struggle, like a troubled soul clinging to the life it is about to leave forever, when another light mingled with the pale moonshine, and I now perceived that it glimmered through a door which had been so carefully concealed, that it had entirely escaped my observation, but which was now slowly and cautiously opened.

Doubting if I were not still under the influence of a dream, I fixed my steady gaze upon the aperture, which continued gradually and silently to widen; and I soon became aware that I was no longer the sole inhabitant of the chamber. The light, however, would not permit me to discover the number of my adversaries; and being ignorant how many I had to cope with, I committed myself to the protection of heaven, and placing my hand upon one of the pistols, remained perfectly still, awaiting the approach of the murderers, (for such I was convinced they were) with firmness and cool resolution. They paused, and whispered together for a few moments; and then, with slow and noiseless steps, approached my bed. There were two men; and the foremost, as they approached, bid the other in an audible whisper, Hold up the lantern." As he did so, I perceived its dim light gleaming upon a knife which the leader held in his hand. They were now within a few paces of me, and on the event of that moment depended my fate-I felt that it did so; and, rousing up every energy to my assistance, I raised the pistol with a firm hand, and in the next moment the foremost lay weltering in his blood. The other immediately

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fled;-springing from my bed, I found that my aim had been surely taken the bullet having penetrated the heart of the assassin. I stripped off his mask, and was transfixed with astonishment and horror, when I found my intended murderer to be the landlord of the inn!

I was startled from my trance of awe-struck amazement, by a sudden tumult of voices without, and a loud knocking at the front door of the inn. I seized my other pistol, determined to meet whatever dangers might present themselves, with a bold and manly front. The door was suddenly burst open, and I heard the sound of many feet ascending the stairs and approaching my chamber, the door of which was forced open, and exhibited me in the attitude of resolute despair. Suddenly, one of the party sprung forward into the room-I caught his features in the moonshine-the pistol dropped from my hand-it was De Courcey-I fell into his arms. "Good Heaven!" cried he, "is it possible? are you safe?-rouse thee-speak to me."

I could only answer, "Oh! 'twas a fearful dream!"

Lights were now procured, and the commotion brought the other inmates of the house to my chamber, when I related the circumstances of the mysterious warning which had brought about this catastrophe to the landlord.

"But," said I, turning to De Courcey, "how am I to account for your timely presence, and how are you connected with my wonderful escape?"

"Be not surprized at that ;" said he, "but

consider your present escape alone, as a special intervention of a mysterious Providence. I am now satisfied you are safe, and will relate the causes that have produced this unexpected meeting. Myself and two servants were unavoidably detained to a late hour, at a place some miles distant; and, my presence being required early in the morning at my seat, I concluded, as the night was fine, to hasten homewards immediately, which I might reach several hours before daylight. As we approached this house, we heard a pistol-shot fired, which seemed to bode ill, and startled us all, besides exciting strange suspicions, as the reputation of this house is none of the best. Suddenly, we saw

a man come from the rear of the house, stealing cautiously along in the shade. Suspecting him as the author or agent of some foul play, we at once rushed on, and seized him. In his confusion, he dropt some expressions hastily, which warranted us in securing him: our next efforts were to enter the house, to learn the extent of the mischief on foot, and, if possible, prevent it. But, conceive my astonishment, to find you here, engaged in arresting the arm of the midnight robber, and punishing foul and treacherous murder!"

"My valued friend!" I said, "the events of to-night are so strange and mysterious-so linked with other circumstances, thoughts and impressions, that I am almost stupified with wonder. I wish you to examine the wretch whom you have arrested, now detained in the next room, in order to assist me in the solution of a

very curious enigma, which has, for the last two nights and part of yesterday, completely bewildered all my faculties, and almost made me doubt my own existence."

The assistant murderer was now brought in; and in the presence of us all, examined. On removing the blacking from his face, I discovered him to be the identical, ruffian-looking fellow, whom I had met on the evening before, at the door of the suspicious-looking inn. He confessed to having formed the plan to rob me, previous to my leaving London; that, from the circumstance of discharging all my servants, he concluded, from what he knew of my splendid way of living, I must have much money with me; that after I had declined entering his own house for the night, he brought intelligence to the landlord of this inn, where he had several years before, been employed, and was then engaged with him in the robbery and murder of a gentleman, whose diappearance had never been accounted for. With his former master he now united in the plan of murdering me this night, and which had now so unaccountably ended in defeat, punishment, and exposure.

He was then conveyed to a place of security, and afterwards suffered the penalty attached to his crimes.

Thus was my dream in every respect accomplished; and, by attending to the mysterious warnings it conveyed, I had escaped a terrible fate, yet had executed just retribution on the murderer.

In this adventure, I had undoubtedly expe

rienced a signal and particular interposition of Divine Providence; but for what end or purpose, was then beyond my comprehension. It eventually produced much sober reflection and discussion with De Courcey, to whom I related every particular; and the result was, an abandonment of my once favourite doctrine of necessity, as false and erroneous, in principle and practice.

CONCLUSION.

In the ensuing spring I agreed to accompany De Courcey to Vienna, where he was sent on public business. As much of his time was employed in official duties, I amused myself at first with some of the gaieties there; but they failed to produce the happiness I was now incessantly seeking. On effecting the object of his journey, De Courcey was anxious for me to proceed with him to Venice, on private affairs, where he would probably stay for two or three months. I had particular objections against such a visit on my part, but agreed to await his return to Vienna, or apprize him of my removal, should I adopt such a measure.

After his departure, I fell into fits of abstract musing, dejection and despondency; to avoid which, I took an excursion through part of the Austrian dominions. By some strange and un