I

in my veins, and I clapt my hand involuntarily to my sword; the Austrian, who was standing at a small distance from me, hiding a part of his face under his hat, and holding a brace of pistols in his hands, seemed to ask me by a side glance, whether Father Francis and my old acquaintance in the Black Forest was one and the same person. affirmed it by a quick motion of my eyelids, and the Austrian turned his back to the Necromancer; I removed behind Lieutenant N-~, and peeping over his shoulders, watched the proceedings of the juggler, who advanced with solemn steps into the middle of the apartment, where he stopped, resting his inquisitive looks on the countenances of the company.

Profound silence swayed all around, and we were fixed to the ground like so many statues, thrilled with anxious expectation, and scarcely ventured to breathe.

The old man was clad in a long robe of black silk, his snow-white head uncovered, a white silken sash, marked with strange characters, was tied round his waist, and the well-known black wallet hung on his back; having taken it down and untied it, and exhibited the mysterious instruments of conjuration, at his mute command the host carried a table into the centre of the room, put two lighted torches upon it and bolted the door.

Now he gave us a signal to form a circle around him; the Austrian placed himself to his left side, towards the door, Lieutenant N. by the conjuror's own desire, to his right; the inn-keeper stood close by the Austrian, one of Lieutenant N...'s friends took his station by the landlord, and I placed myself close to the latter. The Necromoncer appeared to care little for the right wing, and I could clearly observe that his left neighbour raised his suspicion.

However, he began his conjuration with apparent firmness, after he had strewed a reddish sand on the floor, and delineated a treble circle with his ebony wand. The particulars of the act of conjuration were nearly the same as in the cellar of the Haunted Castle. The ceremony being finished, he cast his book on the table, and pronounced thrice the well-known mysterious word: suddenly a howling blast of wind rushed against our faces, a thick column of smoke ascended from the floor, overcasting the whole apartment, and extinguishing the torches. Darkness and horror surrounded us.

Ere long a faint gleam was breaking from the floor, sparingly illuminating the objects around, and rising higher and higher on the opposite wall till it reached the ceiling. At once the floor seemed to shake beneath our feet, and we beheld with horror an human figure hovering on the wall; its garments and face, bearing the marks of corruption, appeared to have suffered by the flames. It shook its head and fiery sparks flew around. A sudden smell of brimstone almost suffocated us.

After we had gazed at the phantom some time, with secret horror, the Necromancer exclaimed, with a thundering voice, "Who art

thou ?"

"A

Phantom. (Staggering back) " A soul from purgatory."

Old Man. "What is thy desire?"

"Phant. "To be redeemed from the flames."

Old M." For what reason?"

Phant. "Because I got it by fraudulent means."

Old M. "How can the sale of this house expiate thy crime ?”,
Phant." It can, because my children will be saved."

The Necromancer was silent and the phantom disappeared.

A violent gust of wind rushed again in our faces, the smoke evapo rated, and the torches began to burn. Lieutenant N..., with his friends and the landlord, were struck with amazement, and unable to stir; the Austrian lifted his hat, which had hidden part of his face, staring wildly at the hoary cheat, and I expected with impatience the signal for seizing the rascal, who, with great tranquility and unconcern, was busied with putting his gewgaws again into his wallet.

Now the Austrian came forth, and I clapped my hand to my sword: awful silence reigned around, and our companions were still fixed to their places, whilst the Austrian's sparkling looks rested on the Necromancer, who now had packed up the instruments of fraud, and thrown the wallet over his shoulder. Just when he was going to leave the room, his eye caught the glowing face of my friend, and he seemed thunderstruck. Their looks evinced a mutual emotion of an uncommon nature; my friend's looks grew more and more terrible, and the old man was apparently grasped by horror's icy fangs; our expectation rose to the highest pitch, and we were standing around them in an expectant attitude, and most of us thrilled with secret awe, and I not without chill.

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Yes," now began the Austrian with a trembling voice, "it is thou, Volkert! it is thou!"

The old deceiver shivered violently, his face was distorted by terrible convulsions, he gave a hollow groan and fell lifeless on the floor.

"We all seemed to be touched by a magic wand, and the Austrian was standing a good while in our middle, in a state of wild stupefaction; at length he recovered his recollection, drew with his wonted firmness nearer the lifeless Necromancer, raised him up, shook him with all his might, and exclaimed,

Volkert, Volkert, return to life once more."

