Again he looked at me; but all that vehemence and loftiness of spirit which had so lately characterized his features were flown Fallen muscles, forehead contracted into folds, eyes dim with unbidden drops, and ruefulness of aspect which no words can describe, were now visible

His looks touched into energy the same sympathies in me, and I poured forth flood of tears This passion was quickly checked by fear, which had now no longer my own but his safety for their object I watched his deportment in silence he spoke:--

"Sister," said he, in an accent mournful and mild, " acted poorly my part world What thinkest thou ? Shall I not do better next ? "

make no answer The mildness tone astonished and encouraged me I continued to regard him with wistful and anxious looks

" ," resumed he, " try My wife and my babes before Happy wretches ! sent you to repose, and ought not to linger behind "

These words had meaning sufficiently intelligible I looked open knife hand and shuddered, but knew not how the deed which I dreaded He quickly noticed my fears, and comprehended them Stretching toward me his hand, with an air of increasing mildness, "Take it," said he; "fear not for thy own sake, nor for mine The cup is gone by, and its transient inebriation is succeeded soberness of truth

"Thou angel whom wont to worship ! fearest thou, my sister, for thy life ? Once it scope labors to destroy thee, but prompted deed by heaven; such, , was my belief Thinkest thou that thy death was sought to gratify malevolence ? No pure from all stain I believed that my God was my mover !

"Neither thee nor myself have I cause to injure my duty; and surely merit in having sacrificed all dear heart of man If devil has deceived me, habit of an angel If I erred, not my judgment that deceived me, but my senses In thy sight, Being of beings ! still pure Still will I look reward in thy justice ! "

Did my ears truly report these sounds ? If err, my brother was restored to just perceptions himself betrayed murder wife and children, the victim of infernal artifice; yet consolation rectitude motives not devoid of sorrow, for written countenance; but his soul was tranquil and sublime

Perhaps merely transition former madness into new shape Perhaps he yet awakened memory horrors which he had perpetrated Infatuated wretch that ! To set myself up as model to judge heroic brother ! My reason taught me that his conclusions were right; but, conscious impotence of reason over my own conduct, conscious cowardly rashness and my criminal despair, I doubted whether anyone steadfast and wise

Such was my weakness, that even midst thoughts my mind glided into abhorrence of Carwin, and I uttered, in low voice, "O Carwin ! Carwin ! what hast thou to answer for ? "

My brother immediately noticed the involuntary exclamation "Clara ! " said he, "be thyself Equity used theme for thy eloquence Reduce its lessons to practice, and be just unfortunate man The instrument its work, and satisfied

"I thank thee, my God, last illumination ! My enemy is thine also I deemed him man,--the man often communed; but now thy goodness has unveiled his true nature performer of thy behests, my friend "

My heart began now to misgive me His mournful aspect had gradually yielded place to serene brow new soul appeared to actuate his frame, eyes to beam with preternatural luster These symptoms abate, and he continued:--

"Clara, not leave thee in doubt not what brought about thy interview being whom thou callest Carwin For time guilty of thy error, and deduced incoherent confessions that I made the victim of human malice He left us at my bidding, and I put up prayer that my doubts removed Thy eyes were shut and thy ears sealed vision that answered my prayer

" indeed deceived The form thou hast seen incarnation of demon The visage and voice which urged me sacrifice family were his Now he personates human form; then environed luster of heaven

"Clara," he continued, advancing closer , "thy death must come This minister is evil, but he from whom his commission was received is God Submit then with all thy wonted resignation to decree that reversed or resisted Mark the clock Three minutes are allowed to thee, up thy fortitude and prepare thee for thy doom " There he stopped

Even now, scene exists only in memory, when life and all its functions have sunk into torpor, my pulse throbs, and my hairs uprise; my brows are knit, as then, and I gaze around me in distraction unconquerably averse to death; but death, imminent and full of agony threatened, was nothing not the only or chief inspirer fears

For him, not , was my soul tormented die, and no crime, surpassing the reach of mercy, would pursue me presence Judge; but my assassin would survive to contemplate his deed, assassin was Wieland !

