on which it was written, and scrutinized the hand- | for a score yards or so, quickened to a run-was

writing even more. Defeated here, he turned to the seal; it was nothing but a patch of wax, upon which the accidental impression of a coarse thumb was imperfectly visible. There was not the slightest mark, no clue or indication of any kind, to lead him to even a guess as to its possible origin. The writer's object seemed a friendly one, and yet he subscribed himself as one whom he had "good reason to dread." Altogether the letter, its author, and its real purpose, were to him an inexplicable puzzle, and one, moreover, unpleasantly suggestive, in his mind, of associations connected with his last night's adventure.

In obedience to some feeling-perhaps of pride -Mr. Barton did not communicate, even to his intended bride, the occurrences which we have just detailed. Trifling as they might appear, they had in reality most disagreeably affected his imagination, and he cared not to disclose, even to the young lady in question, what she might possibly look upon as evidences of weakness. The latter might very well be but a hoax, and the mysterious footfall but a delusion of his fancy. But although he affected to treat the whole affair as unworthy of a thought, it yet haunted him pertinaciously, tormenting him with perplexing doubts, and depressing him with undefined apprehensions. Certain it is, that for a considerable time afterwards he carefully avoided the street indicated in the letter as the scene of danger.

audible from behind him. Again and again he turned; quickly and stealthily he glanced over his shoulder-almost at every half-dozen steps; but no one was visible. The horrors of this intangible and unseen persecution became gradually all but intolerable; and when at last he reached his home, his nerves were strung to such a pitch of excitement that he could not rest, and did not attempt even to lie down until after the day-light had broken.

He was awakened by a knock at his chamberdoor, and his servant entering, handed him several letters which had just been received by the penny post. One among them instantly arrested his attention-a single glance at the direction aroused him thoroughly. He at once recognized its character, and read as follows:

"You may as well think, Captain Barton, to escape from your own shadow as from me; do what you may, I will see you as often as I please, and you shall see me, for I do not want to hide myself, as you fancy. Do not let it trouble your rest, Captain Barton; for, with a good conscience, what need you fear from the eye of

"THE WATCHER."

It was scarcely necessary to dwell upon the feelings elicited by a perusal of this strange communication. Captain Barton was observed to be unusually absent and out of spirits for several days afterwards; but no one divined the cause. WhatIt was not until about a week after the receipt ever he might think as to the phantom steps which of the letter which I have transcribed, that any- followed him, there could be no possible illusion thing further occurred to remind Captain Barton about the letters he had received; and, to say the of its contents, or to counteract the gradual disap- least of it, their immediate sequence upon the myspearance from his mind of the disagreeable impres-terious sounds which had haunted him, was an odd sions which he had then received. He was re- coincidence. The whole circumstance was, in his turning one night, after the interval I have stated, from the theatre, which was then situated in Crow street, and having there handed Miss Montague and Lady L- into their carriage, he loitered for some time with two or three acquaintances. With these, however, he parted close to the college, and pursued his way alone. It was now fully one o'clock, and the streets quite deserted. During the whole of his walk with the companions from whom he had just parted, he had been at times painfully aware of the sound of steps, as it seemed, dogging them on their way. Once or twice he had looked back, in the uneasy anticipation that he was again about to experience the same mysterious annoyances which had so much disconcerted him a week before, and earnestly hoping that he might see some form from whom the sounds might naturally proceed. But the street was deserted no form was visible. Proceeding now quite alone upon his homeward way, he grew really nervous and uncomfortable, as he became sensible, with increased distinctness, of the wellknown and now absolutely dreaded sounds.

By the side of the dead wall which bounded the college park, the sounds followed, re-commencing almost simultaneously with his own steps. The same unequal pace-sometimes slow, sometimes

own mind, vaguely and instinctively connected with certain passages in his past life, which, of all others, he hated to remember. It happened, however, that in addition to his own approaching nuptials, Captain Barton had just then-fortunately, perhaps, for himself—some business of an engrossing kind connected with the adjustment of a large and long-litigated claim upon certain properties. The hurry and excitement of business had its natural effect in gradually dispelling the marked gloom which had for a time occasionally oppressed him, and in a little while his spirits had entirely resumed their accustomed tone.

