the communion-plate of the Old South
Church, and, for aught that could be known, it was brimming over with
the consecrated wine.

"Perhaps it is poisoned," half whispered the governor's secretary.

"Pour it down the villain's throat!" cried the Virginian, fiercely.

"Turn him out of the house!" cried Captain Langford, seizing Jervase
Helwyse so roughly by the shoulder that the sacramental cup was
overturned and its contents sprinkled upon Lady Eleanore's mantle.
"Whether knave, fool or Bedlamite, it is intolerable that the fellow
should go at large."

"Pray, gentlemen, do my poor admirer no harm," said Lady Eleanore,
with a faint and weary smile. "Take him out of my sight, if such be
your pleasure, for I can find in my heart to do nothing but laugh at
him, whereas, in all decency and conscience, it would become me to
weep for the mischief I have wrought."

But while the bystanders were attempting to lead away the unfortunate
young man he broke from them and with a wild, impassioned earnestness
offered a new and equally strange petition to Lady Eleanore. It was no
other than that she should throw off the mantle, which while he
pressed the silver cup of wine upon her she had drawn more closely
around her form, so as almost to shroud herself within it.

"Cast it from you," exclaimed Jervase Helwyse, clasping his hands in
an agony of entreaty. "It may not yet be too late. Give the accursed
garment to the flames."

But Lady Eleanore, with a laugh of scorn, drew the rich folds of the
embroidered mantle over her head in such a fashion as to give a
completely new aspect to her beautiful face, which, half hidden, half
revealed, seemed to belong to some being of mysterious character and
purposes.

"Farewell, Jervase Helwyse!" said she. "Keep my image in your
remembrance as you behold it now."

"Alas, lady!" he replied, in a tone no longer wild, but sad as a
funeral-bell; "we must meet shortly when your face may wear another
aspect, and that shall be the image that must abide within me." He
made no more resistance to the violent efforts of the gentlemen and
servants who almost dragged him out of the apartment and dismissed him
roughly from the iron gate of the province-house.

Captain Langford, who had been very active in this affair, was
returning to the presence of Lady Eleanore Rochcliffe, when he
encountered the physician, Dr. Clarke, with whom he had held some
casual talk on the day of her arrival. The doctor sto