under which he and Mary had often frolicked in the days of their childhood. He had just been led to the foot of the tree, and the spy, who was the only one to be found who would undertake the task, was fixing the fatal rope to one of its branches, when the attention of all present was suddenly arrested by the appearance of a young woman, who, screaming wildly, rushed through among the soldiers, and clasped her arms around Andrew's neck.

This was his sister. One of the villagers, who, on the preceding night, had learned the determination of Dalziel with regard to Andrew, before day, went to the cave, and informed Mr. Bruce.

'I will go and put myself into their hands,' exclaimed Mr. Bruce, as soon as he heard the tidings. 'Better that I die than lose my son.' And he was making to leave the cave, for this purpose, when Mary laid hold of him, and beseeched him not to go.

They will murder you both,' said she, weeping; and what shall become of me? Rather let me go. I will plead for my brother's life; and surely I will move their compassion.'

'No,' said her father: you know them not. The tiger of the desert hath more of compassion than they. I know with what violence they hate me and my family. No, no nothing but my death will save my son. But why do 1 thus tarry here? Perhaps they lead him out

even now to execution.'

'Go not, my father, I beseech you,' said Mary. Do you think that your death will save Andrew? O no, my dear father: they

will murder you both. I shall be left alone in the world. Be persuaded, my dearest father. Let me go. I am sure they will have pity on

us.'

Mr. Bruce, considering that it was indeed likely that his delivering himself up would not procure the liberty of his son,-a spirited young man, deeply imbued with principles at enmity with the existing establishments,—and imagining that the tears and entreaties of Mary, which appeared to him so eloquent, might excite some compassion in the hearts of those into whose hands Andrew had fallen; and taking pity on his daughter, who, he saw, would be left in a state of distraction if he went to give himself up, looked sorrowfully upon her, and, wiping a tear from his eye, said,

'Go, then, my daughter: But stop,-I may lose you too. Who knows where their cruelty may end? But, no, no. They will have pity on your youth and your tears. Surely there is not, in the form of man, aught so cruel that will murder my children. God will protect you. Haste you, my daughter. It is your brother's life that calls you. Haste to the village; and the Lord be with you and my son.' 'The distressed father then knelt, to wrestle at the throne of grace: while Mary flew, with the speed of lightning to the village.

She arrived, as we have seen, just soon enough to have an opportunity of trying what her entreaties could do. The apparatus of death, which she noticed at her approach, and her brother, standing bound between two soldiers, had so terrified her, that it was some

time before she could so recover herself, as to

be able to speak.

'You have come,' said

Andrew to her, when

6

she had recovered a little; you have come to afflict yourself in vain. mined.'

6

My death is deter

'No, they will not kill you,' replied his sister: these men will not kill you. And then falling on her knees before Dalziel, whom she knew, by his dress, to be of highest authority, and with tears fast flowing down her face, more lovely in grief, thus addressed him :

Have pity on my brother. If you knew how my father and I love him, you would not kill him. I am sure he has never hurt you. Ever since we were driven from the manse, he has lived peaceably in the moors. He has lived with me and I never saw him do injury to any one. Have pity, sir, on our family. You have already taken our dear mother from us : and will you now take from me an only brother, and from my father an only son? O, sir, have you no son, that you may know what my father will feel? Have you no brother, dear to you as mine is to me? My dear, dear brother! O, let him go, and I will die in his place !'

These words, when uttered by Mary, were eloquent; and Dalziel felt some movements of humanity within him.

'If your father will put himself into our hands,' said he,' we will save the life of your brother.'

'Wicked and unfeeling wretch !' exclaimed Andrew, interposing here; wicked and inhu

5

man wretch! wouldst thou have her save her brother's life at the expense of her father's? Nor would you set me at liberty, though my father were in your hands. Entreat them no more, my dear sister,-Weep not for me. Ι suffer with joy, for the glory that is before me. Leave me, dear Mary. Go; and if ever you see our father, tell him I died with joy for the liberties and religion of Scotland. Tell him not to regret that he did not deliver himself up. It would have been certain death to him, and would not have saved me. Tell him, that I am prouder to lay down my life for him, and for the righteous cause in which Scotland suffers, than if I had been lifted up to the loftiest pinnacle of human distinction. Dear sister, be you comforted. I go to our mother. I go to the enjoyments of heaven. You and my father will soon follow and there we shall again dwell together in peace, far beyond the change and turbulence of time.'

Dalziel had been, as we have already observed, rather moved by Mary's entreaties; and still, as he saw her turning from her brother's embrace, and again casting herself down before him in the agonies of unspeakable grief, he felt something like the kindliness of compassion hovering about his heart; and he looked to Macduff, with an eye that said, 'Might we not have some mercy on this girl? '

The curate with a look of horrible ferocity, and in a tone of reproach, replied,- Will you be drawn from your duty by the snivelling of girls? If you pardon rebels for their tears,

you will surely be accounted a very merciful man; and the government will certainly susJain the grounds of pardon.'

Dalziel, as if ashamed that he had shown he yet possessed some little human feeling, without waiting a moment, ordered the executioner to proceed. At this word, Mary shrieked wildly, fainted, and was immediately carried towards the village by some women who had gathered around her on her arrival.

Andrew now mounted the scaffold, which had been erected beside the old elm. Here he was again asked, if he would not save his life, by complying with the terms formerly offered The young Christian, strong in the might of God, regarding his tempters with a look of indignation, remained silent. Prepare, then, instantly to die,' said Dalziel.

Andrew kneeled down; and, having recommended his soul to the care of his God, he arose, and exclaimed, Farewell, my father,' as if he could have heard him. Farewell, my sister. The light of the sun, the hopes of earth, farewell! And, O, holy Father, ere I depart, hear my cry. In thy mercy, haste to deliver the suffering people of Scotland. Now, welcome death; and welcome eternity!' When he had thus said, the executioner did as he had been ordered and the soul of this christian hero fled away to receive the crown of life.

:

What suffering was here! What did a father and a sister feel! And how might they have escaped it all? If they had deserted the cause of liberty and religion; if they had submitted tamely to those chains, which a licentious