e
axiom, that individual preferences must sometimes be sacrificed to the
success of the main object; and, if the circumstances demanded it, he
felt able to make the sacrifice.

If he forwarded the packet to its proper destination, the lady would,
without doubt, be soon restored to her possessions. This was the course
he preferred, as well as the course which justice and morality demanded.
But, alas! his moral sentiment was not sufficiently developed to make
him pause before taking the opposite course, if his present and
temporary interest should seem to demand it. A departure from the strict
injunction of conscience is sure to bring misery; and this was doubly
true in his case.

The uncle was in actual possession, and he called to mind the old maxim,
that "possession is nine points in the law." He was unwilling to risk
the bright prospects, which had so suddenly opened upon him, on the
tenth point. Fearing that Jaspar's unscrupulous character would enable
him to defeat the heiress, he had not the courage to do his duty and
trust Heaven for the reward.

With this view of his position, he reluctantly--we will do him the
justice to say reluctantly--abandoned the project of restoring the niece
to her birthright. Thus was the great purpose of his life narrowed down
to one point, and he retired to his pillow to consider in what manner he
should approach Jaspar.

Simple as this single point had before appeared, he found, on
reflection, that it was environed with difficulties and dangers. Jaspar
was intrenched in his own castle, and it would require some address even
to approach near enough to hold a parley. Conclusive as were the
evidences in his possession of Jaspar's perfidy, they might, by the aid
of cunning and gold, be made to appear as forgeries, gotten up for the
purpose of extorting money. The stake was a great one, and he determined
with a bold hand to play the game.

CHAPTER XXV.

"_Cassius_. At such a time as this, it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear its comment.
--You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus!"
SHAKSPEARE.

Jaspar Dumont, on the morning after the abstraction of the papers by
Dalhousie, rose from his inebriated slumbers; but his rest was a
misnomer. The strong excitement, which a few weeks before had served to
keep his mind occupied, had now passed away. His villany was
accomplished; but it had not purchased the satisfaction he coveted--it
had cos