re you
are going."

"Who are you that asks?" said Ellen. "No matter; but if you happen to
see young O'Rorke to-night, I have a message to send him that may serve
him."

"Who are you?" again inquired Ellen. "One that cautions you to beware of
the Dead Boxer; one that pities and respects his unfortunate wife; and
one who, as I said, can serve O'Rorke."

"For God's sake, then, if you can, be quick; for there's little time to
be lost," said Ellen.

"Give him this message," replied the man, and he whispered half a dozen
words into her ear.

"Is that true?" she asked him; "and may he depend upon it?"

"He may, as there's a God above me. Good night!" He passed on at a rapid
pace. When Ellen entered his aunt's humble cabin, Lamh Laudher had just
risen from his knees. Devotion, or piety if you will, as it is in many
cases, though undirected by knowledge, may be frequently found among
the peasantry associated with objects that would appear to have little
connection with it. When he saw her he exclaimed with something like
disappointment:--

"Ah! Ellen dear, why did you come? I would rather you hadn't crossed me
now, darling."

His manner was marked by the same melancholy sedateness which we have
already described. He knew the position in which he stood, and did not
attempt to disguise what he felt. His apparent depression, however, had
a dreadful effect upon Ellen, who sat down on a stool, and threw back
the hood of her cloak; but the aunt placed a little circular arm-chair
for her somewhat nearer the fire. She declined it in a manner that
argued something like incoherence, which occasioned O'Rorke to, glance
at her most earnestly. He started, on observing the wild lustre of her
eye, and the woebegone paleness of her cheek.

"Ellen," said he, "how is this? Has any thing frightened you? Merciful
mother! aunt, look at her!"

The distracted girl sank before him on her knees, locked her hands
together, and while her eyes sparkled with an unsettled light,
exclaimed--

"John!--John!--Lamh Laudher Oge--forgive me, before you die! I have
murdered you!"

"Ellen love, Ellen"--

"Do you forgive me? do you? Your blood is upon me, Lamh Laudher Oge!"

"Heavens above! Aunt, she's turned! Do I forgive you, my heart's own
treasure? How did you ever offend me, my darling? You. know you never
did. But if you ever did, my own Ellen, I do forgive you."

"But I murdered you--and that was because my brother said he would do
it--an