But all was vain, the old man gave no sign of life.

Volkert, Volkert," exclaimed my friend once more, but he did

not hear him.

The inn-keeper ran down stairs, fetching a glass of water and some drops, but all our endeavours to restore the hoary villain to the use of his senses proved abortive, and he remained senseless in our

arms.

"Well then," resumed the Austrian, his eyes flashing with anger, if amicable means will not do, then I must have recourse to violence." So saying, he discharged a pistol, the door flew open, and four corporals rushed in with their swords unsheathed.

"Tie the rascal's arms and legs," roared the Austrian, the villain, he is our prisoner."

away with

"Your prisoner!" replied the grey deceiver, who had recovered at last, your prisoner," roared he with a ghastly grin, disengaging himself from our grasp.

The corporals rushed upon him.

"I am a citizen of F..., of a free, imperial town, who dares to touch

me?"

The corporals retired hastily, and the Austrian's brow was covered with terrible wrinkles, his eyes flashed anger, his mouth foamed, and his whole frame trembled in an agony of furious rage. I never beheld a more terrible aspect.

"Infernal spirit! hell-born villain!" roared he, gnashing his teeth, "I am deceived!...deceived by thee, Volkert !...Volkert!" At once the thunder of bis voice lowered to an entreating accent. Volkert, Volkert, for God's sake have mercy on me; save me from an ocean of doubts; spare me, O spare me; save me from the disgrace to appear to myself and my friends, a fool and a superstitious fanatic! Tell me, O tell me, am I indeed deceived? O, I will forgive thee, I will pronounce thee my benefactor, my saviour, only speak... tell me I am not deceived!"

The tears ran down his cheeks as he pronounced these words, spoken in the most violent passion.

The old man either would or could not speak, and the Austrian once more addressed the hoary deceiver in an accent of utter insensibility, and with a sternness of look not to be described.

"Volkert, thou wilt not know me. I will spare thee the disgrace of confessing thine own guilt; but if thou wert in my power...

His eyes darted flashes of lightning, and his voice was like the roaring of thunder.

"If thou wert in my power, I would make thee confess thy cheats, and if I should be forced to beat thy old rascally limbs to atoms, and to draw thy black blood from thy diabolical heart, by single drops, I would make thee confess: but," added he in a more gentle accent, thou art not within the reach of my power, and it is well that it is $0. Volkert, here is my hand, I forgive thee. Thou not only deservest my forgiveness, but also my sincere gratitude, because thou hast given me a wholesome lesson, hast taught me, that every body, though ever so wise, may be deceived; and I think I have not paid too dear for it."

Volkert wanted to speak, but he could not, being overcome by a sudden emotion, and hid his face with his hands.

Well, Volkert," resumed the Austrian, " I see thou art not quite so bad as I thought, I will not compel thee to a confession, though I am wishing most ardently to have my doubts cleared up, and trust that thou wouldst tell me more than I want to know. I will not distress thee any longer by my presence; I am going to leave this house and this

town for ever.

"Gentlemen," added he, addressing us, I have deceived you, by supporting the reality of things which had been nothing but illusion; from this moment I have forfeited your good opinion, and the honor of being admitted any longer to a circle where I have been respected. You may call my resolution pride, caprice, or whatever you please, I cannot remain here any longer, and I am determined to depart this justant, farewel, live happy."

When the Austrian and the corporals had left us, the Necromancer was likewise going to leave the room: his appearance was sullen and gloomy; his looks cast down my friends were also stirring and stopped him, forming a circle round him.

The landlord was still in a maze of silent wonder, not knowing what to think of what had happened. I was dejected and melancholy, and VOL. II.

PP 2

bad banished from my soul every idea of vengeance; my companions, however, seemed not inclined to let him get off so cheaply, and insisted on his explaining how he had contrived to cheat us; but the innkeeper interfered, imploring them not to ruin him entirely, by quarrelling in his house.

Lieutenant N... threatened at last, to give him up to the civil power, if he would not confess, which I at first likewise had determined to do, how he had deceived us; however, his stubbornness could not be shaken, and he remained as silent as the grave.

Seeing that every further means to break his obstinacy would prove fruitless, I interfered, advising my fellow-adventurers to let him depart

in peace.

"Upon the whole," added I," it matters not how we have been deceived, our friend the Austrian has set us an example, how one ought to behave on such an occasion; let us, like him, forgive the wretch, he is below our resentment.

