sure men must act according to
their ideas of right, but let them beware how they get them, and what
they are. Yet, can one choose his ideas? These things puzzle me?"

"What else can we do," inquired his daughter, "than live by the light
we have? Surely I cannot be responsible for my involuntary ignorance."

"How far we may be the cause of the ignorance we call involuntary,
it is impossible to determine. A wrong act, an improper thought,
belonging to years ago and even repented of since, may project
its dark shadow into the present, and pervert the judgment. We are
fearfully made."

"Why pain yourself, dearest father, with speculations of this
character? Our Maker knows our weakness and will pardon our
infirmities."

"I am an illustration of the subject of our conversation," continued
Armstrong, after a pause of a few minutes, during which he had
remained meditating, with his head resting on his hand. "I know I
would not, willingly, harshly judge another--for who authorized me to
pass sentence? Yet these ideas would force themselves into my mind;
and how have I spoken of our kind and excellent neighbor! There is
something wrong in myself which I must struggle to correct."

We communicate only enough of the conversation to give an idea of
the state of Mr. Armstrong's mind at the time. At the usual family
devotions that night he prayed fervently for forgiveness of his error,
repeatedly upbraiding himself with presumption and uncharitableness,
and entreating that he might not be left to his own vain imaginations.

CHAPTER IV.

O! I could whisper thee a tale,
That surely would thy pity move,
But what would idle words avail,
Unless the heart might speak its love?

To tell that tale my pen were weak,
My tongue its office, too, denies,
Then mark it on my varying cheek,
And read it in my languid eyes.
ANONYMOUS.

After the expiration of a fortnight, Pownal could find no excuses to
satisfy even himself with remaining longer at Judge Bernard's. The
visit had been, indeed, one of great enjoyment, and gladly would he
have availed himself of the pressing invitation of his host to prolong
it, could he have conjured up any reason for doing so. Lightly would
he have esteemed and cheerfully welcomed another wound like that from
which he was recovering, could the pleasure have been thus purchased.
The truth is that within a few days he had been conscious of a