some instances, such as might be least expected, who seemed to be much and deeply impressed by them. The doctor had said that he feared but few would attend to him should he attempt to collect a congregation to hear the recantation of his errors; but herein he was much mistaken, for he had scarcely opened the door of his chapel, when many crowded in and hearkened even with tears confessing their own unfaithfulness, and exclaiming that they threw themselves without condition on the mercy of the Lord. The doctor also was much surprised to see Father Peter's people come to him also, throwing down their images and symbols,* and asking for copies of the Master's letters, so that the stir was great, and many were that day added to the Lord's followers. But the noon of that day, a day ever to be remembered by us, was scarcely arrived, when the sun, which had shone out in the morning, became as it were all darkened, as if under an eclipse, and the birds in the turrets began a screeching cry of a very doleful kind; on which all they who were abroad in the fields ran back to the house, and the steward himself, who was busy with the housekeeper settling some arrangements for the feast, put every thing by to inquire what might be the matter. The watchman on the roof of the house at the same time gave an alarm, on which many of us ran up on the leads. Theophilus and my uncle and I were some of the latest to hear the alarm: accordingly, when we had got upon the leads, we saw Mr. Fitz-Adam with a spy-glass in his hand looking towards the east; and we heard one say to another, that the watchmen had seen people running towards the castle as if in terror of pursuit.

"What can this be?" asked my uncle. So we listened to what Mr. Fitz-Adam should say when he had looked that way with the glass, and we heard him say to the librarian, who stood by him, "It is true enough, they are running for their lives; and lo, behold, one and another drops from among them as if without life." So the librarian took a look through the glass and shook his head. But when my uncle asked him to lend him the glass for an instant, he put it quietly into his pocket saying it was of no use to help the sight, and then having whispered something in the ear of Mr. Fitz-Adam, the

"In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats." Isa. ii. 20.

latter in a thundering tone issued his orders, as he had done the night before, that every door and window of the house, especially towards the east, should be carefully closed and barred, and that every watchman should be at his station.

"What can this mean?" said Theophilus.

"It will appear presently," replied my uncle, "but be not afraid; be assured that if it is a messenger of the Lord who frightens them, he comes on an errand of love to those who trust in him."*

Now while my uncle spake, many of those who were followers of Mr. Fitz-Adam had gone off with him, and there were but few left in that place. So there we stood, and anon in the direction the watchman pointed out, we saw people running. They were country people, and they came from those parts of the estate lying nearest the hills; however, we saw them not with the naked eye many moments before we discerned that behind them which was the cause of their terror, and truly the sight was enough to appal the stoutest heart. It was a chariot drawn by pale horses, and his name that sat in the chariot was death; he was armed with arrows, for he was an archer, and he was terrible to look upon;†— and this frightful apparition approached the castle, yet not swiftly; but as with measured steps the archer bent his bow, and from time to time he sent forth an arrow, which striking one and another of those who fled before him, struck the individual to the ground, for the arrow was sure, each one had its mark, and none fell harmless; nevertheless, it seemed that the stroke was not always mortal, for some few arose and fled, having torn the arrow from the wound. All this could be seen from the place where we stood, for the progress of the chariot, as I before said, was measured and slow; yet its approach was certain. In the meantime the work of defence and of offence was going on in the castle; every door and window was blocked, and several guns which

"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day." Psalm xci. 5.

"And I saw and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer. And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Rev. vi. 2, 8.

were upon the roof and in other places were brought to bear upon the enemy. Never having witnessed any thing of the kind before, I sprang some inches high when the first guns went off, and I saw the balls whizzing through the air right in the direction of the enemy; but although they seemed as it were to pierce the very bodies of the pale steeds, yet they winced not, nor changed a foot, nor did the archer even start in his seat. "I know," said my uncle, "whence this messenger comes, and I also know that no weapon formed against him will prosper.' 99 It seemed that the defenders of the castle were soon convinced of this, for we heard no more guns, but were admonished by some who wished us well, to come down into the house, into a place where we might be secure from the arrows."

