dreads the contest which is to take place between his own Clan and the Clan Chattan. The old man listens to this confession with astonishment and with pain; and advises him to take better courage, and fortify his mind against the worst; but he counsels and consoles the young Chieftain in vain. Perhaps this scene is the most pathetic in the work; exhibiting the minute knowledge the author has acquired of the strength and weakness of the human heart.

But we will leave the fortunes of the ill-fated Conachar, and will return to those of the Fair Catharine. She has arrived at the place of her destination in safety, but mischief is on foot to entrap her, when she deems she is most

still resided there. Catharine's heart throbbed, for she had heard that the Duchess had the pride as well as the high courage of the house of Douglas, and felt uncertain touching the reception she was to experience. On entering the Castle, she observed that the train was smaller than she had expected, but as the Duchess lived in close retirement, she was little surprised at this. In a species of anteroom she was met by a little old woman, who seemed bent double with age, and supported herself upon an ebony staff.

as

"Truly thou art welcome, fair daugh ter,' said she, saluting Catharine, and, may say, to an afflicted house; audĺ trust (once more saluting her) thou wilt be a consolation to my precious and right royal daughter the Duchess. Sit thee down, my child, till I see whether my lady be at leisure to receive thee. Ah, my child, thou art very lovely indeed, if Our Lady hath given to thee a soul to match with so fair a body,'

"With that the counterfeit old woman crept into the next apartment, where she found Rothsay in the masquerading habit

he had prepared, and Ramorny, who had evaded taking part in the pageant, in his ordinary attire.

"Thou art a precious rascal, Sir Doctor,' said the Prince; by my honour I think thou couldst find in thy heart to play out the whole play thyself, lover's part and all.'

"If it were to save your highness trouble,' said the leech, with his usual subdued laugh.

'No, no,' said Rothsay, 'I'll never need thy help, man and tell me now, how look I, thus disposed on the couch languishing and lady-like, ha ?'

Something too fine complexioned and soft-featured for the Lady Marjory of Douglas, if I may presume to say so,' said the leech.

"Away, villain, and marshall in this fair frost-piece-fear not she will complain of my effeminacy and thou, Ramorny, away also.'

"As the knight left the apartment by one door, the fictitious old woman ushered in Catharine Glover by another. The room had been carefully darkened to twilight, so that Catharine saw the apparently female figure stretched on the couch without the least suspicion.

"Is that the maiden?' asked Rothsay, in a voice naturally sweet, and now carefully modulated to a whispering tone Let her approach, Griselda, and kiss our hand.'

"The supposed nurse led the trembling maiden forward to the side of the couch, and signed to her to kneel. Catharine did so, and kissed with much devotion and simplicity the gloved hand which the counterfeit Duchess extended to her.

"Be not afraid,' said the same musical voice; in me you only see a melancholy example of the vanity of human greatness--happy those, my child, whose rank places them beneath the storms of state.'

"While she spoke, she put her arms around Catherine's neck and drew her towards her, as if to salute her in token of welcome. But the kiss was bestowed with an earnestness which so much overacted the part of the fair patroness, that Catharine, concluding the Duchess had lost her senses, screamed aloud.

"Peace, fool! it is I-Robert of Rothsay,' said the Prince.

"Catharine looked around her the nurse was gone, and the Duke tearing off his veil, she saw herself in the power of a daring young libertine.

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Now be present with me, Heaven!' she said; and thou wilt, if I forsake not myself.'

"As this resolution darted through her

here.'

"And if I did let thee go, whither would'st thou fly?' said Rothsay. The bridges are up-the portcullis down-and the men who follow me are strangely deaf to a peevish maiden's squalls. Be kind, therefore, and you shall know what it is to oblige a Prince.'

"Unloose me, then, my lord, and hear me appeal from thyself to thyselffrom Rothsay to the Prince of Scotland.

Thus fore

I am the daughter of an humble but honest citizen. I am, I may well nigh say, the spouse of a brave and honest man. If I have given your Highness any encouragement for what you have done, it has been unintentional. warned, I entreat you to forego your power over me, and suffer me to depart. Your Highness can obtain nothing from me, save by means equally unworthy of knighthood or manhood."

"You are bold, Catharine,' said the Prince; but neither as a knight nor a man can I avoid accepting a defiance. I must teach you the risk of such challenges.'

