The Distinguishing Characteristic Of A Freemason's Beart.

fabulous type . The incidents I will briefl y recount to you ,, and , after the manner of the old romaunts , I will begin by saying- that— ' Once upon a time , ' a certain doughty Knight-errant , Sir Guy by name , was overtaken by a terrible storm in these wild latitudes . Ho was on horseback and had been riding a considerable distance ' . On turning a corner of a winding road not far from here , he , to his joy ,

descried standing boldl y out against the sky , on a high promontory , the battlements and towers of a lordly castle . Patting his steed on the head , he encouraged the tired animal to proceed . As the warrior was approaching nearer to the fabric , a vivid flash of li ghtning , followed by a loud peal of thunder , so startled the horse , that it reared violently , and unseated its rider .. Fortunately , Sir Guy

sustained no injury , and , leaping to his feet , he essayed to mount the animal , but in vain . It snorted loudly , trembled strangely , and betrayed other signs of extreme fear . After a little delay he succeeded in leading it towards the castle , where he trusted to obtain a shelter for himself and steed till the morning . To his surprise ho discovered that the massive building he had seen but a few moments

before had disappeared , leaving naught in its place but two gaunt towers , a noble gateway , and some decaying walls . With difficulty he guided the horse up the steep grassy incline , and took refuge within the frowning outer entrance to the ruins . As he stood there his mind became curiously agitated with melancholy forebodings , an unaccountable sensation of dread stole over him as if something horrible were about to happen . The night , certainly , was far from

being cheerful , the surroundings of the place were lonesome to a degree , and he could hear above the harsh roaring of the wind the rolling and booming of the surf as it dashed upon the black rocks below . Suddenly a tall , hideous looking figure , whose head was encircled by a halo of fire , approached him . ' Fair knight , ' said the phantom , " thou art welcome to Dunstanborough Tower . I have waited long for one such as thee .

' By courage thou niay ' st win a maiden fair , With treasure golden and a castle rare , But woe to thee if heart and strength should fail , 'Gainst Fate for ever shalt thou weep and rail . ' Sir Guy stammered some rambling sentences in token of assent to this poetical offer . With a baneful gleam of satisfaction on his

sinister face , the necromancer , for such a personage tradition says be was , conducted the bewildered kni ght through many intricate passages contrived in the ponderous thickness of the walls , and finally led him up a very narrow spiral staircase , which ended in a huge door of brass . The portal was guarded by a frig htful , indescribable quadruped having a serpent-shaped

head . Passing through this formidable doorway , Sir Guy next beheld a hall of grand proportions nearl y filled b y one hundred knights and their war horses apparently sculptured in black marble . But his wonderment increased when he saw at the extreme end of the building a structure ot glass in the form of a sarcophagus , and on each side stood a skeleton of immense stature . Within it

was the kneeling form of a lovely girl whose long sunny hair streamed in wavy masses to her waist . Upon the knight ' s approach she opened her beautiful eyes , her sweet lips moved , and she clasped her hands as if entreating Sir Guy to free her from her living tomb . 'Have you the courage to undergo a terrible ordeal as a prelude to releasing this fair damsel from her magical eitthralnient' ? asked the

wizard . ' I have , ' stoutly answered the Knight , Jand drew his sword . ' Toll me , what have I to do ? ' 'Sheathe th y weapon , ' scornfull y said the other . ' It would be of no more avail than a falchion of lath . Hearken to me , mortal , the fate of you beautous creature rests with thee . I offer thee the option of choosing either this brazen horn or this gleaming sword . ' For a moment Sir Guy hesitated , but as the

weapon presented to him appeared to be less formidable than his own , and which his companion had stated would be powerless to destroy the enchantment , he decided to take the clarion . Placing it to his lips he blew a strong and prolonged blast that reverberated in a most startling manner throughout the building . Its echoes had scarcely died away when tho steeds fiercely pawed the stone flooring

of the hall and neighed loudly , the sleeping warriors became endowed with vitality , sprang up and brandished their swords . Sir Guy at once saw that he had made a wrong choice and turned to the necromancer for an explanation , but the latter gave vent to a shriek of blood-curdling laughter , shook his elfin locks from his brow and with a look of fiendish derision disappeared , whereupon the Knight fainted

away or became entranced , and upon reviving found himself lying on the ground , near his tethered horse , within the portal of the ancient gateway . The story goes that for nearl y half a century after his strange encounter with tho sorcerer , he inhabited these ruins , vainly hoping to find the enchanted hall . The foolish peasantry still believe that his spirit is doomed to haunt this

spot' But find can he ne ' er the winding stair , Which he past that beauty to see , Whom spells enthrall in the haunted hall , Where none but once may be . ' " CHAPTER II .

