throwing himself
before the maiden, who had sunk upon her knees; 'God judges righteously
and protects the innocent! Hear how he warns you with the voice of his
thunder!'

The captain gave a loud and scornful laugh.

'Seize the rebel and his heretic bride,' shrieked the angry colonel.
The captain, nothing loth, motioning his dragoons to follow him and
confiding in his superior force, hastened forward, swinging his sword
high above his head. The colonel accompanied him and the dragoons
followed.

'Save me, my God, from the crime of parricide!' cried Oswald, advancing
to meet his opponents.

At that moment came a blinding flash of lightning, accompanied by a
deafening clap of thunder, and with it rushed down from the highest
summit a monstrous mass of stone which caused the earth to tremble as
if there had been an earthquake; a short, sharp cry was heard, and the
pursuers and pursued were prostrated upon their faces.

CHAPTER XX.

The first glance of Oswald's opening eyes, when consciousness returned,
was directed in search of poor Faith. She lay near him in a deep swoon.
Flying to her aid, he applied snow to her temples and warmed her lips
with his kisses. At length she opened her eyes.

'You are yet alive, my Oswald!' cried she, with pious ecstasy, folding
her hands as if giving thanks. 'The Lord has passed over us in the
tempest; but he has remembered us in mercy!'

'Pious maiden,' said Goes, who stood behind them, leaning like a dying
man upon a dragoon. 'Pious maiden, so mayest thou speak, out of the
fulness of thy pure heart,--but the sinner must smite upon his breast
and cry. The Lord is just, and in his wrath has executed a righteous
judgment! Yet I may also give thanks for his mercy; for he has only
punished the incorrigibly wicked, warning the deluded with the voice of
his thunder, and leaving him yet a space for repentance and amendment.
Forgive me, my son. I had unlearned to be a man and a father; but will
again become one, even at this late hour of my life.'

'Your goodness restores me to new life, my father,' said Oswald,
pressing the paternal hand to his lips. His thoughts then instantly
recurred to the monster who had allured, his father there and
stimulated him to the commission of crime; and, catching up his sword
from the ground, his death-flashing glance sought the captain.

'He whom you seek is not far off,' said Goes, speaking low, so as not
to attra