heart."--See
page 36.]

At the sound of her name, Ellen sprung to her feet, with a suppressed
scream of fright on her lips. Looking up, she saw a tall, dark man standing
before her, his eye bent upon hers with a look that sent the blood to her
heart, she hardly knew why; for certainly the individual before her was a
stranger, or one with whom she had had so slight an acquaintance, as to
remember nothing concerning him. While her mind was running over all the
passing acquaintances she had ever made, and endeavoring among them to put
the personage before her, he continued to scan her countenance with a
steady gaze, as if to read her thoughts, which divining, he continued:

"I perceive you do not remember me, though we have met before. My memory
is not so treacherous; and, beside, your looks made a lasting impression on
my mind, an impression that time can never efface or obliterate; and to
this impression you are indebted for my present visit--an unceremonious
one, I must confess."

At this point of his discourse Ellen made a movement as if to retrace her
steps homeward, seeing which, he went on:

"Do not be impatient, fair maiden, or in haste to go, for I have that to
tell thee which is of the utmost importance both to thy present and future
welfare."

This adoption of the familiar and solemn style of address, had the effect
rather to increase than diminish the tremors about the girl's heart; yet
she silently awaited his words:

"I am come to warn thee that great, very great and imminent danger is
hanging, impended but by a thread, over thy head."

This blunt and unexpected announcement caused Ellen to start with a
shudder, and sent the blood still more forcibly upon her heart, which
labored, for a moment, under the load, and then beat so loud she was afraid
the stranger would hear it. Noticing the effect of his words, he continued:

"Thou hast an enemy, a bitter enemy, who has sworn to do thee an evil, and
it is in his heart to keep the oath. I see by the pallor of thy countenance
thou hast not forgotten him."

And true it was that the mention of "an enemy" called up her old foe to the
most vivid recollection of the now thoroughly alarmed Ellen. With the
utmost exertion of her strength and will, she could barely suppress the
outward manifestations of her terror.

"Well, this enemy, whom you had well-nigh forgotten, has never, for a
single day, had thee out of his mind. Ever since his threat, he has been
lay