with several companions, was determined to investigate the cause. One night, when the disturbance was greater, and more violent and alarming than usual—and, it should be premised, strange, weird, and unearthly sounds had often been heard, and by many persons, some quite unacquainted with the ill-repute of the the castle his lordship went to the Haunted Room, opened the door with a key, and dropped back in a dead swoon into the arms of his companions; nor could he ever be induced to open his lips on the subject afterwards."

A well-known antiquary furnishes the following local legend connected with the old stronghold, to account for the sights and noises heard about it. He states that the tradition is that in olden time, during one of the constant feuds between the Lindsays and the Ogilvies, a number of the latter clan, flying from their enemies, came to Glamis Castle and begged hospitality of the owner. He did not like to deny them the shelter of his castle walls, and therefore admitted them, but, on the plea of hiding them, so it is averred, he secured them all in a large out-of-the-way chamber-that afterwards known as the haunted one-and there left them to starve. Their bones lie there till this day, according to the common tradition, their bodies never having been removed. It has been suggested that it was the sight of these which so startled the late Lord Strathmore on entering the room, and which caused him, subsequently, to have it walled up. The scene is believed to have been particularly horrifying, some of the unfortunate

captives having died apparently in the act of gnawing the flesh from their arms.

Thus much for the tradition that accounts for the weird disturbances which, if Dr. Lee's correspondent may be credited, were still in a state of activity not very long ago. Among other strange instances, the writer states that on one occasion a lady and her child were staying for a few days at the castle. The child was asleep in an adjoining dressing-room, and the lady, having gone to bed, lay awake for awhile. Suddenly a cold blast stole into the room, extinguishing the night-light by her bedside, but not affecting the one in the dressing-room beyond, in which her child had its cot. By that light she saw a tall mailed figure pass into the dressing-room from that in which she was lying. Immediately thereafter there was a shriek from the child. Her maternal instinct was aroused. She rushed into the dressingroom and found the child in an agony of fear. It 'described what it had seen as a giant, who came and leant over its face."

We are unable to learn when this disturbing apparition appeared, but it is to be hoped not since Lord Strathmore had the Haunted Room walled up; that, it is most devoutly to be hoped, shut in all unpleasant sights, even if it could not quite suppress the sounds.

GLASGOW: THE HELL CLUB.

THERE is a somewhat well-known story, of an extremely startling character, related by Mrs. Crowe, under the title of the "Glasgow Hell Club," in that chapter of The Night Side of Nature styled "The Future that Awaits us." The story, notwithstanding its sensationalism, is declared to be a relation of facts, of which a contemporary account was published, but was bought up by the family of the chief actor in the drama. As usual in such cases, a few copies escaped destruction, and the narrative was reprinted and widely diffused. Mrs. Crowe's version of this" undoubted and well attested fact," is as follows:

"Some ninety years ago, there flourished in Glasgow a club of young men, which, from the extreme profligacy of its members and the licentiousness of their orgies, was commonly called the 'Hell Club.' Besides these nightly or weekly meetings, they held one grand annual saturnalia, in which each tried to excel the other in drunkenness and blasphemy; and on these occasions there was no star amongst them whose lurid light was more conspicuous than that of young Mr. Archibald B., who, endowed with brilliant talents and a handsome person, had held out great promise in his boyhood, and raised hopes, which had been completely frustrated by his subsequent reckless dissipations.

"One morning, after returning from this annual festival, Mr. Archibald B., having retired to bed, dreamt the following dream :

"He fancied that he himself was mounted on a favourite black horse that he always rode, and that he was proceeding towards his own house, then a country seat embowered by trees, and situated upon a hill, now entirely built over and forming part of the city, when a stranger, whom the darkness of night prevented his distinctly discerning, suddenly seized his horse's reins, saying, 'You must go with me!'

"And who are you?' exclaimed the young man, with a volley of oaths, whilst he struggled to free himself.

"That you will see by and by,' returned the other, in a tone that excited unaccountable terror in the youth, who, plunging his spurs into his horse, attempted to fly. But in vain: however fast the animal flew, the stranger was still beside him, till at length, in his desperate efforts to escape, the rider was thrown, but instead of being dashed to the earth, as he expected, he found himself falling-falling— falling still, as if sinking into the bowels of the earth.

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At length, a period being put to this mysterious descent, he found breath to inquire of his companion, who was still beside him, whither they were going: 'Where am I? where are you taking me?' he exclaimed.

"To hell!' replied the stranger, and immediately

interminable echoes repeated the fearful sound, 'To hell! to hell! to hell!'

"At length a light appeared, which soon increased to a blaze; but instead of the cries and groans, and lamentings the terrified traveller expected, nothing met his ear but sounds of music, mirth and jollity; and he found himself at the entrance of a superb building, far exceeding any he had seen constructed by human hands. Within, too, what a scene! No amusement, employment, or pursuit of man on earth, but was here being carried on with a vehemence that excited his unutterable amazement. 'There the young and lovely still swam through the mazes of the giddy dance! There the panting steed still bore his brutal rider through the excitement of the goaded race! There, over the midnight bowl, the intemperate still drawled out the wanton song or maudlin blasphemy! The gambler plied for ever his endless game, and the slaves of Mammon toiled through eternity their bitter task; whilst all the magnificence of earth paled before that which now met his view!'

"He soon perceived that he was amongst old acquaintances whom he knew to be dead, and each, he observed, was pursuing the object, whatever it was, that had formerly engrossed him; when, finding himself relieved of the presence of his unwelcome conductor, he ventured to address his former friend, Mrs. D., whom he saw sitting as had been her wont on earth, absorbed at loo, requesting her to rest from the game, and intro duce him to the pleasures of the place, which appeared