y own ship the holy relic upon
which I swore the fatal oath, kiss it in all humility, and shed one
tear of deep contrition on the sacred wood, I then might rest in
peace.

"How this may be effected, or by whom so fatal a task will be
undertaken, I know not. O Catherine, we have a son--but, no, no, let
him not hear of me. Pray for me, and now, farewell.

"I. VANDERDECKEN."

"Then it is true, most horribly true," thought Philip; "and my father is
even now IN LIVING JUDGMENT. And he points to me,--to whom else should
he? Am I not his son, and is it not my duty?"

"Yes, father," exclaimed Philip aloud, falling on his knees, "you have
not written these lines in vain. Let me peruse them once more."

Philip raised up his hand; but although it appeared to him that he had
still hold of the letter, it was not there--he grasped nothing. He
looked on the grass to see if it had fallen--but no, there was no
letter, it had disappeared. Was it a vision?--no, no, he had read every
word. "Then it must be to me, and me alone, that the mission was
intended. I accept the sign.

"Hear me, dear father,--if thou art so permitted,--and deign to hear me,
gracious Heaven--hear the son who, by this sacred relic, swears that he
will avert your doom, or perish. To that will he devote his days; and
having done his duty, he will die in hope and peace. Heaven, that
recorded my rash father's oath, now register his son's upon the same
sacred cross, and may perjury on my part be visited with punishment more
dire than his! Receive it, Heaven, as at the last I trust that in thy
mercy thou wilt receive the father and the son: and if too bold, O
pardon my presumption."

Philip threw himself forward on his face, with his lips to the sacred
symbol. The sun went down, and the twilight gradually disappeared;
night had, for some time, shrouded all in darkness, and Philip yet
remained in alternate prayer and meditation!

But he was disturbed by the voices of some men, who sat down upon the
turf but a few yards from where he was concealed. The conversation he
little heeded; but it had roused him and his first feeling was to return
to the cottage, that he might reflect over his plans; but although the
men spoke in a low tone, his attention was soon arrested by the subject
of their conversation, when he heard the name mentioned of Mynheer
Poots. He listened attentively, and discovered that they were four
disbanded soldiers, who