nnot be! I cannot bring myself to
contemplate it for a moment!"

"And yet it _may be_, Agnes! or they may spare my life, and doom me to
wear out long years of imprisonment, and then send me out into the world
a blighted and ruined man! That is the best I can hope for; and but for
the disgrace which would come upon me, I should say the sudden end is
better."

"And what of the future _after that_, Lewie? for that, after all, is the
great concern."

"The _eternal future_ you mean, Agnes. Ah! my sister, the prospect there
is darker and more dreary still. I know enough of religion to feel
assured that my short life has not been spent in the way to prepare me
for a future of happiness; and I am not yet so hardened as to pretend
not to dread a future of misery."

"God grant such may not be your fate, dear brother. Whether life be long
or short, happy or sorrowful, our future depends upon heart-felt
repentance here, and faith in the 'sinner's Friend.' You have now time
for quiet and reflection. Oh! improve it dear Lewie, in so humbling
yourself before Him whom you have offended, and in so seeking for
pardon, that He will bless you and grant you peace."

"I see, Agnes," said her brother, with a sad smile, "you want me to
follow in the footsteps of all other offenders and criminals, who,
after doing all the mischief possible, and living for their own selfish
gratification while abroad in the world, spend the time of their
imprisonment in acts of penitence and devotion, and go out of the world,
as they all invariably do, in the full odor of sanctity, in peace with
God, and in charity with men."

"Is my advice to you in any way different, my dear brother, from what it
was when you were free and unrestrained? Indeed, so much did I dread the
effect of your undisciplined temper, and so assured did I feel that for
you the grace of God was peculiarly necessary, that I have feared I
sometimes made my presence unwelcome by my constant warnings and
admonitions."

"Never, Agnes--never, dearest sister! I always thanked you from my
inmost heart for your kind, loving, tender counsel; and though
apparently I turned it off lightly and carelessly, yet it often sank
deep in my heart; and when parted from you, I often thought what a
miserable wretch I was not to give better heed to it."

"Yet, Lewie dear, I will not deny that I think the need more urgent
than ever for repentance and pardon now. I do not wish to harrow up your
feelings, d