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.

310 WAVE.RLEY NOVELS.
reflection on his companion for the consequences of his obstinacy; but it
appeared from the sequel, that Wilson's mind was deeply impressed with
the recollection, that, but for him, his comrade, over whose mind he exercised considerable influence, would not have engaged in the criminal enterprise which had terminated thus fatally; and that now he had become his
destroyer a second time, since, but for his obstinacy, Robertson might have
effected his escape. Minds like Wilson's, even when exercised in evil practices, sometimes retain the power of thinking and resolving with enthusiastic generosity. His whole thoughts were now bent on the possibility
of saving Robertson's life, without the least respect to his own. The resolution which he adopted, and the manner in which he carried it into effect,
were striking and unusual.
Adjacent to the Tolbooth, or city jail of Edinburgh, is one of three
churches into which the cathedral of St?: Giles is now divided, called, from
its vicinity, the Tolbooth Church. It was the custom, that criminals under
sentence of death were brought to this church, with a sufficient guard,
to hear and join in public worship on the Sabbath before execution. It
was supposed that the hearts of these unfortunate persons, however hardened before against feelings of devotion, could not but be accessible to them
upon uniting their thoughts and voices, for theilast time, along with their
fellow-mortals, in addressing their Creator. And to the rest of the congregation, it was thought it could not but be impressive and affecting, to find their
devotions mingling with those, who, sent by the doom of an earthly tribunal
to appear where the whole earth is judged, might be considered as beings
trembling on the verge of eternity. The practice, however edifying, has
been discontinued, in consequence of the incident we are about to detail.
The clergyman, whose duty it was to officiate in the Tolbooth Church,
had concluded an affecting discourse, part of which was particularly
directed to the unfortunate men, Wilson and Robertson, who were in the
pew set apart for persons in their unhappy situation, each secured betwixt
two soldiers of the city guard. The clergyman had reminded them, that
the next congregation they must join would be that of the just, or of the
unjust: that the psalms they now heard must be exchanged, in the space
of two brief days, for eternal hallelujahs, or eternal lamentations; and
that this fearful alternative must depend upon the state to which they
might be able to bring their minds before the moment of awful preparation: thdt they should not despair on account of the suddenness of the
summons, but rather to feel this comfort in their misery, that, though all
who now lifted the voice, or bent the knee in conjunction with them, lay
under the same sentence of certain death, they only had the advantage of
knowing the precise moment at which it should be executed upon them.
"Therefore," urged the good man, his voice trembling with emotion,
"redeem the time, my unhappy brethren, which is yet left; and remember, that, with the grace of Him to whom space. and time are but as
nothing, salvation may yet be assured, even in the pittance of delay which
the laws of your country afford you."
Robertson was observed to weep at these words; but Wilson seemed as
one whose brain had not entirely received their meaning, or whose thoughts
were deeply impressed with some different subject, -an expression so
natural to a person in his situation, that it excited neither suspicion nor
surprise.
The benediction'was pronounced as usual, and the congregation was dismissed, many lingering to indulge their curiosity with a more fixed look at
the two criminals, who now, as well as their guards, rose up, as if to depart
when the crowd should permit them. A murmur of compassion was heard
to pervade the spectators, the more general, perhaps, on account of the
alleviating circumstances of the case.; when all at once, Wilson, who, as
we have already noticed, was a very strong magn, seized two of the soldiers,