uncertain feeling of everything about him that he
began to imagine himself in a dream, and that his reason must
soon awaken to the terrible reality of his situation. A dimness of
perception, in fact, came ever all his faculties, and for some minutes
he could not understand the nature of the proceedings around him. The
reaction was too sudden for a mind that had been broken down so long,
and harrassed so painfully, by impressions of remorse and guilt. The
consequence was, that he had forgot, for a time, the nature of his
situation--all appeared unintelligible confusion about him,--he could
see a multitude of faces, and the people, all agitated by some great
cause of commotion, and that was, then, all he could understand about
it.

"What is this," said he to himself;--"am I on my trial?--or is it
some dhrame that I'm dhramin' at home in my own poor place among my
heart-broken family?"

A little time, however, soon undeceived him, and awoke his honest heart
to a true perception of his happiness.

"My lord," said the strange man, in reply to the judge's last
observation, "I am no counterfeit--an' I thank my good an' gracious God
that I have been able to come in time to save this worthy and honest
man's life. Condy Dalton," said he, "I can explain all; but in the
mane time let me shake hands wid you, and ax your pardon for the bad
tratement and provocation I gave you on that unlucky day--well may I say
so, so far as you are concerned--for, as I hear, an' as I see, indeed,
it has caused you and your family bitter trouble and sorrow."

"Bartle Sullivan! Merciful Father, is this all right? is it real? No
dhrame, then! an' I have my ould friend by the hand--let me see--let
me feel you!--it is--it's truth--but, there now--I don't care who sees
me--I must offer one short prayer of thanksgivin' to my marciful God,
who has released me from the snares of my enemies, an' taken this great
weight off o' my heart!" As he-spoke, he elapsed his hands, looked up
with an expression of deep and heartfelt gratitude to heaven, then knelt
down in a corner of the dock, and returned thanks to God.

The Prophet, on beholding the man, stood more in surprise than
astonishment, and seemed evidently filled more with mortification rather
than wonder. He looked around the court with great calmness, and then
fastening his eyes upon Sullivan, studied, or I appeared to study, his
features for a considerable time. A shadow so dark or we should rather