f the court were to begin. Brian de
Bois-Gilbert stood ready for the combat, but a champion was still
wanting for the appellant. Lest Jew or Pagan should charge the court
with injustice, the Grand Master declared his readiness to wait till
the shadows were in the west, to see if a champion would appear for
the culprit. But the general belief prevailed that no one would stand
up for her; and the craven knights whispered to each other, when the
day was far gone, that the time had come for declaring the pledge of
Rebecca forfeited. At this instant, a knight, urging his horse
forward, appeared on the plain advancing towards the lists. A hundred
voices exclaimed, "A champion! a champion!" Yes, it was a champion,
the renowned Wilfred of Ivanhoe. "Rebecca," said he, riding up to the
black chair, "dost thou accept me for thy champion?" The answer was in
the affirmative. Little time was now lost; the champions confronted
each other. Trumpets sounded, and the knights charged in full career.
The wearied horse of Ivanhoe, and its no less exhausted rider, went
down, as all had expected, before the well-aimed lance and vigorous
steed of the Templar. This result all had foreseen; but although the
spear of Ivanhoe did but lightly touch the shield of Bois-Gilbert,
that combatant reeled in his saddle, lost his stirrups, and fell in
the lists. Ivanhoe, extricating himself from his fallen horse, was
soon on foot, hastening to mend his fortune by the sword; but his
antagonist rose not. Wilfred, placing his foot on his opponent's
breast, and the sword's point to his throat, commanded him to yield,
or die on the spot. Bois-Gilbert returned no answer. The fallen knight
was unhelmed. His eyes were closed--he was dead, supposed to have died
a victim to the violence of his own passions. When the first moments
of surprise were over, the Grand Master pronounced the maiden free and
guiltless.

The conclusion of this story is touching in the extreme. Soon after
this Ivanhoe and the Lady Ravena were married. On the second morning
after the nuptials, Rebecca waited on the Lady of Ivanhoe, and
presented her with a small silver casket containing jewels of great
value; and leaving a message to her champion, who never ceased to
remember her, she hastened away to other lands, to tend the sick, feed
the hungry, and relieve the distressed.

CURSES AND EVIL WISHES.

CHAPTER LII.

Curses, Excommunication, and Anathemas--Dirae, the
Exec