These words produced the desired effect on the minds of my fellow adventurers, who were stung with shame and remorse, but none of them more than Lieutenant N... : he blushed at his idle fears and his credulity, leaving the room abruptly, accompanied by his friends and the landlord.

Being now left alone with the Necromancer, I flattered myself to succeed better than my companions, and to get informed of what I so eagerly wanted to know; but I was mistaken, his stubborn reservė baffled all my solicitations.

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Farewel, Lieutenant," said he, as he was going to leave the room, "I did not know you at first, and I am rejoiced that you have escaped your doom; I do not deserve your noble, generous treatment; farewel, and remember sometimes Volkert the Necromancer: if you could see my heart, you rather would pity than despise me; I may perhaps, one time find an opportunity of being serviceable to you, and of proving my gratitude by deeds."

I went down stairs with him, and having seen him to the door, he squeezed my hand and hurried away. I left the fatal house in a strange situation of mind, and it struck one o'clock when I came home.

The third day after the departure of my venerable friend the Austrian, I could no longer stay in a place where every object reminded me of so many hours of bliss, and of the man whose friendship had made me so truly happy; I bade my servant pack my trunks, ordered my corporals to keep themselves ready, and left F...... after a few days; however I cannot deny that I left with regret a town where I had found, and, alas! lost so soon so valuable a treasure.

I sat in the stage musing on what was past, revolving in my mind the strange events of the Haunted Castle, and the Inn, and examining minutely all the particulars, but I grew not a bit wiser: that Volkert was an impostor could not be doubted, but how he had managed his artful cheats, and what his views had been in deceiving us, I could not unravel in a satisfactory manner; I examined singly all his transactions I knew, pondered with the greatest accuracy what the Austrian' had related of his earlier exploits, but I was not able to dispel the impene trable darkness which I was bewildered in.

The final result of my meditations was, that every body, though ever so circumspect and wise, would, like my worthy friend, have been deceived by his intricate machinations, and tempted to adopt the opinion that enlightened officer had once defended so stoutly.

Exercised with this and similar thoughts did I finish my first day's journey, struggling in vain to recover my wonted cheerfulness, my mind being then too much occupied by gloominess, and an entire stranger to joyful feelings. My travelling companions preferred sleep to an amusing conversation, and I wished ardently for my corporals to chat with them, and thus to chase away the cheerless thoughts crowding upon my mind; but I had most unfortunately ordered them, along with my servant, to meet me at N..., by a different route.

Not being able to get a wink of sleep all night long, I was haunted by the gloomy offsprings of my fancy, distressed by the apparent slowness of time, and entirely cut off from every comfort by the snoring disposition of my fellow-travellers, which made me resolve to leave the stage next morning, and to continue my journey on horseback. I left, therefore, my cheerless and sullen companions, with the first dawn of day, bought a horse in the first village where we stopped, and trotted briskly onward.

I was not the least acquainted with the roads in those parts, a circumstance which ought to have come sooner into my mind: I was obliged to ride back several times, and when it began to grow dark, found myself bewildered in a dreary forest, without knowing which way to turn. My jaded horse being hardly able to stir, I alighted, leading the poor beast by the bridle, to advance with more expedition.

It was now so dark that I could hardly distinguish the objects before my eyes, when a sudden rustling in the thicket made me start: I listened, but all was silent again, and I pursued my way without any apprehension, thinking it might have been a deer; but I was not gone far when I heard the rustling again much louder than at first, and close by me: I now beheld, on a sudden, a man with a sack on his back, and a staff in his hand, coming out of the thicket, within the short distance of a few paces. This unexpected sight gladdened my heart, flattering me with the sweet hope of getting a friendly conductor out of that dreary wilderness, and who would direct my weary steps to a place of rest.

Whither art thou going, good friend?" exclaimed I. "To the mill," answered he, groaning under his burthen. "Is the mill far from hence?" said I.

"No farther than half a league," he replied.

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May I find a shelter there for myself and horse ?”,

"No," replied he.

Why not?" asked I.

"Because," replied he, " the miller does not admit strangers."

"I am sorry for it; but is there no house hereabouts where one could get a night's lodging?"

"O yes," answered he, not far from hence, if you turn to the right, lives a wood-cutter, who lodges travellers."

"But do you think I shall be safe there?" asked I.

"What do you mean by that?" said he.

"Don't you know, good friend," replied I, that this part of the country is the constant haunt of robbers?"