"While he spoke, he attempted to throw his arms again around her, but she eluded his grasp, and proceeded in the same tone of firm decision.

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"My strength, my lord, is as great to defend myself in an honourable strife, as yours can be to assail me with a most dishonourable purpose. Do not shame yourself and me by putting it to the combat. You may stun me with blows, or you may call aid to overpower me; but otherwise you will fail of your purpose.'

"What a brute would you make me!" The force I would use said the Prince. is no more than excuses women in yielding to their own weakness.'

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"He sat down in some emotion. "Then keep it,' said Catharine, 'for those women who desire such an excuse. My resistance is that of the most determined mind, which love of honour and fear of shame ever inspired. Alas! my lord, could you succeed, you would but break every bond between me and life between yourself and honour. I have been trained fraudulently here, by what decoys I know not; but were I to go dishonoured hence, it would be to denounce the destroyer of my happiness to every quarter of Europe. I would take the palmer's staff in my hand, and wherever chivalry is honoured, or the word Scotland has been heard, I would proclaim the heir of a hundred kings, the son of the godly Robert Stewart, the Heir of the heroic Bruce-a truthless, faithless man, unworthy of the crown he expects, and of the spurs he wears. Every lady in wide Europe would hold your name too foul for her lips-every worthy knight would hold you a baffled, forsworn caitiff, false to the first vow of arms, the protection of woman, and the defence of the feeble.'

Rothsay resumed his seat, and looked at her with a countenance in which resentment was mingled with admiration. "You forget to whom you speak, maiden, Know, the distinction I have offered you is one for which hundreds, whose trains you are born to bear, would feel gratitude.'

"Once more, my lord,' resumed Catharine, keep these favours for those by whom they are prized; or rather reserve your time and your health for other and nobler pursuits, for the defence of your country and the happiness of your subjects. Alas! my lord! how willingly would an exulting people receive you for their chief!-How gladly would they close around you, did you show desire to head them against the oppression of the mighty, the violence of the lawless, the seduction of the vicious, and the tyranny of the hypocrite!'

The Duke of Rothsay, whose virtuous feelings were as easily excited as they were evanescent, was affected by the enthusiasm with which she spoke. Forgive me, if I have alarmed you, maiden,' he said ; 'thou art too noble-minded to be the toy of passing pleasure, for which my mistake destined thee; and I, even were thy birth worthy of thy noble spirit and transcendent beauty, have no heart to give thee; for by the homage of the heart only should such as thou be wooed.' "Oh, my lord!' exclaimed Catharine, with the enthusiasm which belonged to her character I will call you my

dear lord,-for dear must the heir of Bruce be to every child of Scotland,-let me not, I pray, hear you speak thus! Your glorious ancestor endured exile, persecution, the night of famine, and the day of unequal combat, to free his country,-do you practice the like self-denial to free yourself. Tear yourself from those who find their own way to greatness smoothed by feeding your follies. Distrust yon dark Ramorny!-you know it not, I am sure you could not know; but the wretch who could urge the daughter to courses of shame by threatening. the life of the aged father, is capable of all that is vile-all that is treacherous!' "Did Ramorny do this?' said the Prince.

"He did indeed, my lord, and he dares not deny it.'

"It shall be looked to,' answered the Duke of Rothsay. I have ceased to love him; but he has suffered much for my sake, and I must see his services honourably requited.'

She is then entrusted to the Glee-Maiden, a character who performs a prominent part in the course of the story. While she is still held prisoner in the castle of Falkland, the life of the young Prince Rothsay is attempted; he is thrown into a dungeon, and left to perish, but is for some time supplied with food by Catherine and the Glee-Maiden, but their efforts to save him are unavailing. The murderers are, however, brought to light by their assistance; and the gentle Catherine is once more safe out of the toils of her enemies.

The eventful day now approaches which is to decide the courage or cowardice of young Conachar, or Eachin Mac Ian. Ön Palm Sunday, the respective Clans gather for the fray; and having performed the religious observances of the day, issue forth to the field where is to be decided whether Clan Quhele or Clan Chattan is to bear the supremacy Their respective forces are marshalled, when it is discovered that Clan Chattan is one short of its number of combatants. Proclamation is made for a volunteer to fill the vacant place, when forth steps Her.ry of the Wynd, who, by this lucky opportunity, hopes to come face to face with his rival, the young Chieftain. is accepted, takes his station, the combat commences, and the Clan Quhele loses its most staunch vindicators one by one, till there are but few combatants left on the field.

