l decide whether she will return to reason, or be lost to
you for ever."

Philip whispered to the priest that he had been accompanied by Father
Mathias, who was to remain as his guest, and requested him to explain
the circumstances of his present position to him, and see that he was
attended to. Father Seysen then quitted the room, when Philip sat down
by the bedside, and drew back the curtain.

Perhaps there is no situation in life so agonising to the feelings as
that in which Philip was now placed. His joyful emotions, when
expecting to embrace in health and beauty the object of his warmest
affections, and of his continual thought during his long absence,
suddenly checked by disappointment, anxiety and grief, at finding her
lying emaciated, changed, corrupted with disease--her mind overthrown--
her eyes unconscious of his presence--her existence hanging by a single
hair--her frame prostrate before the king of terrors, who hovers over
her with uplifted dart, and longs for the fiat which should permit him
to pierce his unconscious victim.

"Alas!" thought Philip, "is it thus we meet, Amine? Truly did Father
Mathias advise me, as I hurried so impetuously along, not (as I fondly
thought) to happiness, but to misery. God of Heaven! be merciful, and
forgive me. If I have loved this angelic creature of thy formation,
even more than I have thee, spare her, good Heaven, spare her--or I am
lost for ever."

Philip covered up his face, and remained for some time in prayer. He
then bent over his Amine, and impressed a kiss upon her burning lips.
They were burning hot; still there was moisture upon them, and Philip
perceived that there was also moisture on her forehead. He felt her
hand, and the palm of it was moist; and carefully covering her with the
bedclothes, he watched her with anxiety and hope.

In a quarter of an hour he had the delight of perceiving that Amine was
in a profuse perspiration; gradually her breathing became less heavy,
and instead of the passive state in which she had remained, she moved,
and became restless. Philip watched, and replaced the clothes as she
threw them off, until she at last appeared to have fallen into a
profound and sweet sleep. Shortly after, Father Seysen and the
physician made their appearance. Philip stated, in few words, what had
occurred. The doctor went to the bedside, and in half a minute
returned.

"Your wife is spared to you, Mynheer, but it is not advisable that s