the crowd poured through the streets, yelling with
delight, and stopping those whom they met, to tell them that Michael Rust
was doomed to die.

Rust sat without stirring, until an officer touched him, and told him that
he must go. He then rose, and followed him without a word. The crowd
gathered around him, as he went out; but he did not notice them. His
brother walked at his side, but he heeded him not; and when he reached his
prison, without uttering a word, he flung himself wearily upon his bed,
and was soon sound asleep.

He awoke, a different man; and when his lawyer called to see him on the
following day, he found him as fierce as a caged beast. He endeavored to
utter some remark of consolation; but Rust impatiently motioned him to be
silent. He spoke about a clergyman; but the reply was a laugh, so mocking
and scornful, that he was glad to drop the theme.

'Is the game ended?' at last inquired Rust. 'Is there no farther cast of
the die left?'

The lawyer looked at him, as if in doubt of his meaning.

Rust, in response to the look, repeated the question. 'Is there nothing
more to be done, in that farce called the law? Is there no farther blow to
be struck for life?'

'We can appeal,' replied the lawyer; 'but there is little chance of
success.' He took Rust by the hand, and said in a soothing tone: 'My poor
friend, you must be prepared for the worst; for I cannot promise to save
your life.'

Rust rose and stood directly in front of him; and pointing to a small coin
which lay on the table, said: 'Not the tenth part of _that_ would Michael
Rust give to have one hour added to his life; but I _will not_ be driven
from it. I _will not_ be beaten down and crushed.' He stamped furiously on
the floor.

'Fight!' said he, fixing his glaring eye on the lawyer; 'fight to the
last; leave nothing untried; spare not gold; bribe--corrupt--suborn; do
any thing; but do not leave the triumph to my enemies. It's that that is
tearing away at my heart. It's _that_ which is killing me,' exclaimed he,
bitterly, shaking his hands over his head.

'We shall leave nothing untried,' said the lawyer. 'Perhaps too we may
obtain a pardon, for if ever a murder was justifiable, that was.'

'Pardon!' exclaimed Rust with a sneer; '_pardon_! Because I defended my
own flesh and blood; because the laws had forced upon _me_ the task which
_they_ should perform! I must die, or sue for pardon. A noble thing is
law!'

The lawyer was silent.