The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-17

but hosts of other English soldiers poured into the room and spread themselves through the castle. The stronghold soon was in the possession of Souls and his English companion, the Lord Aymer de Valence.
 Earl Mar and such of the garrison as were left alive or had not escaped by flight were prisoners. As soon as he saw the inevitable issue of the conflict Andrew Murray slipped behind the arras at the back of his uncles court. and by secret passage sought the chamber of the terrified Helen. His greatest fear was for her. He knew that the two fierce Lords Souls and De Valence had
 been unsuccessful suitors for Helen's hand; that they had quarreled bitterly over her, and that each had sworn to possess her by force or fraud if not otherwise. Through secret passage that led to the neighboring monastery of St. Filian's
 he conducted the half-conscious girl to
 place her in a sanctualry which even the Southron, he thought, would hardly dare to violate. His uncle had brought with
 him from Ellerslie the iron box that Wal
 lace had received from Montieth and had
 told him of its hiding place. This mys 1 terious coffer the young man took along with him to the monastery
 Murray hastily explained to the aston 1 ished prior of St. FNllians the situation and present needs of his unexpected guest. He also told him that the iron | box had been sent to Scotland by the
 imprisoned Lord Douglas, with instrue- ] tions that it should never be allowed to
 fall into the hands of the English and ! that a curse had been pronounced upon 1 any one who should open 1t until Scot ! land was free and her rightful king on l his throne.
 | Helen, recovered from her agitation. had regained her normal courage 'I would" .l.A strike blow for Scotland. But, as that | is denied me, will stay in this hallowed l place and pray for the liberty of my
 country and the safety of her champions. l But my poor father-oh, tell me what is l his fate?"
 Murray replied that as he was get | ting the mysterious box from the
 chapel where it had been concealed he l had heard Souls and De Valence in | high words in the courtyard, and had l heard orders given that as the Lady Helen Mar could not be found, the Earl and his countess were to be
 taken to Dumbarton castle, where they
 were to be kept in strict confinement. And now" said Murray "I must join those brave men who are in arms with l Wallace for Scotland. And, fair cousin, | in thy prayers forget not Andrew ! Murray"
 l Disguised as a monk, Murray passed through the English lines and finally
 reached Wallace, who had broken ! through the Southron forces that sur 1 rounded the Cartlane Craigs and
 marched north. where chiefs and their
 vassals from all parts of Scotland were
 now fiocking to his standard.
 Three days after young Murray had 1 gone, two men, one of whom wore the I armor of an English knight while the | other bore the plaid of Scot, came to rrt.o IicI, affrl,f Ixn, l his visor closed ana spoke not, but the l Scot. presenting to the Lady Helen a l signet ring which she recognized as
 one belonging to her stepmother said | that her father had sent them to fetch
 her to Dumbarton, where both Lord
 and Lady Mar were anxiously await ] ing her. Her fathers wounds, he said, hau opened afresh and desired that
 his daughter might be brought to re- | ceive his last blessing. Carried away | with grief and not suspecting any | trap set for her innocence, Helen set | out with the two messengers, who had | a litter and small train Of attend
 ants in waiting. They conveyed her l into the recesses of the mountains and ! at night lodged her in cave under the care of a woman who proved to De I the wife of the Scot who had presented
 her the sgnet.
 The troops departed. When she was quite alone the English knight entered. 1 Throwing up his visor, he disclosed the 1 features of Lord Souls.
 You have scorned me-" said Souls, l "but now you are in my power. Know that it was necessary to practice little l art to bring you to these arms which you | shall leave never more" He seized the l almost fainting girl and pressed her to his bosom Helen shrieked. At the same
 instant the grasp of soulis relaxed. she felt his blood on her face and the next | minute a fierce conflict was raging in the | cave In the glare of the torches set | around & stranger knight was combating l with the strength of 10 against the fol- | lowers of Soulis. His sword played with
 such marvellous dexterity that he was left
 the master of the situation. Then he
 stood leaning on his blade while gazing at the terrified girl with such a sad but
 royal mien she had never seen before | in mortal man. Tenderly he lifted her l up and conducted her to the cell of neighboring anchorite, where he left her in the keeping of the holy man with in- | structions that she be furnished with
 guide to the castle of her aunt, Lady
 Ruthven, near Forth.
 And may I not know the name of my
 preserver?" asked Helen, as the stranger made ready to depart.
 'sNot now" replied he. The sword Is drawn in Scotland that must be victorious or broken. If 1t is victorious, fair lady. you shall know my name
 l Tn her aunt,s castle Helen rested for
 a while. hearing with an interest attended
 with the most intense emotion the tidinss
 that came in daily of the progress of the Scottish arms under the valiant Wallace, whose name was now on every lip and
 who was acclaimed the most virtuous. as he was the bravest, of Scots.
 Wallace's first action, as soon as his