. Lead the lady to the hall."

Edwin took her hand, but it was cold as ice; and as he conducted her to the banquet, the words of flattery and of love which he attempted to pour into her ear were only answered by a deep sigh, while a slow tear trickled over her cheek.

The laugh had gone by; the song was over; the banquet was almost done, and one of those moments of profound silence which will sometimes intrude itself into the gayest revels, had succeeded to the long-continued merriment. The apartment was large, and the dim untrimmed lights scarcely served to illumine in a faint degree its extent, when two deep voices. were heard singing a kind of wild ditty. Every one listened.