preponderates, and the soul sinks down dismayed at the expected approach of the calamity it dreads the next, the heart heaves buoyantly with the anticipation of its removal. Thus the mind is kept in an uninterrupted ferment. No emotion, whether of a distressing or pleasing kind, has leisure to fulfil its part. We can neither give ourselves to joy nor to sorrow. We can neither prepare to meet the one, and to drink without a murmur and with becoming fortitude the bitter portion of our cup; nor yet are we permitted to resign ourselves to the sweet illusions of the other-for pleasure, alas! is but too illusive upon earth-and to bask even for a transient season in the sunshine of imaginary happiness.

It was from such a war of feeling, that Althun was delivered by the sad certitude that his sister, though not yet withdrawn to a higher intercourse than this world can offer amidst its scenes of trial, was nevertheless approaching the termination of her mortal career. Every idea of beholding

her again on this side the grave he had been almost compelled, however reluctantly, to abandon. Deeply affected, therefore, as he was by the melancholy assurance, that she was going down to death, for he could discern, in the hectic flush that passed over her languid countenance, and the harddrawn breath, and the deep cough, which had already re-commenced its deadly work, the sad forerunners of decline; yet was he comforted in once more seeing her, even while he could not but look forward to their early separation.

In the mean time, however, all immediate danger seemed to be removed. The state of insensibility into which Florine had sunk, and which he was apprehensive might have been the precursor of instant dissolution, gradually yielded to the restoratives he applied; and she began slowly to recover the use of her faculties. On awaking from her trance, she was surprised to find herself in bed, watched only by an elderly female who resided in the neighbourhood,

and whose assistance Althun had solicited under his present afflicting circumstances. For an instant she could not believe her senses; but the sudden recollection of what had occurred, and the thought of the distress she had occasioned her brother, soon broke like an overwhelming torrent on her mind, and she burst again and again into tears. Althun, who had hastened to her room the moment he heard her, and who was now supporting her as she reclined upon his breast, conscious that the best remedy in such cases was to give that vent to emotion which nature demanded, permitted her tears to flow unrestrained; endeavouring merely, at intervals, to calm her agitated spirits by some expression of sympathy or tenderness.

Florine was, indeed, extremely ill. Every unfavourable symptom which had been checked for a season, and which might, perhaps, have been ultimately removed, had the exciting causes, which, in delicate tendencies of constitution, should be particularly

avoided, been carefully guarded against, now re-appeared, and with augmented violence. Her breathing was difficult, and she complained of a pain in her side. The hectic, also, on her cheek, assumed a character too indicative of the work of destruction that was going on within; and, gradually deepening until it wore a tinge of scarlet, as if the pulse of life had fixed there its seat, willing to throw a look of loveliness over the approach of death, and to brighten the countenance as if it would hide the decay of the heart-strings that were breaking beneath it, spoke through the bosom of Althun with a voice, in which the sweetness of the songs of heaven seemed blended with the hollow murmurs, that reached him from the loneliness of the grave.

Unwell as she was, however, so sensible was Florine of the value of prayer, and of the necessity of drawing continually at that fountain, from whence alone support can be derived for the various exigencies of this

state of trial, she requested Althun, in an interval of ease, to read her a chapter from the Bible, and to offer supplication on their mutual behalf. The parts she chose, were the twelfth chapter of Isaiah, and a few verses of the 15th of 1st Corinthians. In these she saw the divine anger turned away from her, and a glorious rest provided, when this corruption should put on incorruption, and this mortal be clothed with immortality. Her brother then knelt beside her; and, though his heart was heavy almost to bursting, summoning all his fortitude, he restrained his emotion, and with apparent calmness concluded their simple worship-a reasonable service which doubtless, like an evening sacrifice offered up in humility and faith, was received with acceptance in the presence of the angels of God, who rejoice even over one sinner that repenteth.

Painful as was the effort, Althun forced a smile as he wished his sister good night; but when he had reached the outer apart.