was at the time boarding with Vess, there were many reasons that cool reflection immediately applied to Clanton, and no other person.

The words of Aker, "He is a big fish, and any thing he would say would be believed" (thereby meaning that he was a man of standing), he at once saw were by no means descriptive of Vess. Again, the words, "He is a confidential friend of Stewart-they have frequently done business for each other," were equally inapplicable to him. Loath still to suspect a man that had hitherto seemed so much his friend, Mr. Stewart would fain have suspected some acquaintance in Tennessee with whom he was on terms of intimacy; but he was not a resident of that state, and Aker had conversed in the present tense. He could at length no longer doubt that Clanton was alluded to, though he regretted not having been more inquisitive while with Aker. Clanton was the only man in the Purchase for whom he had ever done any business, or who had any claims to his confidence. In this view of it a flood of light was at once thrown upon the whole subject. Vess had received the hundred-dollar bribe to take his life by poison; and Clanton, at the still higher price of a thousand, was charged with blasting his fair fame and character. There was no longer any difficulty in accounting for Clanton's mysterious appearance when told of Murrell's confession, and the implication of Colonel Jarrot, of Denmark k; his subsequent change of conduct; his refusing to join the company of regulators; and his evasive behaviour when interrogated in relation to Vess's forged claim against the estate of Mr. Stewart.

The startling truth now rushed with tenfold force upon the mind of Stewart, that the place of his fancied security was but the "hotbed" of his enemies; that his pretended friends were so many cherished vipers, destined, in some confiding moment, to sting him to the vitals. Should all this prove true (and that it would he had but little reason to doubt), stranger as he was in the country, he saw no longer any protector upon whom to hang his hope of safety, unless that protector, that friend, should be found in George N. Saunders, who will be better known to the reader hereafter. But he was Clanton's friend and associate, and why not a partaker also of his guilt? But no! his former show of friendship, and a character uniformly above suspicion, as he had been informed, could not conceal so base and black a heart. And yet he thought, "if Clanton be false, who can be depended on ?" A man in whose hands, till now, he had felt his life secure, and for whom he had never before refused its peril. He could scarce realize, even yet, that for such devoted friendship he was rewarded with such cruel treachery, such murderous and remorseless ingratitude.

But he had heard and seen too much longer to hesitate; for the picture drawn by Aker in their recent interview, blind charity itself could nowhere find so fit an original, besides a train of circumstances. But Saunders, the slightest breath of suspicion had not as yet lit upon him; nay, his character had always been esteemed amiable; and his hoary locks, silvered by the bleaching winds of so many winters, and sanctified by the superaddition of the Christian name, sure

ly could not shelter such deep corruption-such vile and villanous hypocrisy! He resolved to believe him true till time should prove him false.

Thus circumstanced, alone and undefended, amid the desertion of friends and the threats of enemiesbeholding in every form a foe-and in every voice recognising but the cry of vengeance; thus exposed to the fearful impending storm, surcharged with death in a thousand frightful shapes, a spirit less dauntless, less proud and determined than that of Mr. Stewart, had shrunk from the dread encounter; and his, but that, already accustomed to the sight, it had grown reckless of danger, and, from long familiarity, superior to fear.

It being late, Mr. Stewart determined not to sup at his boarding-house, for he saw the great importance of being ever on his guard against Vess. The more particularly on the present occasion, as from the lateness of the hour he knew he would be obliged to sup alone; and accordingly proceeded to the house of Saunders, distant but a few hundred yards from Vess's and Clanton's. While reflecting on his situation, Mr. S. was often, in the agony of excited feeling, on the point of unbosoming himself to Saunders, and seeking his counsel; but the recollection that his confidence had been so recently betrayed by those with whom he was better acquainted, fortunately suggested the prudence of forbearance; and how far he was indebted for his life, the security of his character, and the subsequent important services rendered to the public through means of his disclosures, to this single act of prudence, will be better understood in the sequel.

When he had finished his supper with Mr. Saunders, Mr. S. walked over to his boarding-house with a view of scrutinizing more attentively the conduct of Vess and his wife. He knew Mrs. Vess would invite him to sup, and, if they wished to poison him, a period so much beyond their usual supping-hour was the one best suited to their purpose; for they knew he would sup alone, if at all, and had doubtless made arrangements with that view. His object was to ascertain, if possible, what disposition would be made of the coffee which had been provided for his supper; if, as he had much reason to believe, it should contain a dose, he had no doubt it would be thrown away, and resolved to make that the test.

Reaching at length the house, Mrs. Vess, as expected, invited him to sup; and, notwithstanding the plea that he had already supped with Mr. Saunders, repeatedly insisted on his taking a cup of coffee; but, finding him inexorable, she at length ceased her importunities, and proceeded to remove the provisions that had been served for him. Meanwhile Mr. Stewwithout the house, sat

art, having concealed himself eying her every movement. But a few minutes had elapsed when the coffee that had been intended for his use was poured out at the door; and, as a favourite cur came up and smelt on the ground where she had emptied the coffee, she observed, "Take care, Watch! that was prepared for a spy. I would give you a more kind and better supper." He was now satisfied of the truth of what Aker had told him, and that Vess was the man that had been bribed to take his life.

With the earliest sunlight on the following morning,

Mr. Stewart, gun in hand, was on the road and making the best of his way to the pile of logs, the spot designated for his appointed meeting with Aker; for he had at length determined to meet him alone.

It was his intention, when he parted with Aker on the preceding evening, to take a friend with him as a pretended accomplice to witness the appointed interview, to hear Aker's account of himself, and assist in arresting him; but subsequent reflections, as before described, had induced him to change his plan.

Mr. Stewart awaited at the appointed place the arrival of Aker till ten o'clock, who, failing to make his appearance, he concluded had by some means learned his mistake; and, taking the timely warning, had made good his escape.

If Aker had met him according to agreement, and Clanton had proved the man alluded to in their former interview, he had determined to shoot him and leave the country; but his failing to appear left the subject still involved in uncertainty, and Mr. Stewart returned home under the influence of feelings far from agreeable; for he little doubted that Aker had been enlightened on the subject of their meeting; and if so, he saw but too clearly the great insecurity of his present situation.

He had commenced building, with a view to making a permanent location in the Purchase; but the present aspect of things pointed too evidently to the perilous consequences that might be attendant on such a

course.

A few days of continuous and intense anxiety passed away, and Mr. Stewart remained still undecided