into consideration, that the fault was in his own un-guarded selection of acquaintance, not looking be-yond the surface of events, he took it for granted that the mass of human, kind were false, artful, and selfish ;; and that he, in pure self-defence, must follow the same path. He had taken up the idea that to live in the world, ne must live with the world, and that to live with the world, it was necessary to relinquish virtue and honour, and obtain by power an absolute dominion over those, with whom he had to contend. Under this strange and misguided impression, the first object on whom he fixed to practise villany, and exercise power was his wife. He had become attached to an amiable woman, a Portuguese by birth, though of an English family: his father had great objections to foreign alliances; but Violetta's fortune being good, and her mother English, Andrew ventured to hope for his father's forgiveness!

Scarcely a month had elapsed after his marriage, when a dreadful earthquake swallowed up or destroyed the property of Violetta, who now became totally dependent on the fortunes of her husband. This was a trial which Andrew's virtue could not sustain. To hazard his father's displeasure for a portionless wife, was not to be thought of. He was sorry in being obliged to desert Violetta; but there was not any help for it. "Self preservation the first law of nature," was a creed followed by others, and why not by him? He loved Violetta, but could not sacrifice his fortune for her. His father had the power of disinheriting him if he pleased, and his brother was a dangerous rival in his father's love; but Violetta had many friends in Portugal, who would protect her to them he would leave her, and should he ever be able to obtain, his father's consent, or should he die, he would then--yes, probably, then he n seld Telula and pidin ko. I wing

himself by these specious arguments, to & conduct so truly dishonourable, as well as unfeeling, he wrote a farewell letter to Violetta, stating his reasons for leaving her, and without even bidding her adieu, set sail for England!

Soon after his return, his father's health beginning to decline, he thought it a pity to disturb his tranquility by making any acknowledgment of his marriage; he would therefore wait for his death, and then see what was to be done. The first step from honour is the first advance towards wretchedness: Andrew Belfield found it so. His brother's unaf fected cheerfulness, so indicative of a peaceful mind, and quiet conscience, excited first his envy-and then his dislike; the favour in which he stood with his father, his uncle Captain Ironsides, their visitors, and even the very servants,-who idolized him,were all causes of dislike to Andrew; yet that dislike did not amount to hatred, till he perceived he was the favourite of Sophia Dove. The elder Belfield, himself, had not any regard for Sophia; his heart was certainly the exclusive possession of his deserted wife-but Sophia was young, beautiful, and rich; and he could not bear the idea of his brother becoming his equal in riches, and his superior in happiness. Sophia's love was too great an honour, to fall upon a younger brother; and he resolved to mar his hopes. The sudden death of old Mr. Belfield, suspended his plans for the present; but cheered him with the prospect of a speedier and more effectual mode of ridding himself of this dangerous rival, than by any irregular and secret proceeding. No sooner therefore was he in possession of his father's property-no sooner was that venerable parent consigned to the tomb of his ancestorsthan he began to treat his brother with so much pride and insolence, that he conceived he would shrink from a repetition, and leave his home of his

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own accord; but he was mistaken. The regard of the charming Sophia armed young Belfield with courage; and he still continued in the house of his late father, in spite of his brother's ill usage, hoping a marriage with his beloved would soon put a period to his present anxieties.

Andrew Belfield, finding all attempts to drive his brother from his paternal home were vain, and that he every day seemed to be making more effectua. progress in Sophia's affections, resolved to take another, and a surer mode of driving him away. There lived in the village a respectable family named Waters, who had once known more prosperity than they now enjoyed. A branch of this family, Lucy Waters, a young person of some personal attractions, was beloved by Philip Goodwin, the son of one of "Mr. Belfield's most opulent tenants, and they were at a convenient season to be married. Andrew Belfield fixed upon this girl as the agent of his villanes; for which purpose he secretly made her offers of marriage; and poor Lucy, attracted by the charms of wealth and splendour, discarded her more humblę lover, and looked forward with impatience to the time when she should become mistress of Belfield Hall. When the elder Belfield had thus gained an entire influence over her mind, he prevailed upon her to fill the ears of Miss Dove with tales injurious to the honour of his brother, and formed the most specious reasons for this proceeding; but advanced no one reason which could militate against his intended marriage with herself; and the poor deluded Lucy, without one illnatured quality in her whole composition, without the slightest cause of dislike either towards Robert Belfield, or Sophia, was so far infatuated as to undertake the hateful task of separating them for ever!

Her father's former opulence, and a respectability of character which he had never forfeited, gave

Lucy free access to her superiors. She had been the early friend and playmate of Sophia; and when grown up, was still considered as an acquaintance. At the suggestion of Belfield, she insinuated a variety of remarks prejudicial to the integrity of Ro bert Belfield; and, when closely pressed to disclose her meaning, imparted, under strict seal of secrecy, that he was pledged in a promise of marriage to herself, and was in fact her seducer !!

Sophia, incensed both at his duplicity to her and cruelty in having betrayed an innocent girl to ruin, resolved at once to discard him. She therefore wrote, and forbade his future visits; when he, surprised at a change so unexpected, requested an explanation, which she refusing, his pride took alarm; he imagined his want of fortune was the cause of his dismission, and felt completely disgusted at the meanness of Sophia's conduct. He was confirmed in this belief, by the favour with which his brother was now received, and the reserve shown by the whole family towards himself. Yet it was strange; for Sir Benjamin himself had made a match with the indigent widow of a king's messenger, who at an electioneering dinner had caught a surfeit and died. Sir Benjamin took a fancy to his buxom dame, and married her before the year was expired, though she had neither fortune nor family to recommend her; and it was singular, that the knight should be at once negligent of his own fortune, yet fastidious respecting that of his daughter. But so it wás-and he must submit. He felt himself indeed worthy of Sophia, though he had lost her; nay he felt assured of her love, and supposed she acted by the command of her father, and especially of her step-mother, who ruled the roast in Dove Villa, and with whom he knew he was not any favourite; but there were some whispered reports that his brother's addresses were to be admitted,

and these reports of course made him very wretched!

About this period, old Captain Ironsides, going on a cruise, prevailed upon his nephew to accompany him; and thus the vindictive Belfield at length was relieved from the presence of his persecuted brother-who had not been long gone, before news arrived that he was lost at sea-and nothing now appeared likely to interrupt Andrew's advances towards Sophia.

Lucy Waters soon found, to her sorrow, that she had sacrificed her own integrity, disturbed the peace of the innocent Sophia, and driven young Belfield from his native home, to gratify the revenge of a deep designing villain. She demanded the performance of his promise of marriage, which he evaded for a time, on various specious pretences; till at length, he made dishonourable advances, assuring her, that though he sought the hand of Miss Dove, it was only for the sake of her fortune; that his love was for her alone, and that she should enjoy every luxury and happiness; while Sophia would but possess the shadow of his affections!

Lucy was struck dumb at this instance of Belfield's depravity. She bitterly reproached herself however for her own injustice and falsehood to the worthy Philip Goodwin; but it was now too late to redeem what was past: her peace of mind was ruined for ever; and she feared her reputation would suffer also, for her frequent interviews with Belfield had subjected her to illnatured remarks. While her mind was thus agitated, chance threw her in the way of Philip. She could not restrain her tears at the sight of him; and he, affected by her distress, inquired the cause. She dared not tell him the extent of the wickedness in which Mr. Belfield had involved her, but informed him how she had been deceived by his artful promises: and Philip find