eauty. Though her eyes had lost their lustre,
yet in them was a fixed look of courage and resignation. Now she knelt
down on the cold stones before the stool, and lifted up her manacled
hands to heaven, towards which her countenance was turned, earnestly
imploring strength and resolution to withstand the fearful temptations
to which she was exposed. She was not disappointed. While she thus
knelt, the door of her dungeon grated on its hinges. Slowly, and not
without difficulty, she rose from her knees, and stood prepared to
receive her visitor, whoever he might prove to be. She dreaded lest she
should see the arch-fiend Munebrega; but instead of him, Don Francisco
de Vivers stood before her. He advanced a few paces into the vault, and
placed the lantern he bore on a stone shelf projecting from the wall on
one side of the cell. He did not speak till the door closed behind him.
He then stood before her with his plumed hat held in his hand, keeping
still at the distance of a few paces.

"Dona Leonor," he said, "I come to bid you farewell. The words you
spoke to me during my last visits to you sunk deep down in my heart.
The glorious truths you explained took root, and have since by God's
grace been abundantly watered. I obtained a copy of His blessed Word.
I sought for instruction from those able to give it, and I am now ready,
if it is His will, to add my testimony to the truth by my blood. I was
sent here to win you back to life, and to gain you over to the false
faith of Rome. You have been the cause of my becoming a thorough
Protestant, and being made willing, if called upon, to suffer death--
such death, that is, as man is able to inflict upon his fellow-man. Yet
I am young, and do not desire to die. I have therefore resolved to quit
my country for another land, where I may freely worship God according to
the dictates of my conscience. I knew that you would rejoice to hear
this. I therefore resolved, at every risk, to seek another interview
with you. Dear lady, you will pardon me for the words I spoke to you on
my former visits. I uttered them in my ignorance. I thought that I was
thus benefiting you, instead of endeavouring to deprive you of that joy
unspeakable which is prepared for those who truly love the Lord, and are
ready to give up all for Him."

"Oh, believe me, Don Francisco, when I say it, I have nothing to
pardon," replied Dona Leonor. "I rejoice to hear of your determination.
Alas! I