pelled for
knocking these two scoundrels down, but I don't care; it was too bad and
too cruel, and, let the upshot be what it may, Gordon Harvey is not the
man to back a scoundrelly act, no matter who does it, or who orders it."

They shook hands cordially, and we now must leave the family for a time,
to follow the course of other events that bear upon our narrative.

CHAPTER XXVII.--Bob Beatty's Last Illness

--A Holy Steeple Chase--A Dead Heat--Blood against Varmint--Rival
Claims--A Mutual Disappointment--The Last Plea for Salvation--_Non
Compos Mentis_

Our readers may remember that we have alluded to an Orangeman, named Bob
Beatty, who had become a convert to the Church of Rome. This Beatty, on
the part of the priest, was a very fair set-off against Darby O'Drive,
on the part of Mr. Lucre. As they were now on the eve of the great
discussion, each felt considerable gratification in having his convert
ready to produce at the discussion, as a living proof of his zeal for
religious truth. The principal vexation which the priest had felt,
lay in the almost insuperable difficulty of keeping Bob from liquor,
inasmuch as whenever he happened to take a glass too much, he always
forgot his conversion, and generally drank the Glorious Memory, and all
other charter toasts, from habit. It so happened, however, that a few
days previous to the great Tournay, Bob became so ill in health, that
there was little hope of his surviving any length of time. During this
illness, he had several interviews with. Father Roche, who informed
him of the near approach of death, and prepared him, as well as could
readily be done, to meet it; for truth to tell, he was at all times an
impracticable subject on which to produce religious impressions. Be this
as it may, a day or two previous to the discussion, his wife, feeling
that he was near his dissolution, and determined, if possible, that
he should not die a Roman Catholic, went in hurry for Mr. Clement, who
happened to be in attendance on a funeral and was consequently from
home. In the meantime, his Roman Catholic neighbor, hearing that she
meant to fetch the minister, naturally anxious that the man should not
die a Protestant, lost no time in acquainting Father M'Cabe with his
situation. Mrs. Beatty, however, finding that Mr. Clement was not to be
procured, left her message with his family, and proceeded in all haste
to Mr. Lucre's in order to secure his attendance.

"My good woma