Year: 1859


way for him as he turned to resume his walk
One moment he stood there in all bis proud
prosperity, receiving the homage Of the peo,
pie as bis right, and scarce bending his lofty
head in acknowledgment Of 1.-THE sunshine
Of a bright summer sky streaming down upon
his noble aud commanding form seemed but to
typify the briIIiancy Of his worldly prospects,
One moment he stood thus, and the next the
vengeance that had so long tracked his steps
unseen laid hold upon him with deadly grasp
and the SUI of Hamiltons career sunk down
to set in blood. A Shrek so thrilling and in
tense that it seemed to pierce bis very heart,
suddenly rung through the air, and all eyes ,as
as well as his own, were turned to the spot
from whence it appeared to have acisen-and
there a sight presented itself which caused the
stately Hamilton to grow pale and teembIe like
a child. On the highest step Of the stone stair
which led to the door Of the Marquis Of Angles
town residence tall, haggard-lcoking woman
was standing-her arms were Outstreched
towards Hamilton, and her eyes, whose CLASSY
vacancy showed that they were sightless, seemed
to glare upon him with horrible triumph 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 Argyles retainers were among the
crowd, and the Marquis himself had been drawn
to the window by the noise of the quarrel
All knew Elspcth Campbell, the blind woman
and rememt cred her fathers mysterious mur.
der-all could testify to the acuteness Of her
sense Of hearing, and tie repeated expression
of her longing desire that she might hear the
voice Of the assassin, so long sought in vain. for
she remembered the full rich zones that had
called on her father to unsay bis words, one
instant before he fell a corpse and she felt GER
tain she could know them again if she could
but once hear the murderer speak aud now,
after the lapse of all these years, the we'll
known voice had struck her ear, and again and
again she screamed out Seize him | know
he is my fathers murderer"


In another moment Argyle was confronting
Hamilton, too thankful to have such charge
established against bis ancient enemy The
people crowded round, and if any had been
disposed to doubt the blind woman'S rccogni-
ton, HamiltOn's own awestruck conscience set
a seal upon its truth for he attempted no de-
fense, but kept his appalled, look still fixed up
on the blind womaaS ghastly face he let his
hands fall at his side and exclaimed " 1t is
the haud of God, and | am lost !"


He spoke truly he was lost indeed. Argyle
speedily brought him to justice The blind
wOman's evidence was unquesionable nor did
he attempt TO coutroyert it it was as if the
very blood Of the murdered man had risen up
to cry for vengeance and all men deemed it
righteous sentence which doomed him 10 the
scalTold


Not many days after the bright morning
when hc stood as it seemed, on tae pinnacle Of
fortune with admrjmg crowds around him, be
found himself again the centre Of a large as
semblage, the object of interest to all. The
deadly maiden had been prepared to receive
another yctim and at her feet the noble Lady
Ellen Hamilton sat weeping bitterest tears, as
she saw the lover Of her youth, the husband Of
her ripper years. led up to die


They let him pause one moment to take leave
Of her MY Ellen, do not weep" he said
" this is but the work of Gods unSIecpiug
justice. ! ever knew that ! must die tor that
rash deed The blind w0mGn's voice has haunt
ted mc through all these years, as it seems mine
has haunted her. She told me vengeance would
overtake me, and it has come nerciiul it is
that it meets me on the scalod and uotin the
fires Of hell" He kissed her pale lips and pass
cd on.


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


will she answered, and the tears fell
from her sightlcss eyes, as he passed on to sui
fer.


In another instant the maiden had done her
work. and the last Of her victims lay slaughter
ed in her terrible embrace.


The instrument of death thus strangely
named was never used again. 1t was super
ccded 10y the more modern fashion of executing
criminals, and it may now be seen in the Muse
um Of the Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh
with the dark stains yet corrodng 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 rctribution We have re.
corded