take comfort, madam. [T. CHARLOTTE.] There's
one without enquiring for you. Go to him, and lose
no time,
Char. O misery! misery!

[Exit. Mrs Bev. Follow her, Jarvis. If it be true, that Lewson's dead, her grief may kill her.

Bates. Jarvis must stay here, madam. I have some questions for him.

Stuke. Rather let him fly. His evidence may crush his master.

Bev. Why ay; this looks like management.

Bates. He found you quarrelling with Lewson in the streets last night.

TO BEVERLEY.
Mrs Bev. No; I am sure he did not.
Jar. Or if I did

Mrs Bev. "Tis false, old man-They had no quarrel, there was no cause for quarrel.

Bev. Let him proceed, I say-Oh! I am sick! sick Reach a chair.

(He sits down. Mrs Bev. You droop and tremble, love.-Yet, you are innocent! If Lewson's dead, you

killed him Dot.

Enter Dawson.

Stuke. Who sent for Dawson ?

Bates. 'Twas l_We have a witness too you little think ofwithout there!

Stuke. What witness ?
Bates. A right one. Look at him.

SC

Enter Lewson and CHARLOTTE.

f

Stuke. Lewson ! O villains ! villains !

[To BATES and Dawson. Mrs Bev. Risen from the dead! Why, this is un. expected happiness!

Char. Or is it his ghost? [To STUKELY.] That sight would please you, sir.

1

Jar. What riddle's this?

Bev. Be quick and tell it-My minutes are - but few.

Mrs Bev. Alas! why so? You shall live long, and happily.

Lew. While shame and punishment shall rack that viper! (Pointing to STUKELY.] The tale is shorts I was too busy in his secrets, and therefore doomed to die. Bates, to prevent the murder, undertook itI kept aloof to give it credit

Char. And gave me pangs unutterable.

Lew. I felt them all, and would have told you.gr But vengeance wanted ripening. The villain's scheme was but half executed. The arrest by Dawson followed the supposed murderAnd now, depending on his once wicked associates, he comes to fix the guilt on Beverley.

Mrs Bev, Oh! execrable wretch !
Bates. Dawson and I are witnesses of this.

Lew. And of a thousand frauds. His fortune ruined by sharpers and false dice; and Stukely sole contriver and possessor of all.

Daws. Had he but stopt on this side murder, we had been villains still. Lew. How does

my

friend? [To BEVERLEY. Bev. Why, well. Who's he that asks me? Mrs Bev. Tis Lewson, love-Why do

you

look so at him?

Ber. They told me he was murdered. [Wildly.
Mrs Bev. Ay; but he lives to save us.
Bev. Lend me your band-The room turns round.
Mrs Bev. O Heaven!

Lew. This villain here disturbs him. Remove him from his sight-And, for your lives, see that you guard him. STUKELY is taken off by Dawson and BATES.] How is it, sir?

Bev. 'Tis here--and here. (Pointing to his Head and Heart.] And now it tears me.

Mrs Bev. You feel convulsed too... -What is't disturbs you?

Bev. A furnace rages in this heart -Down, restless flames ! [Laying his Hand on his Heart.] Down to your native hell

—There you shall rack me Oh! for a pause from pain ! - Where's my

wife. Can you forgive me, love?

Mrs Bev. Alas! for what?
Bev. For meanly dying.
Mrs Bev. Nom do not say it.

Bev. As truly as my soul must answer it.. -Had Jarvis staid this morning all had been well. But, pressed by shame--pent in a prison—tormented with my pangs for you-driven to despair and madnessI took the advantage of his absence, corrupted the poor wretch he left to guard me, and-swallowed poison.

Lew. O, fatal deed!

Bev. Ay, most accursed-And now I go to my account.

Bend me, and let me kneel. [Kneels.] I'll pray

for
you too. Thou

power that madest me, hear me! If for a life of frailty, and this too hasty deed of death, thy justice dooms me, here I acquit the sentence; but if, enthroned in

mercy where thou sittest, thy pity has beheld me, send me a gleam of hope, that in these last and bitter moments my soul may taste of comfort ! and for these mourners here, Oh! let their lives be peaceful, and their deaths happy Now I die.

[They lift him to the Chair. Mrs Bev. Restore him, Heaven! Oh, save him! save him! or let me die too. Bev. No; live, I charge you. We have a little

- Though I have left him, you will not leave him.-To Lewson's kindness I bequeath him. Is not this Charlotte?-We have lived in love, though I have wronged you.-Can you forgive me, Charlotte?

Char. Forgive you ! Oh, my poor brother!
Bev. Lend me your hand, love-som-raise me

one.

Nom twill not be! my life is finish'd-Oh! for a few short moments, to tell you how my heart bleeds for you, That even now, thus dying as I am, dubious and fearful of hereafter, my bosom-pang is for your miseries ! Support her, Heaven And now I go Oh, mercy! mercy!

[Dies. Lew. How is it, madam! Char. Her grief is speechless.

Lew. Remove her from this sight. Some minis. tering angel bring her peace!

[CHARLOTTE leads her off,

.

THE END