During all this time, however, he was occasionally dismayed by indistinct and half-heard repetitions of the same annoyance, and that in lonely places, in the day-time as well as after nightfall. These renewals of the strange impressions from which he had suffered so much, were, however, desultory and faint, insomuch that often he really could not, to his own satisfaction, distinguish between them and the mere suggestions of an excited imagination. One evening he walked down to the house of commons with a member, an acquaintance of his and mine. This was one of the few occasions upon which I have been in company with Captain Barton. As we walked down together,

I observed that he became absent and silent, and he said, evidently making an effort to recover his to a degree so marked as scarcely to consist with self-possession; "but, to say the truth, I am good breeding, and which, in one who was obvi-fatigued—a little over-worked-and perhaps overously, in all his habits, perfectly a gentleman, | anxious. You know I have been in chancery, seemed to argue the pressure of some urgent and and the winding up of a suit is always a nervous absorbing anxiety. I afterwards learned that, affair. I have felt uncomfortable all this evening; during the whole of our walk, he had heard the but I am better now. Come, come-shall we go well-known footsteps dogging him as we proceeded. on ?” This, however, was the last time he suffered from this phase of the persecution, of which he was already the anxious victim. A new and a very different one was about to be presented.

'No, no. Take my advice, Barton, and go home; you really do need rest; you are looking absolutely ill. I really do insist on your allowing me to see you home," replied his friend.

I called next day at Barton's lodgings, to inquire for him, and learned from the servant that he had not left his room since his return the night before; but that he was not seriously indisposed, and hoped to be out again in a few days. That evening he sent for Doctor R, then in large and fashionable practice in Dublin, and their interview was, it is said, an odd one.

Of the new series of impressions which were I seconded -'s advice, the more readily as afterwards gradually to work out his destiny, I it was obvious that Barton was not himself disinthat evening witnessed the first; and but for its clined to be persuaded. He left us, politely derelation to the train of events which followed, the clining our offered escort. I was not sufficiently incident would scarcely have been now remembered intimate with to discuss the scene which we by me. As we were walking in at the passage, had both just witnessed, and in which his friend a man, of whom I remember only that he was had appeared in so strange a light. I was, howshort in stature, looked like a foreigner, and wore a ever, convinced, from his manner, in the few comkind of travelling-cap, walked very rapidly, and as mon-place comments and regrets which we exif under some fierce excitement, directly towards changed, that he was just as little satisfied as I us, muttering to himself, fast and vehemently, the with the extempore plea of illness with which he while. This odd-looking person walked straight|had accounted for the strange exhibition, and that towards Barton, who was foremost of the three, we were both agreed in suspecting some lurking and halted, regarding him for a moment or two mystery in the matter. with a look of menace and fury almost maniacal; and then turning about as abruptly, he walked before us at the same agitated pace, and disappeared at a side passage. I do distinctly remember being a good deal shocked at the countenance and bearing of this man, which indeed irresistibly impressed me with an undefined sense of danger, such as I never felt before or since from the presence of anything human; but these sensations were, on my He entered into a detail of his own symptoms part, far from amounting to anything so discon- in an abstracted and desultory kind of way, which certing as to flurry or excite me-I had seen only seemed to argue a strange want of interest in his a singularly evil countenance, agitated, as it seemed, own cure, and, at all events, made it manifest that with the excitement of madness. I was absolutely there was some topic engaging his mind of more astonished, however, at the effect of this appari- engrossing importance than his present ailment. tion upon Captain Barton. I knew him to be a He complained of occasional palpitations, and headman of proud courage and coolness in real danger ache. Doctor R- asked him, among other -a circumstance which made his conduct upon questions, whether there was any irritating cirthis occasion the more conspicuously odd. He cumstance or anxiety then occupying his thoughts. recoiled a step or two as the stranger advanced, This he denied quickly and almost peevishly; and and clutched my arm in silence, with what seemed to me to be a spasm of agony or terror; and then, as the figure disappeared, shoving me roughly back, he followed it for a few paces, stopped in great disorder, and sat down upon a form. I never beheld a countenance more ghastly and haggard.

the physician thereupon declared it his opinion that there was nothing amiss except some slight derangement of the digestion, for which he accordingly wrote a prescription, and was about to withdraw, when Mr. Barton, with the air of a man who suddenly recollects a topic which had nearly escaped him, recalled him.

"I beg your pardon, doctor, but I had really almost forgot; will you permit me to ask you two or three medical questions-rather odd ones, perhaps, but as a wager depends upon their solution, you will, I hope, excuse my unreasonableness."

The physician readily undertook to satisfy the inquirer.

Barton seemed to have some difficulty about opening the proposed interrogatories, for he was silent for a minute, then walked to his book-case, and returned as he had gone; at last he sat down,

Yes-no-not exactly unwell," and said,

"You'll think them very childish questions, but I can't recover my wager without a decision; so I must put them. I want to know first about lock-jaw. If a man actually has had that complaint, and appears to have died of it-so much so, that a physician of average skill pronounces him actually dead-may he, after all, recover?"

The physician smiled, and shook his head. "But-but a blunder may be made," resumed Barton. 66. Suppose an ignorant pretender to medical skill; may he be so deceived by any stage of the complaint, as to mistake what is only a part of the progress of the disease, for death itself?" "No one who had ever seen death," answered he, "could mistake it in a case of lock-jaw."

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Barton mused for a few minutes. "I am going to ask you a question, perhaps, still more childish; but first, tell me, are not the regulations of foreign hospitals, such as that of, let us say, very lax and bungling? May not all kinds of blunders and slips occur in their entries of names, and so forth?"

Doctor R

answer that query.

something greatly to his or their advantage. Ad mission may be had at any hour up to twelve o'clock at night, for the next fortnight, should parties desire to avoid observation; and the strictest secrecy, as to all communications intended to be confidential, shall be honorably observed."

The Dolphin, as I have mentioned, was the ves sel which Captain Barton had commanded; and this circumstance, connected with the extraordinary exertions made by the circulation of hand-bills, &c., as well as by repeated advertisements, to secure for this strange notice the utmost possible publicity, suggested to Doctor R the idea that Captain Barton's extreme uneasiness was somehow connected with the individual to whom the advertisement was addressed, and he himself the author of it. This, however, it is needless to add, was no more than a conjecture. No information whatsoever, as to the real purpose of the advertisement itself, was divulged by the agent, nor yet any hint as to who his employer might be.

Mr. Barton, although he had latterly begun to professed his incompetence to earn for himself the character of a hypochondriac, was yet very far from deserving it. Though by no means lively, he had yet, naturally, what are termed "even spirits," and was not subject to undue depressions. He soon, therefore, began to return to his former habits; and one of the earliest symptoms of this healthier tone of spirits was, his appearing at a grand dinner of the free-masons, of which worthy fraternity he was himself a brother. Barton, who had been at first gloomy and abstracted, drank much more freely than was his wont-possibly with the purpose of dispelling his own secret anxieties—and under the influence of good wine, and pleasant company, became

"Well, then, doctor, here is the last of my questions. You will, probably, laugh at it; but it must out, nevertheless. Is there any disease, in all the range of human maladies, which would have the effect of perceptibly contracting the stature, and the whole frame-causing the man to shrink in all his proportions, and yet to preserve his exact resemblance to himself in every particular -with the one exception, his height and bulk; any disease, mark-no matter how rare-how little believed in, generally-which could possibly result in producing such an effect?"

