not admit, that Hurkuleze has been as corrupt as his greatest enemies proclaim, yet, considering the multifarious and complex nature of a great journalist's occupations, one should hesitate before affixing any deeper stigma than that of very gross negligence to the conductors of The Age, under all the circumstances of the case. What say you, Todigrab?'

'The Age and I have fallen out. We do not "speak." Therefore, I decline to give any opinion,' responded the ArchSpoiler.

'What admirable finesse !' cried a voice above them. All started.

When calm had been in some measure restored, Todigrab remarked that no finesse ever excelled that practised over the 'Backaway loan.'

'Hush!' shouted Fleasum, ''twas a Backaway cut-throat sent me here! Human flesh-and-blood nightmares still haunt me!'

'And me too! joined in Hurkuleze.

'Let's have the finesse, nevertheless,' urged Mammon eagerly. "Twas nothing unusual,' said Todigrab coolly; 'I got my dear friend Hurkuleze here to raise objections to the introduction of the second loan " so soon after the first-":

6

'Yes, yes,' drivelled Hurkuleze, 'to be sure-yes-ye-y-' "Wait a moment, my boy,' sharply interposed Todigrab, 'in one issue.' He then looked calmly round upon his eager inquiring companions, and continued, to be followed in the next day's City Article-by the removal of every objectionthe smoothing away of every obstacle-and, of course, "Backaway" TOOK! hia-ha!'

'Who did the DIRTY WORK?' now demanded the voice from on high, in tones both loud and clear. Who, I ask,' continued the same voice in thrilling, startling accents, which rang again throughout the gloomy cavern's vast recesses, 'so influential -so looked up to-so trusted-PILOTED a confiding, an unsuspecting, a hard-working Public-TO DESTRUCTION?'

It ceased. Amid the solemn silence which followed, I caught the sounds of suppressed sobbing at my side, which culminated at length in a burst of passionate feeling:

'I did it for the sake of-HIS GIFTS!'

'But, surely, my second letter had some effect on the inhabitants of Undone city-the Public, whom I have-served so well whined Hurkuleze, after a pause.

'It had some effect, certainly,' replied Fleasum dubiously.

'John Bull is one of the easiest fellows going, but, nevertheless, an ugly customer when once fairly roused. In His estimation you brought suspicion upon The Age, besides irrevocably destroying your at all times doubtful reputation by keeping down here out of the way when so much was at stake!'

'But I have been acting in accordance with the wishes and suggestions of its conductors! urged Hurkuleze plaintively.

'Listen! what say they?-Hurkuleze "had the opportunity, of which he did not avail himself, of subsequently attending and giving his own explanations of the transactions between him and the co-defendant."-Why did you not appear in person?'

'ME appear in the witness-box? Oh, John! that chap' (pointing upwards in the direction of the City Law Courts) 'would soon have got it all out of me! Ha, John-it does come upon me now-all-all !'

They listened.

chanted forth:

Amid solemn strains of music, a voice

'I will show mercy!' But Hurkuleze broke in vehemently ere the reverberations had ceased:

'Shattered Hopes-Ruined Constitutions-Broken Hearts -to them; but to me-ETERNAL TORMENT!'

How I escaped I know not. The scene is quite beyond me to describe. I recollect the cavern reeling throughout, while an avalanche of solid earth blocked up the way in every direction. Escape, even to a Spectre, seemed impossible. By the fickle, sulphurous light which every now and again revealed the countenances of these men-for in the confusion their torches had gone out-I gazed upon them as one after another reappeared to view. Hurkuleze was praying for instant annihilation-but no- -these men could not perish!

'My conductors,' he gasped, 'were surely aware of practices which had been the topics of common conversation in City circles for years and years !—oh, this crushing load!'

Fleasum staggered, but, shaking himself, soon rallied. With a long-drawn sigh, he observed, 'Your SILENCE is your VERDICT!! -The Age-in view of Eternity, and the Universe generallymust be "above suspicion"!!'

Wurldlie Mammon's forehead, which glistened in the fitful. light, was only just apparent above the débris; while Todigrab, save that a slightly satisfied expression had stolen over his features, changed not.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Abashed the devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue in her shape-how lovely!'-MILTON.

LORD ALFRED had purchased a 'plaything'-the Retribution. She mounted four very powerful guns. She was built on a somewhat novel principle. Instead of being heavily iron-plated abeam, she had but slight armour there. Her stem and stern were heavily plated. She was furnished with an apparatus which consisted of a series of light but very strong iron fans, which shot from her side at pleasure, like coiling shutters, and when extended by means of stout iron supports, acting in concert with them, steadied her very considerably. No wonder that her first shot, which was fired at a preconcerted signal from the shore, hulled the Viper. All was now excitement. I flitted in haste towards the boat; missing it in the dense mist, for the storm had now lulled, I found myself alongside a light female figure descending the cliff. Raising a little white, well-rounded arm, she exclaimed,

'I'm practised now. I'll shoot-I'll stick-I'll run them—' Ah, that was little Maude. How the plot thickens! thought I. She had caught sight of the Viper and the Retribution, then. I saw her clutch her pistol as she said aloud,

'Oh, won't I though-give me the chance.'

