pirit is upon her; but she can shake off the influence when you are
away from her. Marry her, and be with her all the time, infusing your
soul into hers, making her a fit companion to share your joys on earth
and your perfect bliss in Heaven. Open to her the treasures of
knowledge, and she will twine her affections so firmly about you that
even death cannot sever them."

The old man's voice grew weak and husky, and turning his eyes calmly
upon the face of his young friend, he said--

"I can tell you no more. Read the manuscript, and you will know enough
to enable you to learn all. My time has come, and ALL IS PEACE."

As he spake, he folded his arms upon his breast, closed his eyes, and
yielded his spirit, without a groan or murmur, to his God.

Daniel returned home and told his father of the old man's death, but
said nothing about the manuscript he had received. It he carried to his
own room and locked within his trunk. Mr. Kelford and Daniel, with two
or three of the neighbors, went and brought the old man's body to Mr.
Kelford's house, where it remained until the next day, when they buried
it, wondering who the stranger was and whence he came.

It was night when Daniel returned home, and, after hastily eating a few
mouthfuls, he hurried to his room, brought forth the manuscript, broke
the seal, and read it.

CHAPTER III.

THE manuscript was as follows:--

DON RICARDUS CARLOS TO HIS YOUNG FRIEND DANIEL KELFORD.

It may seem strange to you, my young friend, to be thus familiarly
addressed by one who is a stranger to you, and one whom you have never
even seen as yet; but, although I am unknown to you, you are not unknown
to me, neither shall I die without your seeing me. You will see me but
once, and that will be just as my soul flutters on the verge of
eternity. Yes, you will see me in that blissful moment when I shall
launch my bark from the strand of Time upon the ocean of Eternity, and
be admitted into Heaven, the great temple of perfect knowledge, where I
shall be able to ascend step by step, and endowed with capacity to
understand those things which the mind, while confined within its
corporeal prison house, can never comprehend. Peruse these pages, and
you will know how I know you. Peruse, and be wise as I am, and as few
before me have been, and perhaps fewer after me will be.

My name is Don Ricardus Carlos, and I am one of the once royal family of
Spain. I say the _once_ royal family, for, as