ment to which I belonged. I found their information perfectly correct; and on the second day reached the point from which we had started, after sleeping at the unfortunate Montreville's cottage.

"My route lay close by the side of that cottage; and as I drew near to it, I began to feel an unconquerable aversion to passing it. How to avoid it I knew not; but I felt as though the spirits of my victims would rise upon its threshold, and upbraid me as I passed-nay, I even fancied I heard that piercing cry-the last Mrs. Montreville ever utteried? So forcible was this impression upon me, that when first I recognized the objects which apprized me of the neighborhood of the cottage, I stopped short, as if in expectation of meeting its inmates, nor could I for some time muster courage to proceed on my way. At length, however, with a desperate effort, I rushed on at full speed with an averted face, my sensations being those of a man who believes himself to be pursued by demons. Nay, the illusions produced on a disordered frame and a vivid imagination, were so strong, that for some time after I had passed the cottage, that piercing shriek rung in my ears, and I was convinced that the spirit of the unhappy woman did indeed pursue me. After running thus for a mile, I fell down exhausted, and nearly deprived of sense. On awakening to consciousness, I found myself in a civilized region; and the necessity of regaining my composure, and inventing a plausible tale to account

for my long absence, and my returning alone became apparent to my senses. As I journeyed slowly along, I framed a narrative calculated from its plausibility to impose upon the credulity of Mr. Lambert and the other heads of the settlement.

"From the time of our first parting with him up to Montreville's death, I told them the strict truth, and detailed the gradual decay and lingering death of the men who had been sent with me, whose previous ill health, indeed, made such a termination highly probable. It was less easy to account for Montreville's decease. Though suffering from the effects of debility, he was well known to be of robust frame and hardy temperament, to be proof against the inclemencies of the seasons, and to possess sufficient knowledge of the country and energy of mind to enable him to surmount the difficulties of our situation. It was desirable then to assign an accidental cause for this disappearance. I therefore told them, that after wandering some days in search of better food to enable us to prosecute the remainder of our journey (the stock sent with us having been some days consumed), we reached a rapid stream, on the opposite side of which Montreville affirmed he had discerned certain roots and fruit trees, which he knew to be particularly nutritious and agreeable to the palate. The stream was rapid, and so intersected with rocks that the attempt to cross it must be attended with considerable peril; we paced the borders of the stream. We continued

in the hope of discovering a fordable place, but without success, and at length decided upon plunging in. We had nearly reached the centre, when Montreville, who was a-head of me, was suddenly carried by the excessive rapidity of the stream against a pointed rock, which coming in contact with his head, inflicted a blow that either killed him on the spot, or so stunned him as to render him incapable of further exertion; he sunk to rise no more. Such was the story I fabricated to conceal my crime; and as the recital was far from being improbable in itself, it met with the ready belief of all to whom I related it. In the remainder of my narrative, I again adhered to truth; I told them, that making the best of my way back to the landing place, I succeeded in reaching it, and having crawled into an adjoining wood, was there found by the hospitable Indian, who afterwards proved himself my friend and preserver.

"The news of Montreville's death was heard with concern by all. The company had lost in him one of its best servants; and one whom they would find it exceedingly difficult to replace."

CHAPTER VIII.

Sinking underneath the weight

Of sorrow, yet more heavily opprest
Beneath the burden of my sins, I turned

In that dread hour of Him who from the Cross
Calls to the heavy laden.

SOUTHEY.

"For about a month subsequent to the events I have detailed to you, I continued at the hend-quarters of the settlement. During that period I experienced a degree of restlessness and uneasiness so painful, a recollection so vivid and distressing of those scenes in which I had acted so black a part, that I looked to complete and entire change of place and companions alone to drive the remembrance of the past from my mind. In this conviction, and on the plea of ill health, I requested leave of absence for a few months to recruit my shattered constitution; and on obtaining the boon, I determined to repair to New York, the novelty of which, I fully expected, would dispel the impressions my crimes had made upon my mind. Provided with letters of recommendation to some of the principal inhabitants of the city from Mr. Lambert, I took my departure.

"But as you will easily foresee, my expectations of deriving peace of mind from change of scene were not realized. The same restlessness, the same disquietude pursued me; neither the society to which my letters of introduction had procured me admission, nor the numerous objects of interest which abound in the town where I had taken up my abode, could succeed in dispelling the uneasiness I experienced. At length it reached so distressing a point that I could no longer endure solitude. Every night I dreamt I heard the cry of Mrs. Montreville, and saw her husband's ghastly form stretched on the sod before me; and frequently waking from these ever-recurring dreams of horror, would rush from my bed, nor dare to return to it till the morning light had lent its aid to dispel these visions of a disordered and guilty imagination. This constant nervous excitement at length wore my frame to a shadow, and finally my constitution gave way. I was seized with a raging fever, which for many weeks deprived me at times of reason. During the hours of my delirium, it is probable that I raved of those events which were ever uppermost in my mind; for at intervals of consciousness, I gathered from the language of my hostess that she had requested an eminent ecclesiastic, to whom a letter she had found in my possession was addressed, to call and see me, thinking from words that had escaped me during my illness, that I had something on my mind. I was anxious to disclose. Sometimes I fancied I