er, for which he was waiting: it became incumbent
on me to say something after such a protestation of attachment; and, in
some degree to shake the validity of it, I asked, with great
simplicity, where he had been all this while?

"Your crimes and your extravagances forced me from your side for a
season," said he, "but now that I hope the day of grace is returned, I
am again drawn towards you by an affection that has neither bounds nor
interest; an affection for which I receive not even the poor return of
gratitude, and which seems to have its radical sources in fascination.
I have been far, far abroad, and have seen much, and transacted much,
since I last spoke with you. During that space, I grievously suspect
that you have been guilty of great crimes and misdemeanours, crimes
that would have sunk an unregenerated person to perdition; but as I
knew it to be only a temporary falling off, a specimen of that liberty
by which the chosen and elected ones are made free, I closed my eyes on
the wilful debasement of our principles, knowing that the
transgressions could never be accounted to your charge, and that in
good time you would come to your senses, and throw the whole weight of
your crimes on the shoulders that had voluntarily stooped to receive
the load."

"Certainly I will," said I, "as I and all the justified have a good
right to do. But what crimes? What misdemeanours and transgressions do
you talk about? For my part, I am conscious of none, and am utterly
amazed at insinuations which I do not comprehend."

"You have certainly been left to yourself for a season," returned he,
"having gone on rather like a person in a delirium than a Christian in
his sober sense. You are accused of having made away with your mother
privately; as also of the death of a beautiful young lady, whose
affections you had seduced."

"It is an intolerable and monstrous falsehood!" cried I, interrupting,
him. "I never laid a hand on a woman to take away her life, and have
even shunned their society from my childhood. I know nothing of my
mother's exit; nor of that young lady's whom you mention. Nothing
whatever."

"I hope it is so," said he. "But it seems there are some strong
presumptuous proofs against you, and I came to warn you this day that a
precognition is in progress, and that unless you are perfectly
convinced, not only of your innocence but of your ability to prove it,
it will be the safest course for you to abscond, and let the