contracted the bond with his friend.
As formerly, the moon streamed through the dark branches of the
fir-trees, and shed its pale cold light on the cold white marble of
the monument. Then the floating form which had appeared in the room of
the castle became clearer, more substantial, more earthly-looking; it
issued from behind the tombstone, and stood in the full moonlight. It
was Ferdinand, in the uniform of his regiment, earnest and pale, but
with a kind smile on his features.

"Ferdinand, Ferdinand!" cried Edward, overcome by joy and surprise,
and he strove to embrace the well-loved form, but it waved him aside
with a melancholy look.

"Ah! you are dead," continued the speaker; "and why then do I see you
just as you looked when living?"

"Edward," answered the apparition, in a voice that sounded as if it
came from afar, "I am dead, but my spirit has no peace."

"You are not with the blest?" cried Edward, in a voice of terror.

"God is merciful," it replied; "but we are frail and sinful creatures;
inquire no more, but pray for me."

"With all my heart," cried Edward, in a tone of anguish, while he
gazed with affection on the familiar features; "but speak, what can I
do for thee?"

"An unholy tie still binds me to earth. I have sinned. I was cut off
in the midst of my sinful projects. This ring burns." He slipped a
small gold ring from his left hand. "Only when every token of this
unholy compact is destroyed, and when I recover the ring which I
exchanged for this, only then can my spirit be at rest. Oh, Edward,
dear Edward, bring me back my ring!"

"With joy--but where, where am I to seek it?"

"Emily Varnier will give it thee herself; our engagement was contrary
to holy duties, to prior engagements, to earlier vows. God denied
his blessing to the guilty project, and my course was arrested in a
fearful manner. Pray for me, Edward, and bring me back the ring, my
ring," continued the voice, in a mournful tone of appeal.

Then the features of the deceased smiled sadly but tenderly; then all
appeared to float once more before Edward's eyes--the form was lost
in mist, the monument, the fir-grove, the moonlight, disappeared; a
long, gloomy, breathless pause followed. Edward lay, half sleeping,
half benumbed, in a confused manner; portions of the dream returned
to him--some images, some sounds--above all, the petition for the
restitution of the ring. But an indescribable power bound his limbs,
closed his eyelids,