He

Among the most prominent of these is Torquil of the Oak, who guards and defends his foster-son. Torquil perceives the determination of Harry Smith to bring

the young Chieftain to a personal rencontre with himself, and trusts to prevent it by himself becoming the assailant of the gallant Harry. Having blessed Eachin, Torquil pushed on to the conflict, " and brandishing his sword, rushed forward with the same fatal war-cry, which had so often sounded over that bloody field, Bas air son Eachin!-The words rung three times in a voice of thunder; and each time that he cried his war-shout, he struck down one of the Clan Chattan, as he met them successively straggling towards him." Brave battle, hawk well flown, falcon!' exclaimed the multitude, as they witnessed exertions which seemed, even at this last hour, to threaten a change of the fortunes of the day. Suddenly these cries were hushed into silence, and succeeded by a clashing of swords so dreadful as if the whole conflict had re-commenced in the person of Henry Wynd and Torquil of the Oak. They cut, foined, hewed and thrust, as if they had drawn their blades for the first time that day; and their inveteracy was mutual, for Torquil recognised the foul wizard, who, as he supposed, had cast a spell over his child; and Henry saw before him the giant, who, during the whole conflict, had interrupted the purpose for which alone he had joined the combatants. They fought with an equality which, perhaps, would not have existed, had not Henry, more wounded than his antagonist, been somewhat deprived of his usual agility.'

"Meanwhile Eachin, finding himself alone, after a disorderly and vain attempt to put on his foster brother's harness, became animated by an emotion of shame and despair, and hurried forward to support his foster-father in the terrible strug gle, ere some other of the Clan Chattan should come up. When he was within five yards, and sternly determined to take his share in the death-fight, his foster father fell, cleft from the collar-bone wellnigh to the heart, and murmuring with his last breath, Bas air son Eachin!The unfortunate youth saw the fall of his last friend, and at the same moment beheld the deadly enemy who had hunted him through the whole field, standing within sword's point of him, and brandishing the huge weapon which had hewed its way to his life through so many obstacles. Perhaps this was enough to bring his constitutional timidity to its highest point; or perhaps he recollected at the same moment that he was without defensive armour, and that a line of enemies, halting indeed and crippled, but eager for revenge and blood, were closely

approaching. It is enough to say, that his heart sickened, his eyes darkened, his ears tingled, his brain turned giddy—all other considerations were lost in the apprehensions of instant death; and drawing one ineffectual blow at the Smith, he avoided that which was aimed at him in return, by bounding backward; and ere the former could recover his weapon, Eachin had plunged into the stream. A roar of contumely pursued him as he swam across the river, although, perhaps, not a dozen of those who joined in it would have behaved otherwise in the like circumstances. Henry looked after the fugitive in silence and surprise, but could not speculate on the consequences of his flight, on account of the faintness which seemed to overpower him as soon as the animation of the contest had subsided. He sat down on the grassy bank, and endeavoured to staunch such of his wounds as were pouring fastest.'

The field is now cleared of all combatants save Harry and Conachar. The resolution of the latter, as he had foreboded, forsakes him, and he flies, followed by the execrations of the spectators; and thus disgracefully ends the feud between the rival clans; and thus does the hardy Harry triumph over his rival.

"We now return to the Fair Maid of Perth, who had been sent from the horrible scene at Falkland, by order of the Douglas, to be placed under the protection of his daughter, the now widowed Duchess of Rothsay. That lady's temporary residence was a religious house called Campsie, the ruins of which still occupy a striking situation on the Tay. It arose on the summit of a precipitous rock, which descends on the princely river, there rendered peculiarly remarkable by the cataract called Campsie Linn, where its waters rush tumultuously over a range of basaltic rock, which intercepts the current, like a dike erected by human hands. Delighted with a site so romantic, the monks of the Abbey of Cupar reared a structure there, dedicated to an obscure Saint, named St. Hunnand, and hither they were wont themselves to retire for pleasure or devotion. It had readily opened its gates to admit the noble lady who was its present inmate, as the coun try was under the influence of the power ful Lord Drummond, the ally of the Douglas. There the Earl's letters were presented to the Duchess by the leader of the escort which conducted Catharine and the glee maiden to Campsie. Whatever reason she might have to complain of Rothsay, his horrible and unexpected end greatly shocked the noble lady, and she

