ndignation, were gathered about two of the would-be
assassins, caught by them almost on the threshold of the cottage.

"Their errand who could doubt? and Henri had recognized them as his and
Lucia's pursuers of the morning.

"She too knew them instantly, and clung pale with affright to Rudolph's
arm, while he could scarce restrain himself from rushing upon, and
running them through with his sword.

"'Spare us, sirs,' entreated Andrea, quaking with fear under the
wrathful glance of the father of the maidens, 'spare us; we have not
harmed you or yours.'

"'Nor plotted their destruction? Miserable wretch, ask not your life
upon the plea that it is not forfeit. Can I doubt what would have been
the fate of my wife and daughters had they fallen into your hands?'

"'But your religion teaches you to forgive.'

"'True; yet also to protect the helpless ones committed to my care.'

"'We will leave your valleys this hour; never to set foot in them
again.'

"'Ah! yet how far may we trust the word of one whose creed bids him keep
no faith with heretics?'

"'" Vengeance is Mine, I will repay."'

"It was the voice of the aged Rozel which broke the momentary silence.

"Vittoria sheathed his sword. Not his to usurp the prerogative of Him
who had that night given so signal deliverance to His 'Israel of the
Alps.'"

"Is that all?" asked Lulu, drawing a long breath, as Mr. Dinsmore
refolded the manuscript and gave it back to his daughter.

"Yes," he said, "the author has told of the deliverance of the
imperilled ones, and that Vittoria refrained from taking vengeance upon
their cowardly foes; and so ends the story of that night of terror in
the valleys."

"But were all the Waldenses equally forbearing, grandpa?" asked Zoe.

"They were; in all the valleys not a drop of blood was shed; justly
exasperated though the Waldenses were, they contented themselves with
sending to the government a list of the names of the baffled
conspirators.

"But no notice was taken of it; the would-be murderers were never called
to account till they appeared before a greater than an earthly tribunal.

"But General Godin was presently superseded in his command and shortly
after dismissed the service. Two plain indications that the sympathy of
the government was with the assassins and not at all with their intended
victims."

"But is it true, sir?" asked Max.

"Yes; it is true that at that time, in those valleys, and under those
circumstance