The physician replied with a smile, and a very gradually (unlike his usual self) talkative, and even decided negative.

"Tell me, then," said Barton, abruptly, "if a man be in reasonable fear of assault from a lunatic who is at large, can he not procure a warrant for his arrest and detention?"

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'Really, that is more a lawyer's question than one in my way," replied Doctor R- ; "but I believe, on applying to a magistrate, such a course would be directed."

The physician then took his leave; but, just as he reached the hall-door, remembered that he had left his cane up stairs, and returned. His reappearance was awkward, for a piece of paper, which he recognized as his own prescription, was slowly burning upon the fire, and Barton sitting close by with an expression of settled gloom and dismay. Doctor R- had too much tact to appear to observe what presented itself; but he had seen quite enough to assure him that the mind, and not the body, of Captain Barton was in reality the seat of suffering.

A few days afterwards, the following advertisement appeared in the Dublin newspapers:

"If Sylvester Yelland, formerly a foremast-man on board his Majesty's frigate Dolphin, or his nearest of kin, will apply to Mr. Robert Smith, solicitor, at his office, Dame street, he or they may hear of

noisy. It was under this unwonted excitement that he left his company at about half-past ten o'clock; and, as conviviality is a strong incentive to gallantry, it occurred to him to proceed forthwith to Lady L s, and pass the remainder of the evening with her and his destined bride.

Accordingly, he was soon at street, and chatting gayly with the ladies. It is not to be supposed that Captain Barton had exceeded the limits which propriety prescribes to good fellowship-he had merely taken enough wine to raise his spirits, without, however, in the least degree unsteadying his mind, or affecting his manners. With this undue elevation of spirits had supervened an entire oblivion or contempt of those undefined apprehensions which had for so long weighed upon his mind, and to a certain extent estranged him from society; but as the night wore away, and his artificial gayety began to flag, these painful feelings gradually intruded themselves again, and he grew abstracted and anxious as heretofore. He took his leave at length, with an unpleasant foreboding of some coming mischief, and with a mind haunted with a thousand mysterious apprehensions, such as, even while he acutely felt their pressure, he, nevertheless, inwardly strove, or effected to contemn.

The state of Mr. Barton's spirits began now to work a corresponding alteration in his health and looks, and to such a degree that it was impossible that the change should escape general remark. For some reasons, known but to himself, he took no step whatsoever to bring the attempt upon his life, which he had so narrowly escaped, under the notice of the authorities; on the contrary, he kept it jealously to himself; and it was not for many weeks after the occurrence that he mentioned it, and then in strict confidence, to a gentleman, whom the torments of his mind at last compelled him to consult.

It was this proud defiance of what he consid- the same strange air of menace as before; and ered as his own weakness, which prompted him as it passed him, he thought he heard it say, in upon the present occasion to that course which a furious whisper, "Still alive!-still alive!" brought about the adventure which we are now about to relate. Mr. Barton might have easily called a coach, but he was conscious that his strong inclination to do so proceeded from no cause other than what he desperately persisted in representing to himself to be his own superstitious treinors. He might also have returned home by a route different from that against which he had been warned by his mysterious correspondent; but for the same reason he dismissed this idea also, and with a dogged and half-desperate resolution to force matters to a crisis of some kind, if there were any reality in the causes of his former suffering, and if not, satisfactorily to bring their delusiveness to the proof, he determined to follow precisely the course which he had trodden upon the night so painfully memorable in his own mind as that on which his strange persecution had commenced. Though, sooth to say, the pilot who for the first time steers his vessel under the muzzles of a hos-cheerful bearing. The true source of his suffertile battery, never felt his resolution more severely tasked than did Captain Barton as he breathlessly pursued this solitary path-a path which, spite of every effort of scepticism and reason, he felt to be infested by some (as respected him) malignant influence.

