"Is this an English gentleman's courtesy to an unprotected woman?"

"Pardon me, lady, but I could set my life upon this cast. Whether I use threats, promises, or prayers, my object is the same, your welfare and my own. The moments are rapidly passing; you know not how much of weal or woe your answer may effect. Answer me, I do not say truly, for truth alone could speak from those pure lips, but answer me at once. Do you love Henry Maudsley?"

"I do," murmured Esther, in a soft, broken voice, overcome at last by the stranger's passionate demeanor and her own vague fears.

“Thank God for that answer," cried the youth, with strange exultation.

There was a pause of a few moments, during which Esther strove in vain to collect herself. The silence was broken by the stranger, who addressed her again in an earnest but a calmer

tone.

"Listen to me once more," said he, "I give you a warning, which should have some value in your mind. Sport not with the happiness of two hearts which have grown together. Pervert not the destiny of Maudsley, nor your own. Maudsley loves you more than life. His fate is in your hands." Esther, confounded, at times almost indignant at the language of her companion, uttered not a reply. There was another pause. After the expiration of a few moments, the youth suddenly moved towards Esther.

"The night is advancing. Shall I not conduct you to your brother's residence?" said he.

"Ah, let me entreat you to hasten thither," replied Esther, "and spare me, I beseech you, for the remainder of our companionship, language like the mysterious words which you have lately spoken. Indeed, they trouble and perplex my soul.

"Fear nothing, Esther Ludlow," replied the youth; "and now let me conduct you from this lonely spot."

As he spoke, he gently assisted her along the uncertain footing of the rock. When they had at last reached the bottom of the ledge the stranger whistled thrice. Forthwith two dusky figures sprang from the thicket as noiselessly as phantoms, and without uttering a word glided slowly before them through the thicket. The stranger seemed to be as familiar with every step of those bosky bourns as if he had been indeed a spirit haunting their sylvan solitude. A tortuous deer-path, winding through the tangled woods, seemed the thread which was to lead them from their leafy labyrinth. To Esther the path would have been almost invisible by daylight, but at night it seemed as if magic alone could enable their shadowy guides to pass thus rapidly before them through the thicket, and her slender and youthful companion to follow their track so carelessly and yet so accurately.

After a rapid and silent march of some half hour's duration, they emerged into a broad, open glade, which was familiar to her eyes. Through the majestic trees at the farther extremity, the level line of light streamed from the windows of her own cottage. Having reached this spot, the youth paused and once more addressed her :

"We part at this moment; whether we meet again I know not; but remember my words of warning, and remember that I wish you well. There is one other warning which I meant to give you, and the hour has come."

Speak," said Esther, wondering what new mystery was impending, but feeling relieved of much of her anxiety, now that her companion had in reality brought her in safety to her own dwelling-place.

The stranger advanced closely to her, and once more laid his hand upon her shoulder. "Danger and distress threaten you,"

he whispered hoarsely in her ear, "in the person of a certain mysterious knight. I tell you to beware of him. Shun him as you would shrink from a subtle and poisonous serpent. Distrust every word, every motion, every look. Farewell, Esther Ludlow, and may God preserve you from every danger."

There was a pause. Esther trembled, she knew not why, at the warning language of her companion. She collected herself, however, by a determined effort, and turned to thank the stranger for his safe guidance through the forest, but he was gone. She called in a loud whisper, there was no answer; she advanced a few steps towards the forest from whence they had emerged, but the youth, with his shadowy attendants, had suddenly disappeared.

Wearied and harassed by the fatiguing adventures of the evening, she moved with a desponding step towards the cottage. As she approached her home, a tall, dark figure, bearing a lighted torch, suddenly crossed the glade, and strode rapidly towards her.

"We have been searching for you far and near," said a deep, earnest voice; "thank God, you are found again,"

Esther shuddered, for she recognised the voice of Sir Christo- pher Gardiner,

CHAPTER VI.

DISSIMULATION.

A FEW moments later, and Esther sat within her own cottage walls. Every living creature had deserted it, for Walter Ludlow with his servants, alarmed at the protracted absence of Esther, were anxiously wandering through the forest in search of her. Esther was left alone with the knight, who, having found himself accidentally at nightfall in the neighborhood, had learned the alarming tidings of Esther's absence from her brother, and had volunteered to assist them in the search. He was just returning from an unsuccessful expedition in a different direction from that taken by the others, when he suddenly encountered her a few moments after the stranger had left her.

Esther felt a sensation of despair as she found herself thus suddenly in the presence of one who had always excited a vague and unaccountable fear in her bosom, and against whom she had been at that moment so mysteriously warned. Overpowered by fatigue, and by the keen emotions which, for the last hour, had been agitating her, she sank almost fainting upon a seat.

The knight gazed with a long, bold, impassioned glance at that form of majestic beauty, thus reclining before him, so helpless and so lonely. A wild fire danced in his eye. A cloud of stormy passion seemed sweeping across his brow. His features quivered, his frame shook with emotion. Suddenly he aroused himself, and with a strong effort seemed to control the struggling devil in his soul.

"Fool, fool," he muttered, "wouldst thou dash into fragments thus the work of years? Has time brought no coolness to thy blood?"

Checking himself thus, he busily, but respectfully, employed himself in assisting Esther. He bathed her face with water; he chafed her hands; he employed all fitting expedients with the quiet but active tenderness of a woman. When she was partially recovered from her prostration, he administered to her a few drops of a potent restorative from a flask which he bore about him.

After the expiration of a few minutes, she was herself again. She looked around in bewilderment, and started visibly, as she became aware of the presence of Gardiner, who, seated respectfully at a distance, was gazing intently upon her face.

"Be not alarmed, Esther Ludlow," said he gently, "although your brother is absent, he cannot fail to return very soon. In the mean time, be assured that you are in the company of an earnest and sincere friend."

"Where is my brother?" said Esther, faintly.

"Alarmed at your disappearance, he is searching the forest, attended by his servants. It was my fortunate lot to find you, as I was returning alone from an unsuccessful search."

"Would that Walter were here," exclaimed Esther.

"He cannot tarry long," answered Sir Christopher; "but if it be your pleasure, I will go forth and seek him. I may thus convey to him a little earlier the news of your fortunate appear

ance."

"Ah, do so, do so," said Esther, with a shuddering, imploring accent, as if she were striving to exorcise a fiend from her

presence.

"I go," said Gardiner, "although it grieves me to leave you thus unprotected; it grieves me more," he added with a sigh, "that my presence seemeth so odious in your eyes."

"Nay, nay," said Esther, alarmed, lest her manner should have betrayed too much aversion, "but surely it is fitting that the anxiety of Walter Ludlow should be shortened as much as lieth in our power."