Year: 1859

| of the stone stair which led to the door
of the Marquis of Argyle's town residence
tall haggard looking woman was stand
| ing-her arms were outstretched towards
| Hamilton, and her eyes, whose CLASSY va
cancy showed that they were sightless
seemed to glare upon him with horrid tri-
umph as she shrieked out in tones that
were heard far and near: "Seize him.
seize that man whoever he may be-he is
the murderer of my father, know him by
his voice." Many of Argyle's retainers
were amongst the crowd, and the Marquis
himself was drawn to the window by the
noise Of the quarrel. All knew Ell lspeth
Campbell, the blind woman, and remem-
bered her fathers mysterious murder-all
could testify to the acuteness of her sense
of hearing, and to the repeated expression
other longing desire that she might hear
the voice of the assassin so long sought in
vain, for she remembered the full rich
tones that had called on her father to un-
say his words ere he fell corpse, and she
felt certain she could know them again if
she could but once hear the murderer
speak; and now after a lapse Of all these
years, the well know voice had struck her
ear, and again and again she screamed out:
"Seize him! know he is my fathers mur-
derer"


In another moment Argyle was confront
ing Hamilton, too thankful to have such
charge established against his ancient ene-
my. The people crowded round and if
any had been disposed to doubt the blind
woman's recognition, Hamilton's own awe
struck conscience set seal upon its truth,
for he attempted no defense, but kept his
appalled, look still fixed upon the blind wo-
mans ghastly face; he let his hands fall at
his side and exclaimed: at is the hand of
God, and l am lost.'


Not many days after that bright morn
ing when he stood, as it seemed, on the
pinnacle Of fortune with admiring crowds
around him, he found himself again the
centre Of large assemblage, the object of
interest to all. The deadly maiden had
| been prepared to receive another victim,
and at her feet the noble Lady Ellen Ham
iton sat weeping btterest tears, as she saw
the lover of her youth, the husband of her
ripper years led up to die.


They let him pause one instant to take
leave of her. any Ellen, do not weep"
he said, "this is but the work of Gods un-
sleeping justice. l ever knew that must
die for that rash deed. The blind woman's
voice has haunted me through all these
years, as it seems mine has haunted her.
She told me vengeance would overtake me,
and it is come-merciful is it that it meets
me on the scaffold and not in the fires of
hell" He kissed her pale lips, and passed
on.


Still nearer to the fatal maiden stood
the blind woman, who had murdered him
as surely as he killed her father. He laid
his hand on hers: Elspeth you are aveng-
ed" he said; 81 am about to die. Now,
let your hatred pass away, and pray for
me-"


"I WILL" she answered, and tears fell
from her sightless eyes as he passed on to
suffer.


In another instant the maiden had done
her work, and the last of her victims lay
slaughtered in her terrible embrace.
The instrument of death so strangely
named was never used again. 1t was su-
perceded BY the more modern fashion of
executing criminals, and it may now be
seen in the Museum Of the Society of anti
quaries in Edinburgh, with the dark stains
yet corroding on the fatal knife, which
were left there by the blood of him who in
very deed and truth was brought to justice
by the signal retribution we have recorded.