Spite of his blue devils, however, poor Barton having no satisfactory reason to render to the public for any undue remissness in the attentions which the relation subsisting between him and Miss Montague required, was obliged to exert himself, and present to the world a confident and

ings, and every circumstance connected with them, he guarded with a reserve so jealous, that it seemed dictated by at least a suspicion that the origin of his strange persecution was known to himself, and that it was of a nature which, upon his own account, he could not, or dared not, disclose.

The mind thus turned in upon itself, and con

He pursued his way steadily and rapidly, scarcely breathing from intensity of suspense; he, how-stantly occupied with a haunting anxiety which it ever, was troubled by no renewal of the dreaded dared not reveal or confide to any human breast, footsteps, and was beginning to feel a return of became daily more excited, and, of course, more confidence, as, more than three fourths of the way vividly impressible, by a system of attack which being accomplished with impunity, he approached operated through the nervous system; and in this the long line of twinkling oil lamps which indi-state he was destined to sustain, with increasing cated the frequented streets. This feeling of self-frequency, the stealthy visitations of that apparigratulation was, however, but momentary. The tion which from the first had seemed to possess so report of a musket at some two hundred yards be- unearthly and terrible a hold upon his imagination. hind him, and the whistle of a bullet close to his head, disagreeably and startlingly dispelled it. His first impulse was to retrace his steps in pursuit of the assassin; but the road on either side was, as we have said, embarrassed by the foundations of a street, beyond which extended waste fields, full of rubbish and neglected lime and brick kilns, and all now as utterly silent as though no sound had ever disturbed their dark and unsightly solitude. The futility of, single-handed, attempting, under such circumstances, a search for the murderer, was apparent, especially as no sound, either of retreating steps or otherwise, was audible to direct his pursuit.

It was about this time that Captain Barton called upon the then celebrated preacher, Doctor with whom he had a slight acquaintance, and an extraordinary conversation ensued. The divine was seated in his chambers in college, surrounded with works upon his favorite pursuit, and deep in theology, when Barton was announced. There was something at once embarrassed and excited in his manner, which, along with his wan and haggard countenance, impressed the student with the unpleasant consciousness that his visitor must have recently suffered terribly indeed, to account for an alteration so striking-almost shocking.

was un

With the tumultuous sensations of one whose life has just been exposed to a murderous attempt, After the usual interchange of polite greeting, and whose escape has been the narrowest possible, and a few common-place remarks, Captain Barton, Captain Barton turned, and without, however, quick-who obviously perceived the surprise which his ening his pace actually to a run, hurriedly pursued visit had excited, and which Doctorhis way. He had turned, as we have said, after able wholly to conceal, interrupted a brief pause a pause of a few seconds, and had just commenced by remarkinghis rapid retreat, when on a sudden he met the well-remembered little man in the fur cap. The encounter was but momentary. The figure was walking at the same exaggerated pace, and with VOL. XVI. 8.

CXCII.

LIVING AGE.

"This is a strange call, Doctor perhaps scarcely warranted by an acquaintance so slight as mine with you. I should not, under ordinary circumstances, have ventured to disturb you; but my

visit is neither an idle nor impertinent intrusion. I change of air, and the aid of a few tonics, your am sure you will not so account it, when

-

Doctor interrupted him with assurances such as good breeding suggested, and Barton resumed.

spirits will return, and the tone of your mind be once more cheerful and tranquil as heretofore. There was, after all, more truth than we are quite willing to admit in the classic theories which as"I am come to task your patience by asking signed the undue predominance of any one affection your advice. When I say your patience, I might, of the mind, to the undue action or torpidity of indeed, say more I might have said you human-one or other of our bodily organs. Believe me, ity-your compassion; for I have been and am that a little attention to diet, exercise, and the a great sufferer." other essentials of health, under competent direction, will make you as much yourself as you can wish."

