But call on her affections, she is strong,
Constant, invincible, immovable!
And sacrifice—a word without a meaning !
See I can smile already!

Enter Paul LAFONT.

Laf. My sweet friends, I fear I interrupt you ?

Mar. No, Sir, noWe waited for you.

This agreement, Sir, Of which we spoke—I am prepared.

Elm. Forbear !
Child, I forbid it!

Laf. Dearest Elmore, think!
Your goods are confiscated by the law-
Your life is forfeit.—Where shall Margaret shelter
When these are taken ?

Mar. I have said, I'm ready.

Laf. Then, sweetest, give me now your hand, in pledge Of a more formal contract soon to follow. But, mark! this act shall bear in it a vow As strong as any that the altar hears, And as irrevocable. Thus I take it. [MARGARET slowly

and tremblingly extends her hand, but, as she is about placing it in LAFONT's, overcome by emotion,

faints. Elm. [Catching her.] Villain! what hast thou done ?Thou hast killed

my

child!
Away! or I shall have another murder
Upon my soul! There's something desperate in me!
My blighted blossom! 'tis thy father's arms
That circle thee. Look up!-She cannot live

*

While thou art near her. Get thee gone, I say,
Thou tempting, torturing fiend !

Laf. Elmore, bethink you !
Elm. [Bending over her.] Margaret-my pure one !
Laf. I wait my answer-

Elm. Devil--my defiance !
Go-do thy worst !

Laf. Since you desire it—well ! Without there! Guard the doors !—If any pass, Your lives shall answer for it to the law! [Exit. ELMORE

[embraces MARGARET. Suspicion.

Oh, my child !
As thou wouldst prize thy young heart's dearest peace,
Guard from thy breast that moral pestilence !
Suspicion, like the fabled upas, blights
All healthy life, and makes a desert round it.
Nothing so fair, nothing so pure can live,
But by suspicion may be marred and blasted;
No path so straight, but to Suspicion's eye
Looks tortuous and bent from its true end :
Away with it !-We know it not in youth,
When we come freshest from the hand of Heaven.
It is an earth-engendered monster, springing
From the rank slime of our polluted years.
Oh, better be, in trust o'er-confident,
A thousand times deceived, than wrongly once
Wound with ungenerous doubt the breast of Truth!

* Margaret is preserved from completing her “sacrifice." Du Barre was only wounded by Elmore ; he reappears at the moment when Margaret is about to sign the contract with Lafont, and, with the consent of Du Barre, she is united to Eugene.

JAMES V. of Scotland, called “ The King of the Commons," learns that

several of the Nobles of his Court traitorously receive Bribes from England, to subvert his Government. The LORD SETON, the King's most trusted Friend, is included in the list of Traitors. JAMES sum

mons Seton to his prosence, to test the truth of the Accusation.
SCENE-Holyrood. The King's Closet.-Enter an At-

tendant, conducting Bishop.
Atten. His grace will not be long ere he returns.
Please you, be seated.
Bishop. Guard well the prisoner. [Exit Attendant.]

On the eve of war
To leave his foes unwatched-his very camp
A scene of treason; but I've laid my hand
On every loop in the net. 'Tis like the king-
Some playful hiding in a burgher suit-
I thought he had been sobered. That's his step.

Enter JAMES
James. Ha! my good lord—but we're unfitly geared
For shrift and penance; we have rid for the life
Up hill-down dale. But

you look big with care. Out with it; it will burst you.

Bishop. It befits
Neither my years nor my great calling, Sir,
Nor the meek spirit that should harbour here,
To mix in the fierce struggles in a court.
James. I know

you

well. Excuse me, good my lord, If, with the flippant quickness of the tongue,

I hide the respect and deep reverence,
Which my heart bears to the right reverend virtues
Of meekness, truth, and most sweet gentleness,
I've ever found in you.

Bishop. Ah, Sir! I'm old-
It
may

be that my time is nearly done-
But I would fain, even to the end of my life,
Bear you true service; for I've marked in you
Ever, from boyish days, a loving heart-
Loving, though fiery; and most merciful-
Too merciful !

James. Nay; not so, my good lord.
Ill fares it with kings' swords when the sharp blade
Shines oftener in the subject's dazzled eyes,
Than the pearl-studded heft and jewelled sheath.

Bishop. There may be times when the steel blade is all That gives true value to the jewelled sheath.

James. How mean you? You were my preceptor, SirMost kind—most wise: but you have told me often I lacked the bridle, not the spur.

Bishop. The bridle, In

your wild course of dalliance and deray; The spur, in action fitting for a king.

James. Not so— -by Heaven ! not so Show me the deed You'd have me do that's fitting for a king, And, though it tore the softest string i' my heart, I'll do it.

Bishop. Prepare you, then!

James. What is’t, I say?
You think I have no higher, nobler thoughts,
Than suit a pageant king on silken throne ?
My lord, you know me not.

Bishop. What would

you

do If treachery

James. Pah! you know of treachery, too.
Fear not, my lord—I'm glad 'twas only that!
Whew!--my mind's easy now. Why, my good lord,
I thought ’t had been some terribler thing than that.

Bishop. Than what, my liege?

James. You'll see- -you'll see; fear not.
I tell you, a king's eye can see as clear
As a good bishop's. Ere three hours are fled,
There will be proof. Come to our court at nine ;
You'll see some action then that fits a king;
And, as you go, send me Lord Seton.

Bishop. Seton !
No; save in keeping of the guard.

James. My lord,
Say that again : perhaps I heard not right.
I told you to send Seton-my friend Seton-
Lord Seton—and you answered something. What ?

Bishop. That he's the traitor I would warn you of.

Fames. Seton a traitor ? —Seton, that I've loved
Since we were boys !-Ho! Seton !—Rest you, Sir;
You shall avouch this thing.–Seton ! ho! Seton !

Bishop. My liege, I've proofs.
Fames. What say you ?--proofs ?

Bishop. Ay, proofs,
Clearer than sunlight.

Enter Attendant.

James. [With dignity.] Take our greeting, Sir, To the Lord Seton-we would see him here.

[Exit Attendant