from ever
happening; and your own rashness and ungodly crime, will be the means of
sending her name down to posterity, foul and spotted with the imputation
of woman's worst guilt. Is that love for your sister?"

Father Roche now began to see that he must argue with their passions--or
with that strong affection for their sister, upon which these
fearful passions were founded--rather than with their reason or their
prejudices, which, in point of fact were now immovably set in the dark
determination of crime.

"Do you forget," he added, "that there are laws in the country to
pursue and overtake the murderer? Do you forget that you will die an
ignominious death, and that, instead of acting an honorable part in
life, as becomes your ancient and noble name, you will bequeath nothing
to your parents but an inheritance of shame and infamy?"

"We have thought of all this before," said John.

"No, not all," said the youngest; "not all, but nearly."

"Well, nearly," said the other.

"Then," said the priest, "you will not hesitate to renounce your most
foul and diabolical intention?"

"We have sworn it," said John, "and it must be done." To this the others
calmly assented.

"Well, then," said the earnest Christian, "since you fear neither
disgrace, nor shame, nor the force of human laws, nor the dread of human
punishment, you are not so hardened as to bid defiance to the Almighty,
by whom you will be judged. Has he not said, 'thou shalt do no murder?
and that whoso sheddeth blood, by man shall his blood be shed.' I now
ask you," said he, "as one of the humblest of his accredited messengers,
do you believe in God and fear him?"

"We are sworn," said John; "the blood of him who has dishonored our
sister's name we will shed, and it is neither priest nor parent who will
or shall prevent us."

"Is not a rash and unlawful oath a crime?" said Father Roche: "yes, and
you know it is better broken than kept. I call upon you now, as your
spiritual guide, to renounce that blasphemous oath of blood, and in the
name of the Almighty and all powerful God, I command you to do it."

"We deny your right to interfere," replied John, "we are not now at
confession--keep within your limits; for as sure as there is death and
Judgment, so sure as we will fulfil our oath in avenging the disgrace of
our sister. That ends all, and we will speak no more."

The good old man began to fear that he should be put to the most painful
necessity of lod