e governor's house, showing, in
their progress, a perfect acquaintance with the labyrinthian alleys of
the garden. They halted, and a female voice spoke in a whisper,
saying, "Here's the key."

The stranger grasped it, and dragging Landon into the house, instantly
locked the door behind him. A dark lantern was placed on the floor of
the corridor; the stranger told Landon to take this up, and precede
him up stairs. Landon obeyed, the stranger following close behind, and
giving him whispered directions as to his course.

Having reached a certain door, the stranger took the light and entered
a chamber, followed by the wondering Englishman. The walls of the room
were heavily draped, and upon a huge bed the governor of Valencia was
reclining, buried in a deep slumber.

"He sleeps!" whispered the stranger in the ear of Landon; "he sleeps,
as if he had never shed blood--as if the head of my brother had never
fallen on the block by the hand of his bloody executioner. He will
soon sleep sounder."

"What mean you?" asked Landon.

"Wait and see," was the reply.

The stranger cautiously lifted the light in his left hand, bending
over the sleeper, while with his right he drew a broad, sharp poniard
from his belt, and raised it in the act to strike. But just as it was
descending, Landon caught the assassin's arm, and shouted in his
loudest tones,--

"Don Rodrigo, wake!"

"Baffled!" cried the ruffian, with an oath. "You shall pay with your
life for interfering."

The governor sprang from his bed in time to witness the deadly
struggle between Landon and the midnight assassin. It was short and
decisive, for as the robber was aiming a blow at his antagonist, the
latter changed the direction, and it was buried to the hilt in his
own heart. He fell, and died without a groan. The noise of the
struggle had aroused the household, and the servants came pouring into
the room with lights, accompanied by Donna Florinda, who was agonized
with terror.

"Dear father!" she cried, rushing into the governor's arms, "what does
this mean?"

"It means," replied Don Rodrigo, "that this ruffian, who had sworn to
take my life because I had condemned his brother to death for manifold
misdeeds, has been slain in the attempt by this young man."

"And do you recognize your generous savior?" exclaimed the daughter.
"Behold! it is the young Englishman you condemned to perish at the
stake. O father!" And she explained the manner in which Landon had