Jervis looked up hastily, as though to see whether Reginald had any hidden meaning, and his gloomy face assumed a darker scowl.

Reginald went on: "Bear patiently a moment with me, while I say further, Jervis, if you are doing what your heart tells you is wrong; if you are heavy laden under sin-and who is not ?— stop and consider—think of D'Arcy's sudden and early death; and ask whether you are ready to meet the Judge, before Whom he has been already called to stand ?"

Jervis's whole frame quivered, either with emotion or anger. His brother was going to speak again, but Jervis raised his hand, as if to strike him; on whieh Champion uttered a fierce growl. The blow was directed at the dog; and, with a tremendous oath, Jervis dashed into the woods, leaving Reginald scarcely able to restrain Champion from following him in his vengeance.

"This then, is the parting from my only brother!" he sighed to himself. And after a short time, seemingly spent in bitter meditation, he loosed the tight grasp he had continued to hold on Champion's throat, saying, "You had better come with me, I see, Champion," and walked on. The dog walked close beside him, looking around him as if uneasy, until they had left the castle gates, when he again began to

caress Reginald, and shewed evident pleasure at their departure.

Reginald soon reached the Isle of Man, and the abode of his beloved Father and guide the Bishop. When in his presence, the sorely-tried feelings of the young man first threatened to overleap the strong constraint he had hitherto exercised over them-a sense of suffocation seemed to prevent his utterance. He knelt down in silence before the meek, apostolic prelate, who was indeed as a Father to him; and after a short pause spent in prayer, such as good and holy men offer up in priceless treasure for all within their ken (but especially for those who have that strongest claim of spiritual sonship upon them), he laid his hands upon Reginald's head, and with slow and solemn accents gave him a Benediction.

The young man knelt beneath the consecrating pressure, drinking in the apostolic words; and when they ceased, he yet remained beneath it, as though gathering strength and courage from the invisible world, to support him through the struggles of the visible.

In due time Reginald Baldwin was admitted to Priest's Orders, and received his commission for the Office and Work of a Priest, to forgive and retain sins, and to be a faithful dispenser of the Word of GOD, and of His Holy Sacraments.

For a time he remained exercising his sacred duties in the diocese of Bishop Wilson. No communication between his family and himself

occurred; from report only Reginald learnt that Lord Esthwaite's affairs were deeply involved, and that he and Jervis were on very bad terms. Reginald always looked in hope to a time when his father might alter in feeling towards himself; and that hope was sadly and painfully crushed by the intelligence that death had terminated an existence upon which Reginald, a Priest of GOD, could not look without trembling, whilst, as a son, he shrank from contemplating his father's errors. Reginald knew that everything was to be left away from him to Jervis, and he firmly adhered to his intention of never assuming the title which now descended upon him. He endeavoured to open some intercourse with his brother, but that was sullenly rejected.

It was at this time that the venerable Bishop, who ceased not to watch over the welfare of Reginald Baldwin as his own child, suggested his removal from the island, where he was known too well, to avoid much of notice and observation concerning his peculiar circumstances.

Reginald sorrowed to leave a home he loved; but he entirely saw the justice of the Bishop's arguments, and hesitated not to obey his wishes. The result was, that the small incumbency of Kirkbeck was offered to Reginald; and, as we have seen, he established himself there, accompanied by his three faithful companions, Islay, Beenie, and Champion.

Had those who marvelled at the thoughtfulness

and sadness of his countenance, known what I have been briefly recounting, their wonder might well have ceased. But though sadness sat upon his features, and his heart was often heavy, Reginald Baldwin was not unhappy. Firmly resting on Him, in Whose Hand were all tribulations and joys, he doubted not for one instant that all was well; he never fretted or sickened under his lonely lot. All his energies were devoted to his priestly duties; and, trained as he had been by one so well versed in a pastor's toils, he found no lack of employment. The earliest morning found Reginald at his devotional exercises; and long after the surrounding village was hushed in darkness and stillness, his light gleamed from the vicarage window, and he was busied for the service of those amongst whom GOD had placed him. Regular, unbroken occupation, he had adopted, as the most effectual way of resisting the sometimes almost overpowering pressure of thought, which threatened to burst its floodgates, and carry all away before it. But he would not be conquered thus; and after a time Reginald was able calmly, and without distraction, to give himself up to study, to minute parish affairs, and his parochial ministrations, rejoicing in them, and in the consciousness that he was at least trying to surrender his whole will to GOD. The wild scenery of the mountains and dales, too, had a spell of relief and consolation for him; and having begun, as a matter of duty,

to visit every most lonely and distant corner of his widely-spread parish, Reginald found abundant reward and pleasure in doing so afterwards. Accompanied by Champion, he was frequently absent for hours together amongst the moors and ghylls, visiting and carrying the Church's blessings to those who, from infirmity and distance, could never attempt to seek them within consecrated walls. Amongst children he was ever winning, kind, and gentle; by the bed of suffering his presence was looked for with eagerness : but the branch of the priestly office in which Reginald Baldwin seemed most to excel, and to surpass others in his ministrations, was in dealing with guilt and sorrow. The unsteady, the doubting, the half-awakened penitent, and the sinner, crushed and bowed down with the agonizing weight of unconfessed and unatoned crime, felt that to him they could pour the turbid, self-perplexing stream of conscience, certain of a sympathizing and patient listener, a tender though unflinching physician, an ever ready guide; never discouraging by expecting too much, never disheartening by indifference, but ready with all the stores of support and consolation, entrusted by Him Who came to bind up the bruised, and heal the broken-hearted, to His appointed servants. Many an aching, self-corroding heart, which had shrunk quiveringly from the touch of man, and fain would have shunned that of GOD, had it been possible, felt the relief of opening its sores