all its penalties upon the
other inhabitants of the district in question, who may have had neither
act nor part in any violation of the laws whatsoever.

Bryan M'Mahon, on discovering the fearful position in which it placed
him, scarcely knew on what hand to turn. His family were equally
alarmed, and with just reason. Illicit distillation had been carried to
incredible lengths for the last two or three years, and the statute in
question was enacted with, a hope that it might unite the people in a
kind of legal confederacy against a system so destructive of industry
and morals. The act, however ill-judged, and impolitic at best, was not
merely imperative,--but fraught with ruin and bloodshed. It
immediately became the engine of malice and revenge between individual
enemies--often between rival factions, and not unfrequently between
parties instigated against each other by political rancor and hatred.
Indeed, so destructive of the lives and morals of the people was it
found, that in the course of a very few years it was repealed, but not
until it had led to repeated murders and brought ruin and destruction
upon many an unoffending and industrious family.

Bryan now bethought him of the warnings he had received from the gauger
and Fethertonge, and resolved to see both, that he; might be enabled,
if possible, to trace to its source the plot that had been laid, for
his destruction. He accordingly went down to his father's at Carriglass,
where he had not been long when Hycy Burke made his appearance, "Having
come that far on his way," he said, "to see him, and to ascertain
the truth of the report that had gone abroad respecting the heavy
responsibility under which the illicit distillation had placed him."
Bryan was naturally generous and without suspicion; but notwithstanding
this, it was impossible that he should not entertain some slight
surmises touching the sincerity of Burke.

"What is this, Bryan?" said the latter. "Can it be possible that you're
in for the Fine, as report goes?"

"It's quite possible," replied Bryan; "on yesterday I got a notice of
proceedings from the Board of Excise."

"But," pursued his friend, "what devil could have tempted you to have
anything to do with illicit distillation? Didn't you know the danger of
it?"

"I had no more to do with it," replied Bryan, "than you had--nor I don't
even rightly know yet who had; though, indeed, I believe I may say it
was these vagabonds, the Hogans, that h