Law, Blackville.

It contained these lines:

"Take the enclosed letter to Mr. Lyon Berners on Christmas-day,
when you find him quite alone. If this should reach you before
Christmas, keep it carefully until that day; then deliver it to
its address with secrecy and discretion."

"In the name of Heaven, what is this? Where is the letter? When did you
get it?" demanded Lyon Berners, in astonishment.

"It seems to be a mystery. I got the letter only this morning, else in
spite of the injunction I should have delivered it to you before. Here
it is now," said young Sheridan, placing the mysterious epistle in the
hands of his friend.

Lyon Berners examined it in haste and excitement.

It was superscribed:

"To Lyon Berners, Esq., Black Hall. To the care of ---- Sheridan, Esq.
To be delivered secretly on Christmas-day."

Mr. Berners tore off the envelope, when he came to another one, on which
was written:

A Christmas gift for Mr. Berners.

This also he hastily tore off. Then he ran his eyes rapidly over the
contents of the letter, and with a great cry--a cry of joy
unspeakable--he threw up his arms and sank to the floor.

He who had never been conquered by fear or sorrow or despair, was now
utterly vanquished by joy!

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WHAT THE LETTER CONTAINED.

Do you blame me, friend, for weakness?
'Twas the strength of passion slew me.--E. B. BROWNING.

With an exclamation of dismay Sheridan raised his friend, and helped him
to an arm-chair, and sat him back in a reclining position on it.

And at the same instant hurrying steps were heard approaching, and some
of the servants who had been loitering in the hall, startled by the
noise of the cry and the fall, rushed into the room to see what the
matter could be.

Lyon Berners had not quite lost his consciousness, and the entrance of
the men at once restored his senses.

His first act was to point to the letter which had fallen from his hand
to the floor, and say:

"Pick it up and give it to me, and send these people away--quickly,
Sheridan, if you please."

The young lawyer immediately went after the intruders, exclaiming,

"Come, come, old Joe, Tom, Bill; what do you mean by rushing in upon us
in this way when we are having a good humored rough and tumble wrestling
match among ourselves? Be off with you, you barbarians!"

And so with affected mirth, which really deluded the simple darkies, he
turned them out