"Hitherto, from a sense of shame and dishonour, I felt authorised to act without restraint; but now I had committed a deed for which expiation must be made. An hour before no man could have convinced me, that anything more base than myself existed under heaven; now I began to think my condition before the crime an enviable one.

"I dreamed not of the judgments of God-but I was pursued by a confused remembrance of a rope and sword, and of an execution for the murder of a child, which I had witnessed when a school-boy. The fearful thought, that my life was now forfeited, was strongly defined in my brain. I recollect nothing more. But yet I then wished that the dead man was alive. I strove to recollect the evil designs which he had formed against my life, but strange! my memory failed in the attempt. I could not call up one of all the circumstances, which, a quarter of an hour before, had inflamed me to madness. I could not comprehend how I was led to commit the murder.

"Still I stood fixedly over the corpse. The snapping of a whip, and the noise of a freight-waggon as it rolled along through the wood, brought me to myself. The spot where the murder was committed was hardly a quarter of a mile distant from the road, and I was forced to think about my security.

"I buried myself, without choice of direction, deeper in the wood. While on my way, it occurred to me that the murdered Robert once possessed a watch. I needed money in order to reach the limits and yet I had not sufficient spirit to return to the spot where the dead man lay. Here the thought of the devil and of an omnipresent God terrified me. I roused up all my boldness, and with a determination to fight it out against the collected power of hell, I went back to the spot. I found the

"Now I plunged into the forest. I knew that it extended four German miles northward, and that there were the limits of the land. I ran in breathless haste until high noon. The anguish of my conscience was dissipated in the rapidity of my flight; but it returned with greater horror as my strength grew weaker. A thousand terrifying images floated by, and wounded my bosom like sharp knives. A life full of the restless fear of death, or certain destruction, were the only alternatives left me, and I was compelled to choose. Crushed between certain torments of life and the uncertain terrors of eternity, alike unfit to live or to die, I accomplished the sixth hour of my flight-an hour of excruciation such as the tongue of no living man could describe.

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Slowly and with my thoughts turned in upon myself-with my hat unconsciously pressed far over my face, as if this would save me from recognition by the eyes of inanimate nature, I had unseen followed a narrow foot-path, which led through a most gloomy thicket-when suddenly a hoarse, imperious voice bid me-halt! The voice was quite near, but my absence of mind and the position of my hat had hitherto prevented me from looking around. I raised my eyes, and beheld a man of savage appearance advancing toward me, who carried in his hand a huge and knotty club. His figure was gigantic-at least so it appeared to me in the first moment of my surprise and alarm-and his face, from out of which a pair of squinting eyes fearfully projected, was of a yellow swartby complexion. A stout rope, coiled twice around a green woollen coat, supplied the place of a girdle, and a broad slaughter-knife stuck in it by the side of a pistol. The cry that first challenged my notice was repeated, and a powerful arm held me fast. The sound of a human voice had filled me with

terror, but the sight of a reprobate and villain renewed my courage. In my present situation, I had reason to tremble before an honest man, but no longer before a robber.

"Who art thou?' said this apparition.

"Thine equal,' was my answer, ‘if you in reality are what you seem to be!' "The path goes not away. What have you to seek here?'

"What have you to inquire?' I replied haughtily.

"The man surveyed me twice from head to feet. He seemed to be weighing my figure against his own, and my answer against my figure- Thou speakest brutishly, like a beggar,' he said at last.

"That may be. I was one but yesterday.'

"The man laughed. 'One would swear,' he cried, that you were now nothing better.'

sake of some living being in whom to repose confidence.

The man stretched himself out upon the grass, and I did the same.

"Your drink has highly benefited me,' I said, 'we must be better acquainted.'

"He struck fire to light his pipe. "Have you driven this trade very long?'

"He looked at me stedfastly. 'What have you to inquire concerning it ?' "Was it often bloody?' I drew the knife forth from his girdle.

"Who are you?' he asked in a voice of terror, and laid down his pipe. "A murderer, like yourself only a beginner.'

- but

"The man fixed his eyes grimly upon me, and took up his pipe again. "You do not belong to this country,' he said at last.

"Three miles from here. The keeper of the Sun in Lof whom you have probably heard.'

"The man rose up in frantic amazement: The poacher Wolf!' he exclaimed with earnestness.