"On the next morning, which was that of the memorable Palm Sunday, she ordered Catharine Glover and the minstrel into her presence. The spirits of both the young women had been much sunk and shaken by the dreadful scenes in which they had so lately been engaged and the outward appearance of the Duchess Majory was, like that of her father, more calculated to inspire awe than confidence. She spoke with kindness, however, though apparently in deep affliction, and learned from them all which they had to tell concerning the fate of her erring and inconsiderate husband. She appeared grateful for the efforts which Catharine and the glee maiden had made, at their own extreme peril, to save Rothsay from his horrible fate. She invited them to join in her devotions; and at the hour of dinner gave them her hand to kiss, and dismissed them to their own refection, assuring both, and Catharine in particular, of her efficient protection, which should include, she said, her father's, and be a wall around them both, so long as she herself lived.

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They retired from the presence of the widowed Princess, and partook of a repast with her duennas and ladies, all of whom, amid their profound sorrow, showed a character of stateliness, which chilled the light heart of the French-woman, and imposed constraint even on the more serious character of Catharine Glover. The friend, for so we may term them, were fain, therefore to escape from the society of these persons, all of them born gentlewomen, who thought themselves but ill-assorted with a burgher's daughter and a strolling glee maiden, and saw them with pleasure go out to walk in the neighbourhood of the convent. little garden, with its bushes and fruit trees, advanced on one side of the convent, so as to skirt the precipice, from which it was only separated by a parapet built on the ledge of the rock, so low that the eye might easily measure the depth of the crag, and gaze on the conflicting waters which foamed, struggled, and chafed over the reef below.

"Do the horrors of Falkland, fair May, still weigh down your spirits? Strive to forget them as I do; we cannot tread life's path lightly, if we shake not from our mantles the rain drops as they fall.'

"These horrors are not to be forgot ten,' answered Catharine. "Yet my mind is at present anxious respecting my father's safety, and I cannot but think how many brave men may be at this instant leaving the world, even within six miles of us, or little farther.”

"You mean the combat betwixt sixty champions, of which the Douglas's equerry told us yesterday? It were a sight for a minstrel to witness. But out upon these womanish eyes of mine-they could never see swords cross each other without being dazzled. But see,-look yonder, May Catharine, look yonder! That flying messenger certainly brings news of the battle.

"Methinks I should know him who runs so wildly,' said Catharine-But if it be he I think of, some wild thoughts are urging his speed.'

"As she spoke, the runner directed his course to the garden. The fugitive rushed into the garden at the same reckless pace. His head was bare, his hair dishevelled; his rich acton, and all his other vestments, looked as if they had been lately drenched in water. His leatheru buskins were cut and torn, and his feet marked the sod with blood. countenance was wild, haggard, and highly excited, or, as the Scottish phrase expresses it, much raised."

His

*Conachar!' said Catharine, as he advanced, apparently without seeing what was before him, as hares are said to do. when severely pressed by the greyhounds. But he stopped short when he heard his

The Fair Maiden of Perth and her companion walked slowly on a path that ran within this parapet, looked at the romantic prospect, and judged what it must be when the advancing summer should clothe the grove with leaves. They observed for some time a deep silence. At length the gay and bold spirit of the glee maiden arose above the circumstances in which she had been and was now placed.

Conachar,' said Catharine, or rather Eachin MacIan-what means all this ?-Have the Clan Quhele sustained a defeat!"

6

"I have borne such names as 'this maiden gives me,' said the fugitive, after a moment's recollection. Yes, I was called Conachar when I was happy, and Eachin when I was powerful. But now I have no name, and there is no such clan as thou speak'st of; and thou art a foolish maid to speak of that which is not, to one who has no existence.'

"Alas! unfortunate?

"And why unfortunate, I pray you?' exclaimed the youth. If I am coward and villain, have not villainy and co wardice command over the elements?— Have I not braved the water without its choking me, and trod the firm earth