flax and linen
manufactory; if so, and that you do not think it troublesome, I will
feel great pleasure in showing it to you.'

"I expressed my obligations, but pleaded fatigue, which indeed I felt;
and we consequently soon found ourselves in his father's parlor, where
I met a very venerable old gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Roche, the Roman
Catholic pastor of the parish."

We must here exercise the privilege, which, at the commencement of
this correspondence, we assured our readers we should reserve to
ourselves--we allude to the ability which we possess, from ampler
and clearer sources of information--to throw into Mr. Easel's
correspondence, in their proper place, such incidents as he could
not have possibly known, but which let in considerable light upon the
progress of his narrative.

CHAPTER XVIII.--An Execution by Val's Blood-Hounds

Cruel Consequences of Phil's Plot Against Mary M'Loughlin--Dreadful
Determination of her Brothers--An Oath of Blood--Father Roche's
Knowledge of Nature--Interview Between Mary and her Brothers--Influence
and Triumph of Domestic Affection

The hellish and cowardly plot against Mary M'Loughlin's reputation, and
which the reader knows has already been planned and perpetrated by
Poll Doolin and Phil M'Clutchy, was, as such vile calumnies mostly are,
generally successful with the public. On her own immediate relations
and family, who knew her firmness, candor, purity of heart, and
self-respect, the foul slander had no effect whatsoever, at least in
shaking their confidence in her sense of honor and discretion. With the
greedy and brutal public, however, it was otherwise; and the discovery
of this fact, which reached them in a thousand ways, it was that filled
their hearts with such unparalleled distress, terrible agony, and that
expanding spirit of revenge which is never satisfied, until it closes
on him whose crime has given it birth. In truth,--and it is not to be
wondered at--as how almost could it be otherwise?--the diabolical and
cowardly crime of Phil M'Clutchy towards their sweet and unoffending
sister, had changed her three brothers from men into so many savage and
insatiable Frankensteins, resolved never to cease dogging his guilty
steps, until their vengeance had slaked its burning thirst in his
caitiff blood.

Immediately after the night of its occurrence, a change began to take
place in the conduct and deportment of their general acquaintances.
Visitors dropped off,