"The same !'

"He stared wildly upon me. 'I will be sworn,' at last he said, 'that you border hard upon a gallows.'

"That may perhaps come. out for yourself, comrade!'

"Agreed!' - he exclaimed, as he drew forth a tin flagon from his hunting pouch, swallowed a large dram and handed it to me. Flight and anxiety had consumed my strength, and during the whole of this terrible day not anything had passed my lips. Already I had expected to perish in the wood, if no refreshment could be obtained within three miles. You can judge how gladly I shared the proffered cordial. New strength flowed with it into my limbs, and fresher spirits into my heart, and hope, and love of life. I began to believe that I was not yet completely miserable, so powerful was the effect of this welcome drink. Indeed, I confess it, my condition again bordered upon a happy one, since at last, after a thousand deluded hopes, I had found a creature who was like myself. In the degradation to which I was reduced, I would have drank companionship with evil spirits, for the

"Counted upon me.

Wherefore?'

"The whole country is full of thee. You have enemies-the judges of the land have persecuted you. Wolf! men have ruined you, they have ground you to the earth, they have treated you with crying injustice.'

"The man spoke with passionate emotion-'Since you shot a few swine, which the prince fed upon our fields and meadows, they have dragged you into the house of correction, and to work in the fortress; they have robbed you of your house and of your situation as innholder; they have made you a beggar. Is it, then, come to this, brother, that man shall be of no more worth than a hare? Are we no better than the beasts of the field? And can a man like you endure this?'

"Can I help it?'

"That, perhaps, we will see. But tell me, from whence do you come, and what is your design?'

"I related to him my whole history. Without waiting till I had finished, the man sprang up with joyful impatience, and drew me after him. Come, brother, Keeper of the Sun,' he said, 'now you are matured, now I will have thee where I need thee. I will acquire honour with thee. Follow me!'

"Where will you lead me?' "No questions! Follow!' He drew me powerfully along.

"We had proceeded about a quarter of a mile. The forest became more mountainous and wild, and our path grew more difficult-neither of us spake a word, till at last the whistle of my guide roused my attention. I raised my eyes and found that we were standing upon the steep of a rugged rock, which stooped over a deep chasm. A second whistle answered from the interior of the rock, and a ladder came, as it were of itself, ascending upward from the bottom of the precipice. My guide clambered down first, bidding me wait until he should return. 'I must first chain the hound,' he added, 'for you are a stranger, and the animal would tear you in pieces.' With this he left me.

"Now I stood alone upon the precipice, and well I knew that I stood alone. The want of caution in my guide had not escaped my observation. It required only resolution to draw up the ladder, and so I should have been free, and my flight would have been secure. I confess I understood my situation. I looked down into the gulf which was about to receive me; I was gloomily reminded of the precipice of the pit from which there is no redemption. I began to tremble in the view of the career which I had never willingly followed; a speedy flight was the only means of safety. I resolved to fly-already I had stretched forth my arm to the ladder-but suddenly the words 'What has a murderer to risk?' thundered in my ears, and resounded like the hollow laughter of hell. My reckoning was full, the time of repentance was past, and murder lay at my doors like a rock, and eternally barred my return. Directly my guide reappeared, and called upon me to come down. There was no further choice. clambered down.

I

"We had gone only a few paces under the wall of rock, before we came to an extended plot of ground, and some huts were visible. In the midst of these was an oval green, where eighteen or twenty

men were collected round a coal fire. 'Here, comrades,' said my guide, and he placed me in the middle of the circle. Our Keeper of the Sun! Bid him welcome!'

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Keeper of the Sun!' cxclaimed all at once, and all rose up and thronged around me, both men and women. Shall I confess it? Their joy was sincere and hearty; confidence, even esteem appeared upon every countenance; this one pressed my hand, another confidingly pulled my garments, and the whole scene was like meeting an old and dear acquaintance. My arrival had interrupted a feast which they had begun. It was immediately continued, and I was obliged to drink to their welcomes. The meal comprised game of all sorts, and the wine-flask went constantly round from neighbour to neighbour. A life of pleasure and harmony seemed to animate the whole band, and they vied with each other in celebrating my arrival with the most unbridled joy.

