long. He must, be monstrous rich. Arrived in
a vessel hired all to himself and a train of
outlandish attendants, whom he has left behind in
the town yonder! May I bait my horses in your
stables? They have come a long way."

I pointed to the neighbouring stables. and the
man nodded his thanks, remounted his box, and
drove off.

I returned to Margrave. A faint smile came
to his lips as I placed the chest beside him.

"Ay, ay!" he muttered. "Safe, safe! I
shall soon be well again—very soon! And now
I can sleep in peace!"

I led him into an inner room, in which there
was a bed. He threw himself on it with a loud
sigh of relief. Soon, half raising himself on his
elbow, he exclaimed, "The chest—bring it
hither! I need it always beside me! There,
there! Now a few hours of sleep; and then, if
I can take food, or some such restoring cordial as
your skill may suggest, I shall be strong enough
to talk. We will talk!—we will talk!"

His eyes closed heavily as his voice fell into
a drowsy mutter. A moment more and he was
asleep.

I watched beside him, in mingled wonder and
compassion. Looking into that face so altered,
yet still so young, I could not sternly question
what had been the evil of that mystic life, which
seemed now oozing away through the last sands
in the hour-glass. I placed my hand softly on
his pulse: it scarcely beat. I put my ear to his
breast, and involuntarily sighed, as I
distinguished in its fluttering heave that dull, dumb
sound, in which the heart seems knelling itself
to the greedy grave!

Was this, indeed, the potent magician whom
I had so feared? This the guide to the Rosicrucian's
secret of life's renewal, in whom, but an
hour or two ago, my fancies gulled my credulous
trust?

But suddenly, even while thus chiding my
wild superstitions,—a fear that to most will
seem scarcely less superstitious, shot across me.
Could Lilian be affected by the near neighbourhood
of one to whose magnetic influence she
had once been so strangely subjected? I left
Margrave still sleeping, closed and locked the
door of the hut, went back to my dwelling, and
met Amy at the threshold. Her smile was so
cheering that I felt at once relieved.

"Hush!" said the child, putting her finger to
her lips, "she is so quiet! I was coming in
search of you, with a message from her."

"From Lilian to me—what! to me?"

"Hush! About an hour ago, she beckoned
me to draw near to her, and then said, very
softly, 'Tell Allen, that light is coming back to
me, and it all settles on him—on him. Tell him
that I pray to be spared to walk by his side on
earth, hand-in-hand to that heaven which is no
dream, Amy. Tell him that;—no dream.'"

While the child spoke my tears gushed, and
the strong hands in which I veiled my face
quivered like the leaf of the aspen. And when
I could command my voice, I said, plaintively,

"May I not, then, see her?—only for a
moment, and answer her message, though but by a
look?"

"No, no!"

"No! Where is Faber?"

"Gone into the forest, in search of some
herbs, but he gave me this note for you."

I wiped the blinding tears from my eyes, and
read these lines:

"I have, though with hesitation, permitted
Amy to tell you the cheering words, by which
our beloved patient confirms my belief that
reason is coming back to her slowly, labouringly,
but, if she survive, for permanent restoration.
On no account, attempt to precipitate
or disturb the work of Nature. As dangerous
as a sudden glare of light to eyes long blind and
newly regaining vision, in the friendly and
soothing dark,—would be the agitation that your
presence at this crisis would cause. Confide in
me."

I remained brooding over those lines and over
Lilian's message, long and silently, while Amy's
soothing whispers stole into my ear, soft as the
murmurs of a rill heard in the gloom of forests.
Rousing myself at length, my thoughts returned
to Margrave. Doubtless he would soon awake.
I bade Amy bring me such slight nutriment as
I thought best suited to his enfeebled state,
telling her it was for a sick traveller, resting
himself in my hut. When Amy returned, I
took from her the little basket with which she
was charged, and having, meanwhile, made a
careful selection from the contents of my
medicine-chest, went back to the hut. I had not
long resumed my place beside Margrave's pillow
before he awoke.

"What o'clock is it?" he asked, with an
anxious voice.

"About seven."

"Not later? That is well; my time is precious."

"Compose yourself, and eat."

I placed the food before him, and he partook
of it, though sparingly, and as if with effort.
He then dozed for a short time, again woke up,
and impatiently demanded the cordial, which I
had prepared in the mean while. Its effect was
greater and more immediate than I could have
anticipated, proving, perhaps, how much of
youth there was still left in his system, however
undermined and ravaged by disease. Colour
came back to his cheek, his voice grew
perceptibly stronger. And as I lighted the lamp
on the table near us—for it was growing dark—
he gathered himself up, and spoke thus:

"You remember that I once pressed on you
certain experiments. My object then was to
discover the materials from which is extracted
the specific that enables the organs of life to
expel disease and regain vigour. In that hope
I sought your intimacy. An intimacy you gave,
but withdrew."

"Dare you complain? Who and what was
the being from whose intimacy I shrunk
appalled?"

"Ask what questions you please," cried
Margrave, impatiently, "later,—if I have strength