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 ther examination; though destruction, certain destruction should overwhelm me for doing so, I will try to develop the mystery."

He now took the hand of Madeline, and led her to her room; he tried to tranquillize her, but the trembling of his frame, and disorder of his looks, mocked the efforts he made to do so.

"You look alarmed, my love?" cried he.

Madeline sighed, and might have said,

"And trust me, in mine eye, so do you."

"You have no reason for terror, (said he with a deep sigh), your conduct has made no enemies either in this world or the next."

"I trust not; (cried Madeline), but conscious innocence is not always able to guard the heart against the attacks of fear; and I own I am shocked beyond expression by the noise I have heard."

"I fear you are superstitious," exclaimed her father.