Brotherly Love.

engaged , and from what had taken place the previous evening between him and Mrs . St . Claire , he had little doubt as to who was the object . Ida gave the conversation a different direction , and reminded him of the desire he had formerly expressed of visiting the maniac . Anxious for solitude , he told her he would see him , and having received directions that would enable him to reach his abode , he departed .

The door had scarcely closed after him than Mrs . St . Claire entered the room , and by her manner and remark clearly indicated that she wished to be made acquainted with the nature and result of the interview between her and the clergyman . But she was doomed to disappointment . Ida knew the character of her mother , with all its original weakness and the worldliness that was engrafted on it by tircumstanoes , and was always

reserved towards her in matters where her duty was not concerned . This induced her to conceal the revelation of the maniac , for she was satisfied that if Mrs . St . Claire knew that he was the persecutor of her husband , she would do all in her power to prevent Ida ' s future interviews with him . To desert the unfortunate being who had unfolded his history to her was repugnant to her Christian sentiments and her natural feelings ,

though the latter tempted her to recoil from him with horror . But she regarded him not in his sin but in his sorrow , and the past-offence was forgotten in the present suffering . She determined not to relax in her usual attentions and endeavours to console him .

In the mean time , Jeunegrace proceeded towards the Mount , and when he came in sight of the hut , he perceived the figure of a man on his knees and his head resting on the fragment of a rock beside the door . Considering that the attitude was that of prayer , he stopped , and continued for some minutes regarding him in silence . As the figure uttered no sound and made no gesture he approached nearer , apprehending that the

man might be seized with a fit . He took his hand , it was cold and rigid . He raised his head , and discovered that the features were those of a corpse . Prom his attire Jeunegrace knew at once that it was the maniac of the Mount , Having laid the corpse on the ground , he was about to retire , when he perceived a young man rushing up the pathway . He accosted the stranger ,

who heeded him not , but stood gazing wildly on tbe corpse . At last he knelt by its side , and taking the lifeless hand , he burst into a flood of tears . " And is it thus we meet , " he at length exclaimed . " Is this the happiness I promised myself at our re-union . Am I to forego the pleasure of eonsoling- you in your affliction , ministeriug to your wants , assisting your return to reason , hearing from your lips a blessing ? Oh , Godhow

in-, scrutable are Thy ways ! To think that for years , I , who deemed myself an outcast from the world with not a human being of my kindred to love , should have this poor afflicted parent respiring the same atmosphere . My suffering father , what tortures of mind you must have endured , and not a human being to care for you , to comfort you , to visit your abode . And in your madness you still remembered and provided for your child . "

Here he pressed his lips to the stony brow of the deceased . " I beg your pardon , sir , " he said , perceiving Jeunegrace , "but you have heard sufficient to account for this burst of feeling . "