f
gentlemanly temper since I have entered this apartment it is not my
intention to make any comment; but I need not tell you that the minister
of God is received in Christian society with the respect due to his
sacred office."

"Minister of the devil, sir," thundered the baronet; "do you think that
I shall be influenced by this slavish cant? Where is the note I speak
of? If you do not produce it, I shall consider you an accomplice after
the fact, and will hold you responsible as such. Remember, you are but a
Popish priest."

"That is a fact, sir, which I shall always recollect with an humble
sense of my own unworthiness; but so long as I discharge its duties
conscientiously and truly, I shall also recollect it with honor. Of the
note you allude to in such unbecoming words, I know nothing; and as to
your threats, I value them not."

"If you know nothing of the note, sir, you do certainly of the robber."

"I do, Sir Thomas; I know who the man is that robbed you."

"Well, sir," replied the other, triumphantly, "I am glad you have
acknowledged so much. I shall force you to produce him. At least I shall
take care that the law will make you do so."

"Sir Thomas Gourlay, I beg you to understand that there is a law beyond
and above your law--the law of God--the law of Christian duty; and that
you shall never force me to transgress. The man who robbed you in
a moment of despair and madness, repented him of the crime; and the
knowledge of that crime, and its consequent repentance were disclosed to
me in one of the most holy ordinances of our religion."

"Is it one of the privileges of your religion to throw its veil over the
commission of crime? If so, the sooner your religion is extirpated out
of the land the better for society."

"No, sir, our religion does not throw its veil over the criminal, but
over the penitent. We leave the laws of the land to their own resources,
and aid them when we can; but in the case before us, and in all similar
cases, we are the administrators of the laws of God to those who are
truly penitent, and to none others. The test of repentance consists in
reformation of life, and in making restitution to those who have been
injured. The knowledge of this comes to us in administering the sacred
ordinance of penance in the tribunal of confession; and sooner than
violate this solemn compact between the mercy of God and a penitent
heart, we would willingly lay down our lives. It is the most sacred of