e you sure of that, Shawn?"

"I am sure of it," he replied; "and it was not until yesterday that I
discovered his villany. I know the barber in Rathfillan where the black
mask was got for him, I believe, by his wicked mother."

Miss Riddle, who was a strong-minded girl, paused, and was silent for a
time, after which she said,--

"I am glad you told me this, Shawn. I spoke to him in your favor, and he
pledged his honor to me previous to the terrible hunt you allude to, and
of which the whole country rang, that he would never take a step to
your prejudice, but would rather protect you as far as he could, in
consequence of your having generously saved my dear uncle's life and
mine."

"The deeper villain he, then. He is upon my trail night and day. He
ruined Grace Davoren, who has disappeared, and the belief of the people
is that he has murdered her. He possesses the Evil Eye too, and would
by it have murdered Miss Goodwin, of Beech Grove, in order to get back
the property which his uncle left her, only for the wonderful power of
Squire Greatrakes, who cured her. And, besides, I have raison to know
that he will be arrested this very night for attempting to poison his
brother. I am a humble young man, Miss Riddle, but I am afeard that if
you marry him you will stand but a bad chance for happiness."

"She was again silent, but, after a pause, she said--

"Shawn, do you want money?"

"I thank you, Miss Riddle," he replied, "I don't want money: all I want
is, that you will not be desaved by one of the most damnable villains on
the face of the earth."

There was an earnestness and force of truth in what the generous young
tory said that could not be mistaken. He arose, and was about to take
his leave, when he said,--

"Miss Riddle, I understand he is about to be married to you to-morrow.
Should he become your husband, he is safe from my hand--and that on your
account; but as it may not yet be too late to spake, I warn you
against his hypocrisy and villany--against the man who destroyed Grace
Davoren--who would have killed Miss Goodwin with his Evil Eye, in order
to get back the property which his uncle left her, and who would have
poisoned his own brother out of his way bekase his mother told him she
had changed her mind in leaving it to him (Woodward), and came to the
resolution of leaving it to his brother, and that was the raison why he
attempted to poison him. All these things have been proved, and I have
raison t