" A very curious legend , " remarked the listener , " and I should say its wild nature is characteristic of the locality . But I seem to have a dim recollection of having read a similar story in my juvenile days . " " You arc quite right , " assented Mr . Crcsswell ; " it bears a strong resemblance to the old tradition of King Arthur and his entombed

Knights , who . are waiting for some venturesome mortal to discover the castle wherein they are enthralled and to set them free . Howover , putting aside these fables which arc only fit in these enlightened times to amuse children by the winter ' s fireside , I made a wonderful discovery hero shortly after I took up my residence in the

neighbourhood , and it . is a secret known but to mo . For a long time past I have seriousl y thought of unbosoming myself to some one , but have not met with a suitable confidant . There is a look about you I like , and I feel inclined to make you a sharer in the mystery . May I ask yon to favour me with your name ? "

" Certainly you may , " was the reply ; "Edward Dornton , at your service . "

"Well , Mr . Dornton , " said Crcsswell , "I may , perhaps , be thought inquisitive , but if you will still further extend your confidence by telling me a little of yonr history I venture to say that you will not regret it . " "My dear sir , " returned the other , "I owe my life and that of my son ' s to you , therefore , you have a legitimate right to ask me anything , and I will unconditionally answer you . "

" I thank you , " said his companion , " but I must request that you will not again allude to the fact of your rescue from drowning . I only did what any humane man would have done under tho circumstances . Heavens knows ! I have of late but little to thank mankind for . On the contrary , I have much to complain about . At times I

really think that my brain has suffered a blow from their hands , and from which it will never recover , but still I would willingly risk my life , nay , lose it , if by so doing I could benefit a deserving object . " "My history has but little of moment to interest you , " commenced Dornton . "I have led an uneventful mercantile life . I married

seven years ago , and , together with my young wife , I left England , and invested all my capital in a business at Stockholm . I prospered and all went fairly well till a few months ago , when my wife ' s health suddenly broke down . After exhausting the best medical advice obtainable in Sweden , I was advised , as a last resource , to try the

effects of a return to her native land . As she declined to be parted from me I sold my business , and embarked on board tho ill-fated ' Viking , ' which foundered here a few days ago . By that disaster I lost , not onl y all my etfects , but , what is a far greater calamity , I am afraid that my poor wife has perished . "

" You are indeed unfortunate , " remarked Crcsswell , sighing deeply . " Your unhappiness has been brought by an untoward accident . Mine was the result of a deep laid scheme . A vile plot , in which , alas ! she whom I sincerely loved and trusted was the prime mover . I may tell you more , but not now— -not now . I feel

a terrible pressure on my brain even when I think of my troubles , an occasional derangement , which the poor fools called madness . I tricked them , though . I escaped from their clutches , and I have buried myself alive . Ha ! ha ! " And tho strange man laughed vacantly .

Dornton was struck , not to say alarmed , at the rambling utterances of his companion , who had risen from his scat and stood erect with his hands gesticulating wildly . Cresswcll ' s face was deeply Hushed , the veins of his forehead painfully swollen , and his coalblack eyes glittered with a furious gleam as they glared at the embers on the hearth . At this moment the slumbering boy awoke with

a plaintive cry , and curiously enough the circumstance appeared to act as a charm upon the excited nerves of the apparently demented man . Stooping down , he raised the child in his arms , the fierce lig ht died out of his eyes , and imprinting a kiss on its brow , he , in musically modulated tones , soothed the little innocent again to slumber .

" Pray forgive me , Mr . Dornton , I forgot myself just now . I may tell you that I am subjoct to these paroxysms , but they are harmless and transitory . " His companion said a few commonplace words in reply , but mentally resolved to get away from his host as quickly as he could . He had seen quite enoughjto prove to him that Crcsswell was not in the full possession of his senses . It was evident that the poor follow

had lucid intervals , that his intellect was clear in many respects but it would not be prudent to trust too much to that . Dornton was b y no means a coward , neither was ho physicall y weak , yet in his unarmed state , wearied also as he was b y his immersion in the sea , and faint from loss of blood , he knew that he was no match for his companion were he to be overtaken by a homicidal frenzy . Theso thoughts passed rapidly through his mind while Crcsswell busied himself in placing some provisions on the table .

During the repast , Dornton , with a view to distract his entertainer ' s gloomy thoughts , reminded him that he had half promised to reveal something which was mysterious in connection with the place they were in . Crcsswell , for a few moments did not answer , but stared at his companion somewhat rudel y , " I have not forgotten the promise , " he

said at last , " and as you have reminded me of it , I will briefly relate the circumstances . I have alread y told you that I gleaned a great deal of interesting matter , more or less marvellous from the fisherfolk and others . At last I almost believed in their wild stories . I used to take solitary walks in the district but my chief delight was

to wander amid these picturesque ruins at all seasons and hours . I have found from experience that there is always a certain leaven of truth at the bottom of the most superstitious or romantic episode . The legend of ' Sir Guy , the Seeker , ' I reasoned after all mi ght have had some foundation in fact . Oral tradition , as you know , is difficult , to combat . At last my mind became so filled