brothers smiled but spoke not are ye my sons said the father in tears and will you who were ever obedient and dutiful disregard me now in this one thing we must said john we how you not now as our father am i right said he addressing his brothers you are right they replied in this thing he is mt our father great god said the priest trembling with m absolute dread at a scene so from any he had ever witnessed merciful father hear our prayers and drive the evil spirits of vengeance and blood out of the hearts of these wicked men amen said their father and rescue them from the strong temptations of the devil which are in them and upon them why do you not even pray to god � � for strength to do it � we did and we do said john interrupting him father looked at them and there they stood pale silent and with a smile upon their lips which filled him with a description of awe and fear that were new to him their father was little better the perspiration stood on his brow and as he looked at them he at times began to doubt their very identity and to that the whole interview might be a or a hideous dream you have sworn an oath said the priest rash and sinful men you dared to take as it were the almighty into a league of blood do you not know that the creature you are about to is the work of your creator even as you are yourselves and what power have you over his life i see i see he added you have taken a oath of blood we have taken an oath of blood said they and wc will keep it the but is this just to your sister said the priest do you believe in the justice of an providence is there no probability that if this man lives circumstances may come to by which her fair and character may be to the world on the contrary should you now take his life you prevent any such possibility from ever happening and your own and crime will be the means of sending her name down to po and spotted with the of a woman s worst guilt is that love for your sister father now began to see that he must argue with their passions � or with that strong affection for their sister upon which these fearful passions were founded � rather than with their reason or their prejudices which in point of fact were now set in the dark determination of crime do you forget he added that there are laws in the country to pursue and overtake the murderer do you forget that you will die an death and that instead of acting an honourable part in life as becomes your ancient and noble name you will nothing to your parents but an inheritance of shame and we have thought of all this before said john m no not all said the youngest not all but nearly well nearly said the other then said the priest you will not hesitate to your most foul and intention we have sworn it said john and it must be done to this the others calmly assented well then said this earnest christian since you fear neither disgrace nor shame nor the force of human laws nor the dread of human punishment you are not so hardened as to bid defiance to the almighty by whom you will be judged has he not said thou shalt do no murder and that who so blood by man shall his blood be shed i now ask you said he as one of the of his messengers do you believe in god and fear him we are sworn said john the blood of him who has our sister s name we will shed and it is neither priest nor parent who will or shall prevent us is not a rash and oath a crime said father yes and you know it is better broken than kept i call upon you now as your spiritual and guide to that oath of blood and in the name of the the irish agent almighty and all powerful god i command you to do it we deny your right to interfere replied john we are not now at confession � keep within your limits for as sure as there is death and judgment so sure as we will fulfil our oath in the disgrace of our that ends all and we will speak no more the good old man began to fear that he should be put to the most painful necessity of lodging before a magistrate and thus become the means of bringing disgrace and evil upon the family when it occurred to him to ask them a last question my dear young men said he i have forgotten in the agitation of mind occasioned by the disclosure of your evil and wilful intentions to ask if you so far god as to refuse to worship him kneel down and let us pray he himself and their father knelt but the three brothers stood as sullen and immovable as before the priest uttered a short prayer but their conduct so completely perplexed and shocked him that he rose up and with tears in his eyes exclaimed � i am now an old man and have witnessed many instances of error and sin and deep crime but never before have i seen in persons of your early years vol m such instances � such awful terrible instances � of in which the heart setting aside and his sacred is given over to the h ness of final i can do no more as of christ but i must not stand by see a fellow creature � oh thank god he exclaimed a thought 