The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

OLD MORtTALITY. 553
p' Peace yet again," said Macbriar, " for I will try him further. —Was it
not by thy means that the nalignan Evandale twice escaped from death
and captivity? Was it not through thee that Miles Bellenden and his garpison of cut-throats were saved from the edge of the sword?''" I ain proud to say, that you have spoken the truth in both instances,"
teplied Morton.
"Lo I you see!" said Mncbriar —' again hath his mouth spoken it.-And
didst thou not do this for the sake of a Midianitish woman, one of the spawn
of prelacy, a toy with which the arch-enemy's trap is baited? Didst thou
not do all this for the sake of Edith Bellenden?"
"You are incapable," answered Morton, boldly "of appreciating my
feelings towards that young lady; but all that I have done I would have
done had she never existed."
"Thou art a hardy rebel to the truth," said another'dark-browed nman.
"And didst thou not so act, that, by conveying away the aged woman,
Margaret Bellendcen, and her grand-daughter, thou mightest thwart the wise
and godly project of John Balfour of Burley for bringing forth to battle
Basil Olifant, who had agreed to take the field if he were ensured possession
of these women's worldly endowments?"
"I never heard of such a scheme," said Morton, "and therefore I could
not thwart it.-But does your religion permit you to take such uncreditable
and immoral modes of recruiting?"
"Peace!" said Macbriar, somewhat disconcerted; "it is not for thee to
instruct tender professors, or to construe Covenant obligations. For the
rest you have acknowledged enough of sin and sorrowful defection, to draw
down defeat on a host, were it as numerous as the sands on the sea-shore.
And it is our judgment, that we are not free to let you pass from us safe
and in life, since Providence hath given you into our hands at the moment
that we prayed with godly Joshua, saying,'What shall we say when Israel
turneth their backs before their enemies?' -Then camest thou, delivered to
us as it were by lot, that thou mightest sustain the punishment of one that
bath wrought folly in Israel. Therefore, mark my words. This is the
Sabbath, and our hand shall not be on thee to spill thy blood upon this day;
but, when the twelfth hour shall strike, it is -a token that thy time on earth
hath run! Wherefore improve thy span, for it flitteth fast away.-Soize on
the prisoner, brethren, and take his weapon."
The command was so unexpectedly given, and so suddenly executed by
those of the party who had gradually closed behind and around Morton,
that he was overpowered, disarmed, and a horse-girth passed round his
arms, before he could offer any effectual resistance. When this was accomplished, a dead and stern silence took place. The fanatics ranged themselves around a large oaken table, placing Morton amongst them bound and
helpless, in such a manner as to be opposite to the clock which was to strike
his knell. Food was placed before them, of which they offered their intended
victim a share; but, it will readily be believed, he had little appetite.
WVhen this was removed, the party resumed their devotions. Macbriar,
whose fierce zeal did not perhaps exclude some feelings of doubt and
compunction, began to expostulate in prayer, as if to wring from the
Deity a signal that the bloody sacrifice they proposed was an acceptable
service. The eyes and ears of his hearers were anxiously strained as if
to gain some sight or sound which might be converted or wrested into a
type of approbation, and ever and anon dark looks were turned on the
dial-plate of the time-piece, to watch its progress towards the moment of
execution.
Morton's eye frequently took the same course, with the sad reflection,
that there appeared no possibility of his life being expanded beyond the
narrow segment which the index had yet to travel on the circle until it
arrived at the fatal hour.-Faith in his religion, with a constant unyielding
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