-is in fact no other than the lawfully begotten daughter of an honest Neapolitan bandit!"

Murmurs of astonishment ran around the company at this unexpected denouement; but they yielded to those of horror, arising from Antonio's brutal narration of Lady Deborah's crimes.The proof of her guilt was too apparent; it came home to the conviction of all.

"Hah!" said Antonio, with the usual grinding motion of his teeth," by Heaven, she must swing!-Oh I shall die with joy, and cheat the gallows after all!-Ha! ha! ha! was ever Italian revenge more complete ?-Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!" —continued he, laughing horribly, until interrupted by the indignation that broke forth generally from the company.

At this moment loud screams were heard proceeding from Lady Deborah's apartment, and every one rushed up stairs to ascertain the meaning of them. The constables had already opened the door to ascertain the cause. It was Lady Deborah's maid who uttered them. Her mistress lay extended on the bed in the last gasp of death.

Silent awe fell upon all around at so instantaneous and dreadful a visitation. The last con

vulsions had frightfully distorted the haughty features on which they had been working.

To the dismay of all present, a loud laugh burst from some one near the door, and a chill horror ran through every fibre of the spectators.

"Soh!" cried the ruffian Neapolitan, "soh! my accusations have not been altogether ineffectual, then?-she has sent herself to hell with all the stings of a blasted name rankling deep in her soul!"

"Wretch !" exclaimed several voices at once. "What mean ye, demon? what appearance is there of suicide here ?"

"Ha ha ha! fools!" exclaimed Antonio, with a cool exultation, that made every one shudder," see ye not that?" said he, as he made way for himself to approach nearer the corpse, that he might the more easily explain what he meant; "see ye not this fragment of cake clenched in her hand?—nay, give it me," said he, addressing the dead body, " ye need not grasp it so hard now; it has worked well on yourself; and now I am well content it shall do that it was originally baked for." He instantly swallowed down some large morsels,

Suspicion flashed upon the minds of those nearest to him; they seized him; but their efforts were too late; the poison had already laid hold of his vitals.

“Hah!” said he, grinding his teeth with more horrible expression than he had ever before exhibited,—“ hah!—I feel it-ha! ha! ha!—è fatto!— hell has already begun its work within me—I— I—I—I feel my heart burning-and my limbs growing cold-hah !—I”——His features became convulsed-his eyes rolled, as if they would start from their sockets-his tongue was thrust out, and his teeth set against it. He lost the use of his limbs, and fell on the bed, where he was laid beside his mistress a stiffened corpse. The spectacle was too horrible for the bystanders-they left the room in a body.

The rest of our story may be soon told. The reader, indeed, must already anticipate the happy union of Amherst Oakenwold and his Eliza. The joy, the exuberant joy of Sir Cable,—and the calm, dignified, and placid felicity of the noble Earl of Eaglesholme, whose life of repentance was

now repaid by the thought that she, in whom all his affections had centered, had still the nearest and best claim to his tenderness. Miss Margery's colloquies with Mrs Glass, in her preparations for the wedding feast, and Cleaver's critical discussions on the various dishes composing it, mingled with his honest and hearty greetings, may all be readily imagined.

With respect to the faithful O'Gollochar and his joyous Epingle, though little apt in acquiring each other's tongue, they held matrimonial converse no less amusing than were their dialogues when lovers.

For the false heiress of Delassaux, ample provision was made by the munificent Eliza. With this she retired into Italy, and finally, we believe, became the Countess di Montemarone.

THE END.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED BY JOHN STARK.