She was not now excited at the thought of the heavy balance lying at her banker's, not a penny of which had she touched.

Making once more for my Spectral chamber I observed the fragile indicator; it had ceased to lower. Not daring to tarry, I flung myself across the water. The Viper was heaving amongst the surging waves; but where were Ralph and Haini? I had not noticed them under the reef. Surely I was not becoming dazed, for I was no Gambler! I danced about in agony, flitting everywhere. Why, all seemed changed! The rocks seemed topsyturvy; my limbs began to tremble. Oh, it was horrible! I darted along, fearful lest I might strike against the moon. I thought I smelt the sulphur from Undone city, too. I was like one daft, and at a crisis. 'I'll shake it off!' I cried in Spectral despair. Why did I go inside that horrid cave again? Perhaps there's something fearful boding, and I sha'n't see it. I've lost my children! Oh, Sun! oh, Stars! ob, Everything! have you

T

seen—? I'll flit on board the Viper—where is the Viper? Hullo! what's this? Ah, me! why there is Ralph inside the pinnace!' I listened. A long-drawn sigh escaped from such a lovely bosom ! This reassured me, it looked like life-'twas Haini's.

'He would come, darling Maude,' she said. 'Just at the last he said, "I've got no reason left!" Oh, Maude! it made me shudder so to hear him talk; and then he said, "I never, never should forgive if-if-oh, Haini dear! I love her so! I hate my brother, and I'm going straight to murder him !" I knew not what to say, sweet Maude; we all would murder him!' and then she sighed a little sigh, and looked so wicked all at once, it did me good.

No lack of life in the pinnace,' I thought.

'We'll all have a great fight,' said Maude, placing her little arms around her sister.

ill!'

'Oh, yes, we'll die so hard! Let's speak to Ralph-he looks

'Hush! there's a dear,' said Ralph. There go the Retty's guns. Ah, look—the Viper's hulled! see how they are running -hurrah!'

Now Ralph Osborne was as religious as most men-more than many. Whether his training was judicious or otherwise it is not for the Spectre to determine; but certain it is, that although he had been brought up in the fear of the Lord,' he had at the same time been encouraged to think for himself, and learned, since becoming a man, to call in question much of what had been taught during youth. As he sat in the boat, harbouring deep feelings of vengeance against his brother, thoughts of a momentous character crowded in upon his excited brain. Pressing his hands upon his burning brow, Could it be,' thought he, that the Supreme Power is, or ever was, actuated by motives which enshroud His government with a halo at once uninviting and undignified?' And then he thought of what he was about to do: was it right or wrong? And I could tell nothing; it was not allowed. Bending his head low, resting it upon his trembling hands, immersed in intensest thought, he suddenly whispered, 'My God! who said those things?'

A sound-Thou shalt do no murder'-seemed borne upon the winds of Heaven.

He whispered, 'Where was that?—it hovered!-it-it's ringing in the air!'

'What must I do? I heard him ask in faltering accents. They all regarded him in silence. Again he seemed to hear that voice.

'Thou- Ah, stop!' he cried, placing his hands to both his ears. Haini now addressed him; but the moment he removed. his hands he seemed to hear the voice again.

'I will do none !' he said excitedly, and then he seemed to hear

no more.

He

Just then a vivid flash revealed to him the gaze of the beauteous half-caste girl fixed intently on his anxious features. thought of the distant past-the times when they used to accompany each other in their Fernland adventures-in the canoe, up the river's bank, through wild mountain passes, she cheering his solitude, and now, he knew, loving him to distraction all the while. Then he recounted all that had happened since-her strange, undying devotion, even now!

Harry Somers was sitting moodily in the boat, with his head. buried deep in the hood of his cloak, quietly reserving himself for his share in the butchering which he felt assured was close at hand. His mind was evidently made up.

Ralph was even now vainly endeavouring to argue the matter out, every now and then a cold shudder coming over him as he did so.

Suddenly he groaned fiercely between his teeth,

'To do-or die !'

Haini heard him.

To do, e'en while I die, dear Ralph!'

Her utterance and manner were tragic. Reclining now against Ralph's bosom, she murmured forth,

Beloved Ralph !'

He pressed her close to him, Maude looking on in wondering silence.

She sees a bright flash from the vessel close beside them, followed by a sharp report. Ralph turns his face wildly up-the young girl in his arms gives a short, piercing scream-a wild, convulsive movement follows-her upraised arms fall convulsively on either side of him—and he embraced a dying girl—the true, the fated Haini!

The moment was terrible! Fierce demons hovered in the air, and seemed to mock him! Repentance and Remorse both seized him, but all too late!

'She has saved my wretched life!' he cried in bitterest accents. A fit of cold shivering came upon him. Imploring her to speak, he raised her face to his, but only to see death plainly written there! He cried to Heaven in agony, and then he sobbed,

'Oh, send her back to me !'

Placing her gently in the boat, while Maude was weeping over