courage and constancy from his son.

Those who

have suffered much together, have had opportunities of remarking one another's qualities, and of endearing themselves to each other by numberless offices of kindness, which can never have occurred to those who have passed all their days in prosperity. These opportunities had been too often afforded to the minister and his family. Andrew had gradually become the second hope in which they relied. In all his wanderings, he had scarcely ever left his father's side. He had watched with him, at cold midnight, on the side of the mountains and in the glen of the desert: he had fled with him, from the fell pursuit of the enemy, exposed to the storms and darkness of winter: he had hungered with him, he had mourned with him, he had endured every hardship with him: and, in all, he had been his father's comforter, and had shewed him the most ardent filial affection. It was this son whom Mr. Bruce was now, in all likelihood, to see taken from him by the merciless hand of persecution, in the very spring of his days. And we need not wonder, if he found it hard, in this instance, to submit with resignation to the uasearchable appointment of heaven.

-But, if the trial was severe, he had the best comfort which a parent can have, when he sees a beloved child about to be wrested from him by the hand of death. He had every reason, however, to believe, that whatever his enemies might accomplish against the life of his son, his soul would be received into the bosom of his God.

Now consoling himself and his daughter with those sure and certain consolations, derived from that trust and confidence in God, which the holy scriptures point out as the duty of every Christian, under the most severe afflictions,- --now turning to the throne of grace, in prayer for his son,—and again giving way to all the depth and bitterness of paternal sorrow, he spent the night in the gloomy cave, hoping, sometimes, that the morrow's light would bring him an account of his son's escape; and yet fearing, oftener, it would announce his death.

CHAPTER VI.

suffering for Truth's sake,

Is fortitude to highest victory.

And, to the faithful, death the gate of life.

MILTON.

NEXT morning, Dalziel and Macduff entered the church; and the former instantly asked Andrew, if he had come to a resolution about what had been proposed last night?

"My duty was so plain," said Andrew, "that it required no deliberation. I am prepared to die."

"But you are, perhaps, not prepared for torture," said Macduff, with a grin of fiend-like malignity, pointing to a thumbkin, which one of the spies, whom we formerly mentioned, held in his hand, by the curate's side. "That will make you speak out."

Andrew glanced an eye of scorn on the curate, looked without emotion at the instrument of torture, and remained silent.

Dalziel then asked him, if he would not send some one to his father, to persuade him to deliver

himself up to them? again repeating the promise of safety to his father's life.

"Thrust your sword through my body," said Andrew; "but think not to extract from my lips one word, by all the tortures which you can inflict, that may lead to the discovery of my father. My only fear is, that he may hear of my danger and deliver up himself."

"Try that on your thumb, then," said Dalziel, ordering the spy, at the same time, to apply the instrument of torture, while the dragoons, that kept guard, held the young man to prevent resist

ance.

The thumbkin was an instrument of exquisite torture; and on this occasion it was applied without mercy. For some time Andrew bore the pain it occasioned with a firm and unchanging countenance; but, as the instrument was screwed closer and closer to his thumb, the color in his face came and went rapidly, and he writhed himself with the agonizing pain.

Dalziel, seeing it was in vain to expect any discovery, was just about to order the tormentor to desist, when Macduff prevented him, by saying, "Another twist yet; it may have more virtue in it." The obedient spirit of wickedness

turned the screw; and the thumb of the young man was heard crashing within the instrument. Nature could bear no more. The blood entirely forsook his face, and he fell down in a swoon.

Fearing that their hopes of yet eliciting something might be disappointed by the immediate death of the sufferer, they hastened to relax the instrument. And as soon as Andrew had recovered a little, he was again asked whether he would endure the same again, or discover his father.

"You may torture me to death," said he, in a firm and resolute tone; "but I trust in God, in the Rock of my Salvation; and you cannot touch my soul. It is covered by the shield of the Almighty. You shall not wring one word from me to endanger my father. The Lord comfort him.”

Having tried the torture again, with the same effect, Dalziel, by nature and habit cruel, and enraged that his cruelty had entirely failed in the purposes for which it had been exercised in this instance, ordered the young man to be immediately led forth to execution; alleging Andrew's refusal to take the test as a ground for this proceeding, although the true reason was his refusal to discover his father. Hanging, as being the