"Be it so," replied my uncle, calmly, "we will act as friends advise, but we are equally safe in this place as in any other, and therefore should not desire to move, unless we could be of service, and this will appear anon." So we stepped off the leads down into the interior chambers, and seeing the door of the doctor's apartment open, we went in; here we found this venerable servant of the Lord employed as he should be, consoling and strengthening the faith of certain persons, in whom the present state of affairs seemed to have shaken their confidence in the Lord's kindness; or rather of persons, who in looking to themselves, seemed as if they could not understand how they could ever be counted worthy of that kindness, for it was seen very clearly at this time, that no one could bear these trials who did not look from himself to the high price which the Lord had paid for our redemption. However, we were surprised to see how the tongue of the doctor was loosed, and how earnestly and decidedly he applied the words of consolation to those who were feeble in spirit. But while thus engaged in this inner chamber, we were made sensible that the attack upon the house itself was actually commenced, for the cries of the wounded ran along the galleries, and we heard the footsteps of those who were bearing away the wounded, while others were heard running in various directions, exclaiming, "Where can we be safe? Where shall we find a refuge? Help, help, or we are lost." It was then that the doctor and my uncle rushing forth into the place in which the arrows fell thickest (for neither walls, nor bars, nor any other

defence, seemed to avail the least to keep them off), set themselves to point out, that now, even in this perilous moment, it might not be too late to seek that mercy which could render these barbed arrows but messengers of love. And while Theophilus and I were endeavouring to give what assistance might be in our power, in succouring, and consoling, and assisting those who were wounded, and yet not so severely but that the arrow might be extricated; and while the servants of the castle were throwing out the bodies of those who were past hope, for it was impossible, nay, and contrary to the laws of the household, to keep those within the walls who were struck in any way past recovery by a messenger from the Lord;* two arrows came as it were at one and the same time. They were particularly sharp, and they bore on each a motto, and the words were these, as I observed them afterward, viz. I have loved thee to the end ;-and at the moment that one of them pierced to the heart of my uncle, the other at the same time buried its barbed head in the breast of the chaplain. I was near my venerable parent when this happened, and received him falling in my arms-He lifted up his eyes and said, "Dear Master, I come-and when I am gone accept the services of my nephew:"-and he blessed me, and while his blessings still hung on his lips, he was torn from me, for so the stern ordinances of the house demanded, and he was gathered up with others into the chariot, and I saw him no more. And as it had been with me as regarded my uncle, so was it with Theophilus as touching the doctor; and for a while we were like persons stupified and heedless of all that befell those around us-nay, while the arrows continued to fly around us the whole household seemed to be confounded, and nothing was heard but lamentations and cries, except it might be among those who were enabled to see as it were beyond this veil of sorrow, into the clear light of a glorious day very near at hand.

At length, however, the scourge was withdrawn-the quiver of the pestilence was exhausted-those who had fallen by the arrows were seen no more—the stains of blood were washed from the floors, and the seats which were emptied were filled again. Where the doctor once

"He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more." Job vii. 10,

stood, there stands Theophilus, and I am in my uncle's seat. May we both be enabled to fill our places as those should do who are daily looking and longing for the return of the Master. Father Peter is getting weaker and losing influence from day to day; Mr. Fitz-Adam is unchanged; Madame le Monde is revived; the servants of the Lord are overpowered and driven into corners by the opposite party as afore-time; and the librarian at the right-hand of the steward on the dais in the hall, boasts how he predicted that the alarms described in the former part of our history would terminate in nothing, and that the return of a pretended Lord was but an old woman's tale calculated to frighten froward children.

And here I close my history, having brought it down to the present hour; and if it seems to be broken off abruptly, let my reader understand that it is an allegory, in which every man is concerned;-that it includes much awful instruction; and that its termination, as it affects my reader individually, depends on this, viz. whether he is a follower of the world and a servant of the old Adam, or whether he is one of those who long and look for the return of the only true Lord-" For the world. passeth away, and the lusts thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever;" and it is his will "that we should believe in the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent "

THE END OF THE LATTER DAYS.