"I was seated between two women, which was the place of honour at the table. I expected to be avoided by that sex; but how great was my astonishment, when I discovered among this shameless troop, the handsomest female forms on which my eye ever rested. Margaret, the oldest and most beautiful, was a maiden woman, and could hardly have been five and twenty years of age. She spoke with strength, and her gesture was still more impressive. Mary, the younger, was married to a man who had abused her, and run away. She was more finely formed than Margaret, but pale and slender, and her eyes were smaller than those of her fiery neighbour's. Both women jealously strove to win my regards; the beautiful Margaret overcame my bashfulness by her loud jesting, but I entirely disliked her, and fixed my heart upon the timid Mary.

"You see, brother,' began the man who had conducted me here, 'you see how we love one another, and every day is like this day. Is it not so, comrades?'

"Every day is like this day,' repeated the whole band.

"You can therefore determine whether our manner of life pleases you-if it does, agree and be our leader. Until now I have occupied this post, but I will yield it. Are you satisfied with this arrangement, comrades??

"A jovial 'yes!' from every throat answered the question.

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My face burned, my brain was stunned, and my blood boiled with wine. The world had cast me off as one infected with the plague-here I found a brotherly reception, a life of pleasure and honour. Whatever choice I made, death awaited me; but here I could at least sell my life at a dearer price. My resolve was quickly made. I remain with you, comrades,' cried I loudly and boldly, and trod into the centre of the band, I remain with you,' I repeated, 'if you transfer to me my beautiful neighbour!' There was an unanimous compliance, and I was acknowledged head of a gang of robbers."

6

That part of his history which immediately succeeds, I shall pass entirely over; its abominations contain nothing instructive to the reader. An unfortu nate man, who sinks to such a depth, must at last indulge in all that licence which is shocking to human naturebut he never committed a second murder, as he himself acknowledged on the rack.

His fame spread in a short time through the whole province. The high roads were unsafe, burglaries by night disturbed the citizens, the name of the Keeper of the Sun was a terror to the country people; justice searched for him, and a large reward was offered for his head. He was so fortunate as to frustrate all designs against his liberty, and artful enough to convert the superstition of a wonder-seeking people into his own security. It was rumoured abroad by his coadjutors that he had made a league with the evil spirits, and dealt in magic. The district in which his devastations were committed was as unenlightened then as it is now; the rumour was believed, and his person was free from danger. Nobody showed an inclination to contest with one so dangerous, and who was in league with infernal spirits.

He had hardly spent one year in this gloomy business before it began to be insupportable. The gang, at whose head he was placed, did not satisfy his ardent expectations. A seductive exterior had blinded him while he was giddy with wine; now he became fearfully sensible of the extent of his deception. Hunger and want had taken the place of that overflowing wealth, in the midst of which he was to have been rocked asleep; he was often compelled to risk his life for a meal, which was hardly

sufficient to keep him from starving. That shadow of brotherly harmony had disappeared; envy, suspicion, and jealousy raged among this reprobate band. A reward had been offered to the man who should surrender him alive, and free pardon was promised to any of his associates if they would secure him—a strong temptation, indeed, to outcasts from the earth! The miserable man knew his danger. The honesty of those who had betrayed both God and man, was a paltry pledge for his life. His sleep from this time was broken; the eternal anguish of death corroded his spirit; the frightful spectre of suspicion rattled behind him as he walked, tormented him when he waked, went to bed with him when he slept, and haunted him with alarming dreams. Dumb conscience found again its voice, and the sleeping adder of repentance awoke in this universal storm of his bosom. All his hatred left the human race, and turned its gnawing edge upon himself. He forgot all nature, and found no one to execrate but himself.

He

Vice had now spent its judgments upon the afflicted man, and his understanding, which was naturally good, had fallen away under the sad delusion. Now he was conscious of the depths to which he was fallen, and a calmer grief took the place of gnawing despair. wished, with tears, that the past were a dream, and felt that if his life were again to be run, he should spend it in a very different course of conduct. He began to hope that he might yet be honourably employed, for he felt within himself the power to do right. At the extremest point of his deterioration, he thought himself nearer to virtue than, perhaps, he was before his first transgression.

About this time the seven years' war broke out, and numerous recruits were gathering. The hopes of the unfortunate man were renewed by this circumstance, and he wrote a letter to the sovereign of the country, from which I here insert a number of extracts: