hee when thy body
is refreshed with that pure water and those delicious fruits."

"Water shall not pass my lips, nor fruits assuage the cravings of
hunger, until I know more of thee, old man!" exclaimed Wagner, a
terrible suspicion flashing to his mind; and without another instant's
hesitation or delay, he made the sign of the cross.

A yell of rage and fury burst from the lips of the false anchorite,
while his countenance became fearfully distorted--his eyes glared
fiercely--his whole aspect changed--and in a few moments he stood
confessed in shape, attire and features, the demon who had appeared to
Fernand in the prison of Florence!

"Fiend! what wouldst thou with me?" exclaimed Wagner, startled and yet
unsubdued by this appearance of the evil spirit amidst that region of
desolation.

"Mortal," said the demon, in his deepest and most serious tones, "I am
here to place happiness--happiness ineffable--within thy reach. Nay, be
not impatient: but listen to me for a few moments. 'Twas my power that
conducted thy ship, amidst the fury of the storm which _He_ whose name I
dare not mention raised, to the shores of this island. 'Twas my
influence which yesterday, as thou wast seated on the sunny banks,
filled thine imagination with those delicious thoughts of Nisida. And it
was I also who, by the wonders of the mirage, showed thee the form of
the only female inhabitant of this isle. And that one female,
Wagner--that woman who is now as it were within thy reach--that lovely
being whose presence on this island would teach thee to have no regret
for the world from which you are separated, and whose eyes would cast
forth rays of joy and gladness upon everything around--that charming
lady, who has already decked herself with those flowers which her fair
hands have woven into wildly fantastic arabesques, that being is thy
Nisida, the Island Queen."

"Fiend! you mock--you deceive me," cried Fernand, wildly hovering
between joyous hope and acute fear.

"Did I deceive thee, Wagner, when I showed thee thy Nisida in the power
of the corsairs?" said the demon, with a smile of bitter, sardonic
triumph. "I tell thee, then, that Nisida is on this island--there, in
the very region into which thou wouldst descend, but to which thou wilt
find no avenue save by my aid."

"Nisida is here--on this island," exclaimed Fernand in an ecstasy of
joy.

"Yes--and Stephano, the bandit, likewise," added the demon. "It was his
doublet which you