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My dear sir," replied the churchman," it will, indeed, afford me infinite gratification if I can givo you comfort in any distress of mind; but-but

"I know what you would say," resumed Barton, quickly, "I am an unbeliever, and, therefore, incapable of deriving help from religion; but don't take that for granted. At least, you must not assume that, however unsettled my convictions may be, I do not feel a deep-a very deep-interest in the subject. Circumstances have lately forced it upon my attention, in such a way as to compel me to review the whole question in a more candid and teachable spirit, I believe, than I ever studied it in before."

"Your difficulties, I take it for granted, refer to the evidences of revelation," suggested the clergy

man.

"Doctor ," said Barton, with something like a shudder, "I cannot delude myself with such a hope. I have no hope to cling to but one, and that is, that by some other spiritual agency more potent than that which tortures me, it may be combated, and I delivered. If this may not be, I am lost-now and forever lost." "But, Mr. Barton, you must remember," urged his companion, "that others have suffered as you have done, and

66

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No, no, no," interrupted he, with irritability no, sir, I am not a credulous-far from a superstitious man. I have been, perhaps, too much the reverse-too sceptical, too slow of belief; but unless I were one whom no amount of evidence could convince, unless I were to contemn the repeated, the perpetual evidence of my own senses, I am now-now at last constrained to believe-I have no escape from the conviction-the overwhelming certainty-that I am haunted and dogged, go where

"Why-no—yes; in fact I am ashamed to say I have not considered even my objections sufficiently to state them connectedly; but-there is one subject on which I feel a peculiar interest." He paused again, and Doctor pressed him I may, by-by a DEMON!" to proceed.

There was an almost preternatural energy of horror in Barton's face, as, with its damp and death-like lineaments turned towards his companion, he thus delivered himself.

"God help you, my poor friend," said Doctor much shocked-"God help you; for, indeed, you are a sufferer, however your sufferings may have been caused."

"Ay, ay, God help me," echoed Barton, sternly; "but will he help me-will he help me?"

"The fact is," said Barton, 66 whatever may be my uncertainty as to the authenticity of what we are taught to call revelation, of one fact I am deeply and horribly convinced, that there does exist beyond this a spiritual world-a system whose workings are generally in mercy hidden from us -a system which may be, and which is sometimes, partially and terribly revealed. I am sure—I know," continued Barton, with increasing excitement, that there is a God-a dreadful God-and that retribution follows guilt. In ways the most mysterious and stupendous-by agencies the most "Pray, pray," echoed he again; "I can't pray inexplicable and terrific there is a spiritual sys--I could as easily move a mountain by an effort of tem-great God, how frightfully I have been con- my will. I have not belief enough to pray; there vinced!—a system malignant, and implacable, and is something within me that will not pray. You omnipotent, under whose persecutions I am, and prescribe impossibilities-literal impossibilities.” have been, suffering the torments of the damned ! "You will not find it so, if you will but try," —yes, sir-yes-the fires and frenzy of hell!" said Doctor

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"Pray to him-pray in an humble and trusting spirit," said he.

As Barton spoke, his agitation became so ve"Try!-I have tried, and the attempt only fills hement that the divine was shocked, and even me with confusion and terror; I have tried in vain, alarmed. The wild and excited rapidity with and more than in vain. The awful, unutterable which he spoke, and, above all, the indefinable hor-idea of eternity and infinity oppresses and maddens ror which stamped his features, afforded a contrast my brain whenever my mind approaches the conto his ordinary cool and unimpassioned self-pos-templation of the Creator; I recoil from the effort session striking and painful in the last degree. scared, confounded, terrified. I tell you, Doctor My dear sir," said Doctorif I am to be saved, it must be by other

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after a

brief pause, "I fear you have been suffering much, means. The idea of the Creator is to me intoleraindeed; but I venture to predict that the depres-ble-my mind cannot support it."

sion under which you labor will be found to origi- "Say, then, my dear sir," urged he-" say nate in purely physical causes, and that with a how you would have me serve you-what you