rength failing. Her brutal
assailant was hauling her away, with a force to which she could no
longer oppose resistance; and with a single half-ejaculated prayer--"Oh,
God! be merciful!" she sunk senselessly at his feet, even as a falling
corse.

CHAPTER XXI.

"THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER!"

Even at this moment, Munro entered the apartment. He came not a moment
too soon. Rivers had abused his opportunity thus far; and it is not to
be doubted that he would have forborne none of the advantages which his
brute strength afforded him over the feeble innocent, were it not for
the interposition of the uncle. He _had_ lied, when he had asserted to
the girl the sanction of the uncle for his threatened crime. Munro was
willing that his niece should become the _wife_ of the outlaw, and
barely willing to consent even to this; but for anything less than
this--base as he was--he would sooner have braved every issue with the
ruffian, and perished himself in defence of the girl's virtue. He had
his pride of family, strange to say, though nursed and nestled in a
bosom which could boast no other virtue.

The moment he saw the condition of Lucy, with the grasp of Rivers still
upon her, he tore her away with the strength of a giant.

"What have you been doing, Guy?"

His keen and suspicious glance of eye conveyed the question more
significantly.

"Nothing! she is a fool only!"

"And you have been a brute! Beware! I tell you, Guy Rivers, if you but
ruffle the hair of this child in violence, I will knife you, as soon as
I would my worst enemy."

"Pshaw! I only threatened her to make her confess where she had sent
Colleton or hidden him."

"Ay, but there are some threats, Guy, that call for throat-cutting. Look
to it. We know each other; and you know that, though I'm willing you
should _marry_ Lucy, I'll not stand by and see you harm her; and, with
my permission you lay no hands on her, until you are married."

"Very well!" answered the ruffian sullenly, and turning away, "see that
you get the priest soon ready. I'll wait upon neither man nor woman over
long! You sha'n't trifle with me much longer."

To this speech Munro made no answer. He devoted himself to his still
insensible niece, whom he raised carefully from the floor, and laid her
upon a rude settee that stood in the apartment. She meanwhile remained
unconscious of his care, which was limited to fanning her face and
sprinkling water upon it.

"Why not carry her to