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intrust myself with persons unknown in a carriole, even had one passed me. To stay in the snow during a December night was certain death. I wandered along the road, scarcely conscious of my movements until night had completely set in; when upon looking around me, I perceived by the moon, that I had diverged from the road to Quebec toward the mountain. I felt a numbness creeping over me, which, as soon as I began to reflect, warned me of my danger, and I instantly exerted all my energies, and hastened to retrace my course. The exercise was salutary, but when I arrived at the village, my dilemma continued the same. I could not directly appeal for a night's lodging to the Indians. No means of escape were present to my view. My fortitude left me. I forgot the Almighty refuge. I retraced the past with horror, and the future I dreaded. I felt as a worm trodden under foot, and crushed to the earth. In my own apprehension, I was a perfectly isolated human being. I could not claim a friend, and all the men and women whom I knew, except my deliverers from the priest's house, seemed to be leagued in a conspiracy against my personal purity and peace. In this agitated state of mind, I wandered to and fro. The light which the evening before had directed me to a God of mercy was not perceptible. In the pungency of my bitterness, I had forgotten the Almighty arm, which had interposed for my deliverance, without permitting me to perpetrate the scheme that I had once intended, for had no other means been practicable, I had resolved to set fire to the house and escape in the confusion. In this wretchedness, I walked along the main road, and as far as I can retrace my impressions, determined that I would be impelled by circumstances as they might arise. The sound of the waters and the sight of the

foam bewildered my imagination; and I thought, that death or life was of equal moment, as no person on earth was interested in me. This is my last existing distinct recollection. I was then standing near the church at Lorette. Of all the rest, I am totally unconscious, until I became sufficiently restored to hear your story, to thank you for your benevolence, and to praise God for my preservation."

Chretien, who had betrayed most emotion, as Louise unfolded her melancholy narrative, first interrupted the silence which ensued after she had closed, “If I thought that such sinfulness existed," he remarked, “I would forswear the priests and their corrupt religion forever." "What have you ever seen in me," asked Louise, with great dignity and pathos, "which should induce you, Chretien, to doubt my painful tale?" "Nothing at all, dear Louise," he replied, "but this wickedness seems so incredible, that one demands strong testimony to overcome our doubts." "This only proves what I said before," interposed Diganu, "but what evidence will satisfy you, that the priest who has been the tormentor of Louise is also now concerned in this mystery, and that he is the strange pretre who visited us? Will Louise's positive recognition of him, as well as of the same hand writing in the two letters, convince you?" "I will believe, answered Chretien, "every thing that Louise has said, if the priest who visited us the other day appears to-mor row at Lorette." "We shall see," remarked Louise, and speedily left her friends to prepare for the anticipated contingencies of the eventful morning, so anxiously desired, and yet so deeply dreaded, by Digauu.

NUPTIAL CEREMONY.

The hopes, the dreams of former days,
Which once did cheer life's gloom,
Arise before my fearful gaze,

Like spectres from the tonib.

A SMALL party of their acquaintances had been invited to accompany Diganu, Louise, and Chretien to Lorette, who were not apprized of their intended marriage. In case of any emergency, they were selected as witnesses and defenders. Louise appeared in the same dress, except that Guise's winter apparel, being then unseasonable, was discarded. After they had breakfasted, she retired, to commend herself to God, and his fatherly grace and protection. When their friends began to assemble, Louise requested to see Diganu and Chretien alone.

"I most sincerely thank you, Chretien," Louise tenderly remarked, "for all your kindness to me. I know that we shall see each other no more after this morning, but be assured, that the remembrance of your friendship will remain as long as memory endures, and will ever be mingled with the hope of meeting you in that world where the wicked cease from troubling." "Your anticipations, my dear Louise, are too sombre," answered Chretien, 66 once already have you been partly rescued from misery, and I hope this day will witness your complete deliverance." She offered him her hand in friendly salutation, with a melancholy shade of features, totally different from a bride's ordinary expressive glow, and then addressed her betrothed. "All that is in my trunk, Diganu," said Louise, "is rightfully yours, and to you I restore it. But this I present you as my only relic and my most precious

remembrancer," giving him her bible, "I foresee that you will value it for my sake. Believe in it as I do.

I trust that you will derive consolation from it as I have done; and as I expect never more to return to this house, it will be the best memento of your Louise."

The feeling was so oppressive, that she sunk into a chair. But having recovered her composure, she knelt down and prayed to the Father of mercies for her friends, and for her own preservation. At the close of her short devotions, Louise felt reassured, and remarked to Chretien, "if we meet any persons to-day whom I know I will inform you." Diganu interposed, "I cannot go to Lorette, my heart is too overpowered with alarm." "No matter," replied Louise, "thus to live and be tantalized is a lingering consumption; it is preferable to ascertain the final result. I love you Diganu, as a sister might, most tenderly, for your kindness, your sympathy, and your virtues; but, inexplicable as is the fact, I never had the slightest connubial attachment or inclination for you." "This is truly astonishing," subjoined Diganu, "there is something so attractive and so repulsive in all your words, actions and character, that I accede to your wishes, gloomy as is the prospect. We will be tortured thus no longer. Either we will live together inseparable, or we will know the mysterious connexion which seems both to unite and to divide us.”

Their mutual pungency, which flowed from the evils that the friends foreboded, was partly alleviated during the ride from Quebec to Lorette, by the consolatory picture which Louise drew of her Christian exercises, her resignation and hope in God, her resolutions of steadfastness, and in her meek exultation, that her purblind instructions had been so far effica

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cious through the divine blessing, in enlightening Diganu, that she doubted not he would become a sincere believer in Jesus, the Son of God, and she charged him to study that blessed book, her bible. "But,” said Diganu, interrupting her, "why did you not retain it for our own comfort ?” "What use could I make of it?" added Louise, "if I am forcibly separated from you, my enemies would destroy it, and persecute me the more for having found it in my possession, but if I return to Quebec with you, dearest," and she cast upon him a placid smile, which Diganu ever after dwelt upon with indescribable emotions, "then we shall study it together. But as I do not expect this result, I have provided for the consequences. A large portion of its holy contents I have treasured up in my memory, as an antidote to error, an incentive to obedience, and a fountain of comfort." The elevation and spirituality of the topics to which they had attended during the latter part of the journey, were peculiarly appropriate, and beneficial to their agonized hearts. It seemed to unite them in a novel tie, and Louise was soothed by the conviction, that Diganu had attained some Christian knowledge and stability.

At the extremity of the village the party halted, and Chretien having informed their associates of the object of their excursion, proceeded to ascertain if the priest was ready to perform the ceremony. Some of the Indians and their squaws, with the children, were lounging near the entrance of the church, as customary, if any strangers arrived or were expected. When Chretien inquired for the priest, he was directed to the church, where he found two priests, besides the cure, one of whom he recognised as the same who had visited and threatened Diganu, the other was unknown. Two strange women were also seated near the altar,

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