when it thus humbled the very
son of the murdered man to forget wrath and vengeance, and descend to
prayer! But Walter had heard the defence of Aram; he had marked his
mien: not once in that trial had he taken his eyes from the prisoner,
and he had felt, like a bolt of ice through his heart, that the sentence
passed on the accused, his judgment could not have passed! How dreadful
must then have been the state of his mind when, repairing to Lester's
house he found it the house of death--the pure, the beautiful spirit
gone--the father mourning for his child, and not to be comforted--and
Ellinor!--No! scenes like these, thoughts like these, pluck the pride
from a man's heart.

"Walter Lester!" said Aram, after a pause; but raising his head with
dignity, though on the features there was but one expression--woe,
unutterable woe. "Walter Lester! I had thought to quit life with my tale
untold: but you have not appealed to me in vain! I tear the self from my
heart!--I renounce the last haughty dream, in which I wrapt myself from
the ills around me. You shall learn all, and judge accordingly. But to
your ear the tale can scarce be told:--the son cannot hear in silence
that which, unless I too unjustly, too wholly condemn myself, I must say
of the dead! But Time," continued Aram, mutteringly, and with his eyes
on vacancy, "Time does not press too fast. Better let the hand speak
than the tongue:--yes; the day of execution is--ay, ay--two days yet to
it--to-morrow? no! Young man," he said abruptly, turning to Walter, "on
the day after to-morrow, about seven in the evening, the eve before that
morn fated to be my last--come to me. At that time I will place in your
hands a paper containing the whole history that connects myself with
your father. On the word of a man on the brink of another world, no
truth that imparts your interest therein shall be omitted. But read it
not till I am no more; and when read, confide the tale to none, till
Lester's grey hairs have gone to the grave. This swear! 'tis an oath
difficult perhaps to keep, but--" "As my Redeemer lives, I will swear to
both conditions!" cried Walter, with a solemn fervour.

"But tell me now at least"--"Ask me no more!" interrupted Aram, in his
turn. "The time is near, when you will know all! Tarry that time, and
leave me! Yes, leave me now--at once--leave me!"

To dwell lingeringly over those passages which excite pain without
satisfying curiosity, is scarcely the duty of t