fidence, shook her head in the negative.

"No;" said she, "I know nothing that I can tell about him; honor
bright's my motive--no--no. However, thank God, I've aised my mind by
tellin' the truth, and when you see Mr. M'Loughlin, Mr. Harman, I'll
thank you to let him know that I have done his daughter justice, and
that from the minute his son saved mine, I had no ill-will to him or his
family." She then departed.

CHAPTER XXV.--Val and his Son brought to Trial

A Ribbon Lodge--Their Crimes against the People,--Their Doom and
Sentence--A Rebel Priest Preaching Treason--A Respite.

It is undoubtedly a fact, as was observed in the dialogue just given,
that the state of affairs on this property was absolutely fearful. The
framework of society was nearly broken up, for such was the heartless
rapacity and cruelty--such the multiplied and ingenious devices by which
he harassed and robbed the tenantry, or wreaked his personal vengeance
on all who were obnoxious to him or his son, that it was actually
impossible matters could proceed much longer in a peaceable state. If
the reader will accompany us to a large waste house, from which a
man had been some time before ejected, merely because Val had a pique
against him, he may gather from the lips of the people themselves, there
assembled, on the very night in question, sufficiently clear symptoms of
the state of feeling in the neighborhood.

The hour at which they assembled, or rather began to assemble, was
eleven o'clock, from which period until twelve they came in small groups
of two or three at a time; so as to avoid observation on the way. Some
of them had their faces blackened, and others who appeared utterly
indifferent to consequences, did not think it worth their while to
assume such a disguise. The waste house in which they were assembled,
stood on a hillside, about half way between Castle Cumber and Drum Dhu;
so that its isolated situation was an additional proof of their security
from, surprise by the bloodhounds. The party were nearly all armed, each
with such weapons as he could get, and most of them with fire or side
arms, such as they were. They had several lights, but so cautious were
they, that quilts and window-cloth's were brought to hang over the
windows, to prevent them from being seen; for it was well known that the
house was not inhabited, and the appearance of lights in it would most
certainly send the wreckers on their back; as it was, however, t