a heretic. Your only hope of escape from death is to
recant without delay and become a faithful Catholic, and the governor,
at my intercession, will overlook your offence. Come, you will be wise;
so give up your errors."

"Never will I give up my faith," answered Nigel, firmly.

"Ah, my young friend, you say so now; but think of the advantages you
will gain. You will at once be restored to your young wife, and will
undoubtedly be raised to a post of honour and wealth in our new
settlement; and when the count dies you will inherit his property and
found a noble family in Antarctic France."

Nigel felt that the temptations held out were powerful, but he prayed
that were they ten times more so he might have grace to resist them. He
doubted also very much whether the wily priest was not mocking him. He
knew full well from the accounts he had heard in France of the treachery
of which the emissaries of Rome were guilty, and he would not place any
confidence in the most specious promises any of them might have made to
him. He therefore let the priest talk on, endeavouring as far as he
could not to listen to him. At length the fort was reached. Nigel was
forthwith thrust into a cell, ordinarily used for the confinement of a
refractory or drunken soldier, and was there left to his own
meditations. He walked up and down, considering what he should do and
what he should say. Now and again he stopped, and earnestly prayed for
guidance and direction. The governor and priests were too eager to
condemn the Protestants to allow an accused person to remain long in
prison without trial.

That very afternoon Nigel was carried into the public hall where the
governor held his court. The priest was his accuser, and the men by
whom he was captured were the witnesses against him. Of course he had
no defence to make, except his claim of right to read whatever books he
pleased.

"Before he is condemned there is another charge of a still more heavy
nature," said the governor. "Stand forward, men, and say what you have
got to state;" and Nigel was, to his astonishment, charged with abetting
Captain Beauport in heaving overboard the images of the saints, the
relics, and papal dispensations.

"Even had I actually assisted I should only have been obeying the orders
of my superior officer," said Nigel.

"You confess that you were guilty of standing by and witnessing such a
proceeding without remonstrating?" exclaimed one of the