concerned in the intended murder.

"'Now, give me your hand, Jack,' said the invalid; 'God bless you--and
so He will. Jack, if I depart before I see you again, I'll die happy.
That man has supported me and my mother for near the last three months,
bad as you all think him. Why, Jack, we would both be dead of hunger
long ago, only for his family; and, my God! to think, of such a
murdhering intention makes my blood run cowld'--

"'You had better give him a hint, then,' said Jack, 'some way, or he'll
be done for, as sure as you're stretched on that bed; but don't mintion
names, if you wish to keep me from being murdhered for what I did.
I must be off now, for I stole out of the barn:* and only that Atty
Laghy's gone along wid the master to the ---- fair, to help him to sell
the two coults, I couldn't get over at all.'

* Laboring servants in Ireland usually sleep in barns.

"'Well, go home, Jack, and God bless you, and so He will, for what you
did this night.'

"Jack accordingly departed, after bidding his mother and brother
farewell.

"When the old woman came in, she asked her son if there was anything
wrong with his brother, but he replied that there was not.

"'Nothing at all,' said he--'but will you get up airly in the morning,
plase God, and tell Vesey Johnston that I want to see him; and--that--I
have a great dale to say to him?'

"' To be sure I will, Micky; but, Lord guard us, what ails you,
avourneen, you look so frightened?'

"'Nothing at all, at all, mother; but will you go where I say airly
to-morrow, for me?'

"'It's the first thing I'll do, God willin',' replied the mother. And
the next morning Vesey was down with the invalid very early, for the old
woman kept her word and paid him a timely visit.

"'Well, Micky, my boy,' said Vengeance, as he entered the hut, 'I hope
you're no worse this morning.'

"'Not worse, sir,' replied Mick; 'nor, indeed, am I anything better
either, but much the same way. Sure it's I that knows very well that my
time here is but short.'

"'Well, Mick, my boy,' said Vengeance, 'I hope you're prepared for
death--and that you expect forgiveness, like a Christian. Look up, my
boy, to God at once, and pitch the priests and their craft to ould Nick,
where they'll all go at the long-run.'

"'I b'lieve,' said Mick, with a faint smile, 'that you're not very fond
of the priests, Mr. Johnston; but if you knew the power they possess as
well as I do, you wouldn't spake of th