The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

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ORMOND; OR,

"His kindred were noble, and rich, and powerful; but
it was difficult to make them acquainted with Wentworth's
situation. Their assistance, when demanded, was readily
afforded; but it came too late to prevent his death. Me
they snatched from my voluntary prison, and employed
every friendly art to efface from my mind the images of
recent calamity.
"Wentworth's singularities of conduct and opinion had
estranged him at an early age from his family. They
felt little regret at his fate, but every motive concurred
to secure their affection and succour to me. My character was known to many officers, returned from America,
whose report, joined with the influence of my conversation, rendered me an object to be gazed at by thousands.
Strange vicissitude1 Now immersed in the infection of
a military hospital, the sport of a wayward fortune,
struggling with cold and hunger, with negligence and
contumely. A month after, passing into scenes of gayety
and luxury, exhibited at operas and masquerades, made
the theme of inquiry and encomium at every place of resort, and caressed by the most illustrious among the votaries of science and the advocates of the American cause.
" Here I again met Madame de Leyva. This woman
was perpetually assuming new forms. She was a sincere
convert to the Catholic religion, but she was open to
every new impression. She was the dupe of every powerful reasoner, and assumed with equal facility the most
opposite shapes. She had again reverted to the Protestant religion, and, governed by a headlong zeal in whatever cause she engaged, she had sacrificed her husband
and child to a new conviction.
" The instrument of this change was a man who passed,
at that time, for a Frenchman. He was young, accomplished, and addressful, but was not suspected of having
been prompted by illicit views, or of having seduced the
lady from allegiance to her husband as well as to her God.
De Leyva, however, who was sincere in his religion as
well as his love, was hasty to avenge this injury, and, in
a contest with the Frenchman, was killed. His wife
adopted at once her ancient religion and country, and
was once more an Englishwoman.