risks or costs to liberty or life;
and she knew that this man, the autocrat, as well as the Captain of his
band, had the power to restore her to her husband, and so she exerted
all her powers of pleasing to win his favor.

Poor Sybil! if she was rather ignorant of books, (for a gentleman's
daughter,) she was still more ignorant of mankind. She might have
learned something from the case of Rosa Blondelle, but she did not. And
now no guardian spirit whispered to her:

"You saw how the blandishments of a beauty affected even your own
true-hearted husband; and yet, with the best intentions, you are using
the same sort of blandishments upon a brigand. What can you expect but
evil?"

No; the voice of her guardian angel was silent; and the beautiful,
honorable lady continued to smile on the robber captain, until his head
was turned.

Near the conclusion of the feast, he filled a goblet to the brim with
wine, and rising in his place, said:

"Fill high your glasses, men! Let us drink to the health of our new
sovereign. Dethroned and outcast by the law, we will enthrone her and
crown her the Queen of Outlaws! Fill to the brim with this best of wine.
And mind, this cup is a pledge of amnesty to all offenders, of union
among ourselves, and of devotion to our Queen!"

The toast was honored by full glasses and loud cheers. And none filled
higher or cheered louder than the giant Moloch, who now felt himself
secure from the captain's vengeance, by virtue of the general
proclamation of amnesty.

The long-protracted feast came to an end at last.

The robber captain was not an impetuous brute like the giant Moloch. He
was a refined and cultivated being, who could bide his time, and enjoy
his happiness by anticipation.

So at the end of the supper, seeing that his guest was very weary, he
signed to the girl to rise. And then he took the lady's hand, pressed it
most respectfully to his lips, and placed it in that of the girl,
saying:

"See your queen to her apartments, and serve her royally."

Poor Sybil! In her infatuation she smiled upon the brigand, with a look
that deprived him of the last remnant of reason, and then she followed
her conductor from the room.

The girl led the lady to the same cavern chamber where she had before
slept, and then said:

"Listen to me. Satan is not himself to-night. Satan is in love. That is
a more fatal intoxication than any produced by wine; and when the devil
is drunk with love or wine