Wings to bear me beyond his reach I vanish with thought The door was open, but my murderer was interposed between that and me Of self-defense incapable The frenzy that lately prompted me to blood was gone: my state was desperate; my rescue was impossible

The weight accumulated thoughts borne My sight became confused; my limbs were seized with convulsion; I spoke, but my words were half formed:--

"Spare me, my brother ! Look down, righteous Judge ! snatch me fate ! take away this fury , or turn it elsewhere ! "

Such agony thoughts that I noticed not steps entering my apartment Supplicating eyes were cast upward; but when my prayer was breathed I once more wildly gazed door form met my sight; I shuddered as God whom I invoked were present Carwin that again intruded, and who stood before me, erect in attitude and steadfast in look !

The sight of him awakened new and rapid thoughts His recent tale was remembered; his magical transitions and mysterious energy of voice Whether he were infernal or miraculous or human, no power and no need to decide Whether the contriver or not spell, able to unbind it, and the fury brother He had ascribed to himself intentions not malignant Here now was afforded test truth Let him interpose, as from above; revoke the savage decree which the madness of Wieland has assigned to heaven, and extinguish forever this passion for blood !

My mind detected at glance this avenue to safety The recommendations it possessed thronged as it were together, and made but one impression on my intellect Remoter effects and collateral dangers not Perhaps the pause of an instant had sufficed them up The improbability influence which governed Wieland was external or human; the tendency stratagem to sanction so fatal an error or substitute more destructive rage in place ; the insufficiency of Carwin's mere muscular forces to counteract the efforts and restrain the fury of Wieland, might, at second glance, discovered; but no second glance was allowed My first thought hurried me to action, and, fixing my eyes upon Carwin, I exclaimed,--

"O wretch ! once more hast thou come ? Let it be to abjure thy malice; to counterwork this hellish stratagem; from me and from my brother this desolating rage !

"Testify thy innocence or thy remorse; exert the powers which pertain to thee, whatever they be, aside this ruin Thou art the author horrors ! What have I done to deserve thus to die ? How have I merited this unrelenting persecution ? I adjure thee, God whose voice thou hast dared to counterfeit, to save my life !

"Wilt thou then go ? --leave me ! Succorless ! "

Carwin listened to my entreaties unmoved, and turned from me to hesitate moment,--then glided door Rage and despair stifled my utterance The interval of respite was past; the pangs reserved by Wieland endured; my thoughts rushed again into anarchy Having received the knife hand, I held it loosely and without regard; but now it seized again my attention, and I grasped it with force

to notice not the entrance or exit of Carwin My gesture murderous weapon appeared escaped his notice His silence was unbroken; his eye, fixed clock for time, was now withdrawn; fury kindled in every feature; all that was human face gave way to an expression supernatural and tremendous my left arm within his grasp

Even now I hesitated to strike I shrunk assault, but in vain

Here let me desist Why should I rescue this event from oblivion ? Why should I paint this detestable conflict ? terminate at once this series of horrors ? --Hurry verge precipice, and cast myself forever beyond remembrance and beyond hope ?

Still I live; load upon my breast; phantom to pursue my steps; with adders lodged in my bosom, and stinging me to madness; still I consent to live !

Yes ! rise above the sphere of mortal passions; spurn cowardly remorse that bids me seek impunity in silence, or comfort in forgetfulness My nerves shall be new-strung task Have I not resolved ? die The gulf before me is inevitable and near die, but then only when my tale is at an end

III

My right hand, grasping the unseen knife, was still disengaged lifted to strike All my strength was exhausted but sufficient performance deed Already energy awakened impulse given that should bear the fatal steel heart, when--Wieland shrunk back; his hand was withdrawn Breathless with affright and desperation, I stood, freed grasp; unassailed; untouched

Thus long had the power which controlled the scene forborne to interfere: but now his might was irresistible; and Wieland in moment was disarmed of all his purposes voice, louder than human organs could produce, shriller than language can depict, burst ceiling and commanded him--TO HOLD !

Trouble and dismay succeeded steadfastness that had lately been displayed looks of Wieland His eyes roved from one quarter to another, with an expression of doubt to wait for further intimation