live
to it; at another, he said to himself, "'Tis but another lull; be on thy
guard, Clement."

And this thought agitated his nerves and kept him in continual awe.

He was like a soldier within the enemy's lines.

One night, a beautiful clear frosty night, he came back to his cell,
after a short rest. The stars were wonderful. Heaven seemed a thousand
times larger as well as brighter than earth, and to look with a thousand
eyes instead of one.

"Oh, wonderful," he cried, "that there should be men who do crimes by
night; and others scarce less mad, who live for this little world, and
not for that great and glorious one, which nightly, to all eyes not
blinded by custom, reveals its glowing glories. Thank God I am a
hermit."

And in this mood he came to his cell door.

He paused at it; it was closed.

"Why, methought I left it open," said he, "The wind. There is not a
breath of wind. What means this?"

He stood with his hand upon the rugged door. He looked through one of
the great chinks, for it was much smaller in places than the aperture
it pretended to close, and saw his little oil wick burning just where he
had left it.

"How is it with me," he sighed, "when I start and tremble at nothing?
Either I did shut it, or the fiend hath shut it after me to disturb my
happy soul. Retro Sathanas!"

And he entered his cave rapidly, and began with somewhat nervous
expedition to light one of his largest tapers. While he was lighting it,
there was a soft sigh in the cave.

He started and dropped the candle just as it was lighting, and it went
out.

He stooped for it hurriedly and lighted it, listening intently.

When it was lighted he shaded it with his hand from behind, and threw
the faint light all round the cell.

In the farthest corner the outline of the wall seemed broken.

He took a step towards the place with his heart beating.

The candle at the same time getting brighter, he saw it was the figure
of a woman.

Another step with his knees knocking together.

IT WAS MARGARET BRANDT.

(1) Beat down Satan under our feet.

(2) Up, hearts!

(3) O God our refuge and strength.

(4) O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon me!

(5) O Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us.

(6) From the assaults of demons--from the wrath to come--
from everlasting damnation, deliver us, O Lord!

(7) See the English collect, St., Michael an