, paid no
heed to his mode of occupying his time when these were performed.

The chaplain was of the type of the sporting parson of later days. He
loved the hunt. He loved a good bottle, a good horse, a good dog. "_The
Hundeprest"_ was the name he went by. Other things he also loved that
made not for sanctity, and when, at last, he died, his death was no more
holy than his selfish, sensual life had been. No protecting aspen stake
had been driven through his body, and so when he was laid to rest under
the shadow of the monastery, for him rest there was none. The holy
brothers inside the walls protected themselves from him, when he came
a-wandering, by vigils and by prayers. The lady whose chaplain he had
been was less well protected, and when, night after night, her sleep was
broken by horrible groans and murmurings from a thing that always seemed
just without her room, and almost about to enter, she became nearly
frantic. She came to Melrose, and with tears besought the holy fathers,
who owed much to her bounty, to wrestle for her in prayer and drive this
evil thing away. The monks of Melrose did for her what they could. Not
only did they pray, but two stout-hearted friars and two powerful young
laymen all well armed were appointed to guard the grave of the lady's
late chaplain, and to go on duty that very night.

It was chill autumn, and as they paced the damp grass of the graveyard
there was a smell of dead leaves in the air, and a grey mist crept up
from the Tweed that moaned as it bore its flooded waters to the sea.
When midnight came they expected to see the Hundeprest, but midnight
passed in safety, and in "the wee, sma' hours" the two laymen and one of
the monks went into the nearest cottage to warm their icy feet. Now came
the chance of the vampire. With "a terrible noise" the Hundeprest
suddenly appeared, a thing of horror, and rushed at the monk who was
slowly pacing towards the grave. The holy man bravely stood the charge,
and, as the monster was almost touching him, he swung the axe which he
carried, and drove it with all his might into the body of his diabolic
adversary. With a groan, the vampire turned and fled away, and the
friar, the tables turned, ran in pursuit until the grave of the
Hundeprest was reached, and the horror vanished.

Nothing of the encounter was to be seen when the other three watchers
returned, but grey dawn was near, and at the first sign of light the
four men, with pick-axe and spa