"confcious mind is its own awful "world?'

"I grant its propriety only with refpect to the tortures of guilt; for can "innocence be infenfible of the value "of reputation?”

"It may difprove flander by despi"fing it, and by acting with marked. " contempt of its petty machinations. "The tale you feem to apprehend is "too poor, too contemptible for belief. I have but one fear refpecting "its public exposure."

"What fear ?"

"If lord Monteith fhould hear it." "If he fhould, what have I to "dread?"

"The warmth of his character; "his irritable in petuofity; his fuf"picious"

Sufpicious, did you fy? How "muft I be degraded, Mr. Fitzofborne,

"in

N 3

"in his opinion! To fufpect me after "four years experienced confidence! "And what muft the world think of "me, if even my firft, my dearest "friend doubts my rectitude ?"

"I know that angels are not purer; " and when Monteith recollects himself, his judgment will tell him the fame. "He is now a little warped; an unhappy ill-grounded apprehenfion-a fmothered fpark nearly extinguished by reafon, which this ridiculous ftory may revive and fufpicion in a cha"racter like his must be terrible."

--

Geraldine leaned almoft fainting against the wainscot. A deadly palenefs was diffufed over her intelligent face, and her heart panted with apprehenfive terror. None, except a Domitian or a Fitzofborne, who delight in torture, but muft have pitied her agonies.

The traitor did indeed affect to pity. He dropped upon his knee, and uttered every rhapfodical expreffion which the moft guileful art could dictate. "Dearest

lady Monteith, for Heaven's fake be "compofed-my tortured heart bleeds "to fee your anguifh-moft injured"most lovely sufferer-Oh richly wor "thy of a better fate-Impart your "anguifh to the faithful friend who "would die to relieve it."

The last words recalled her recollection. "Rife, fir," faid the with becoming dignity. "My fituation does "not call for the active offices of friendfhip. You fay I am injured. In what? "From what motive do you torture me "with fufpenfe? You feem to poffels "fome fatal fecret respecting me. If I "ought to know the evil you allude to "tell me at once, that I may arm my "foul with fortitude to fuftain my trials,

" or

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"or detect the calumny which fports "with my peace."

Edward was difconcerted. He had hoped that fo much friendship might have furprized her into a little acknowledgment. And he perceived with regret that many a fummer's fun muft ftill rife to mature his villany. He had never yet encountered the refiftance of a firm fuperior mind, or fo ftrongly feen the loveliness of virtue in her own form," or "felt how awful good. nefs is." Yet, more remorseless than the Prince of Darknefs," he pined not at his own lofs."

The fophifts, who in thefe evil days. are falfely called enlightened, affect not to palliate their own vices by pleas of neceffity and frailty, whatever disguise they may affume to expedite their fuccefs with others. Afpiring to a preeminence in impiety, which former

times feared to arrogate, they fin upon principle, promulgate fyftems to justify iniquity, and profcribe repentance by a morality which overturns every reftraint, and a religion that prohibitsnothing but devotion. Combining Pagan fuperftitions with the exploded reveries of irrational theorifts, they place at the head of their world of chance a fupine material God, whom they recognize by the name of Nature, and pretend that its worship fuperfedes all other laws human and divine. By the fide of this circumfcribed Deity they erect the idol fhrine of its vicegerent, Intereft; by the monstrous doctrines, that "whatever is profitable is right," that "the end fanctifies the means," and that "human actions ought to be free," they diffolve the bonds of fociety; and, after conducting their bewildered followers through the mazes of folly and N. 5 guilt,