"1 am now well, my best friend! This day I attend my lovely nurse, with her venerable guardian, to Hunting-tower. Eastward of Perth, almost every castle of consequence is yet filled by the Southrons, whom the folly of James Cummin allowed to reoccupy the places whence you had so lately driven them. I go to root them out; to emulate in the north, what you are now doing in the south! You shall see me again, when the banks of the Spey are as free as you have made the Forth. In all this, I am yet Thomas de Longueville. Isabella, the sweet soother of my hours, knows me as no other; for would she not despise the unfamed Bruce? To deserve, and win her love, as De Longteville, and to marry her as King of Scotland, is the fond hope of your friend and brother Robert. God speed me! and I shall send you despatches of my proceedings."

Wallace had just made- a successful attack upon the outworks of Berwick, when this letter was put into his hand. He was surrounded by his cbieftains and having read it, he informed them that Sir Thomas de Longueville was going to the Spey, to rid its castles of the enemy.

"The hopes of his enterprising spirit," continued Wallace, "are so seconded by his determination, I doubt not that what he promises, God, and the justice of our cause, will perform; and we may soon expect to hear, Scotland has no enemies in her Highlands."

But in this hope, Wallace was disappointed. Day after day passed, and no tidings from the north. He became anxious; Bothwell and Edwin too, began to share his uneasiness. Continued successes against Berwick, had assured them of a speedy surrender, when unexpected succours being thrown in by sea, the confidence of the garrison became re-excited; and the ramparts appearing doubly manned, Wallace saw the only alternative was to surprise— take possession of the ships, and turn the siege into a blockade. Still trusting that Bruce would be prosperous in the Highlands, he calculated on full leisure to await the fall of Berwick upon this plan; and so much bloody might be spared. Intent, and execution, were twin-born in the breast of Wallace. By a masterly stroke, he effected his design on the shipping; and having closed the Southrons within their walls, he despatched Lord Bothwell to Hunting-tower, to learn the state of military operations there; and above all, to bring back tidings of The Prince’s health.

On the evening of the very day in which Murray left Berwick, a desperate sally was made by the garrison; but they were beaten back with such effect, that Wallace gained possession of one of their most commanding towers. The contest did not end till night; and after passing a brief while in the council-tent, listening to the suggestions of his friends relative to the use that might be made of the new acquisition, he retired to his own quarters at a late hour. At these momentous periods he never seemed to need sleep; and seated at his table, settling the dispositions for the succeeding day, he marked not the time, till the flame of his exhausted lamp expired in the socket.—He replenished it; and had again resumed his military labours, when the curtain which covered the door of his tent was drawn aside and an armed man entered. Wallace looked up; and seeing that it was the Knight of the Green Flume, asked if anything had occurred from the town.

"Nothing," replied the Knight, in an agitated voice, and seating himself beside Wallace. "Any evil tidings from Perthshire?" demanded Wallace, who now hardly doubted that ill news had arrived of Bruce. "None," was the Knight’s reply: "but I am come to fulfil my promise to you; to unite myself for ever, heart and soul, to your destiny; or you behold me this night for the last time." Surprised at this address, and the emotion which shook the frame of the unknown warrior, Wallace answered him with expressions of esteem and added, "If it depend on me, to umite so brave a man to my friendship for ever, only speak the word, declare your name, and I am ready to seal the compact."—" My name," returned the Knight," will indeed put these protestations to the proof. I have fought by your side, Sir William Wallace; I would have died at any moment, to have spared that breast a wound; and yett l dread to raise this visor, to show you who I am. A look will make me live, or blast me."—"Your language confounds me, noble Knight;" replied Wallace; "I know of no man living, saving the base violators of Lady Helen Mar’s liberty, who need tremble before my eyes. It is not possible, that either of these men is before me; and whoever you are, whatever you may have been, brace chief; your deeds have proved you worthy of a soldier’s friendship, and I pledge you mine."

The Knight was silent.—He took Wallace’s hand—he grasped it;—the arms that held it, did indeed tremble. Wallace again spoke.—"What is the meaning of this? I am no tyrant, no monarch, to excite these dreads. I have a power to benefit, but none to injure."—"To benefit, and to injure!" cried the Knight in a transport of emotion; "you have my life in your hands. Oh! grant it, as you

value your own happiness and honour! Look on me, and say whether I am to live or die." As the warrior spoke, he cast himself impetuously on his knees, and threw open his visor. Wallace saw a fine but flushed face.—It was much overshadowed by the helmet. "My friend," said he, attempting to raise him by the hand which clasped his; "your words are mysteries to me; and so little right can I have to the power you ascribe to me, that, although it seems to me as if I , had seen your features before, yet—" —"You forget me," cried the Knight, starting on his feet, and throwing off his helmet to the wound: "again look on this face, and stab me at once by a second declaration, that I am remembered no more!"

The countenance of Wallace now showed that be too well remembered it. He was pale and aghast. "Lady Mar;" cried he, "not expecting to see you under a warrior’s casque—you will pardon me, that when so apparelled, I should not immediately recognise the widow of my friend." She gasped for articulation; "And is it thus" cried she, "you answer the sacrifices I have made for you? For you, I have committed an outrage on my nature; I have put on me this abhorrent steel: I have braved the dangers of many a hard-fought, day; and all to guard your life! to convince you of a love unexampled in woman! and thus you recognise her, who has risked honour and life for you—with coldness and reproach !"—"With neither, Lady Mar," returned he; "I am grateful for the generous motives of your conduct; but for the sake of the fair fame, you confess you have endangered; in respect to the memory of him whose name you bear, I cannot but wish, that so hazardous an instance of interest in me, had been left undone."—"If that is all," returned she, drawing towards him, "it is in your power to ward from me every stigma! Who will dare to cast one reflection on my fair fame, when you bear testimonv to my purity? Who will asperse the name of Mar, when you displace it with that of Wallace? Make me yours, dearest of men," cried she, clasping his hands, "and you will receive one to your heart, who never knew how to love before; who will be to you, what woman never yet was; and who will endow you with territories nearly equal to those of the King of Scotland. My father is no more; and now, as Countess of Strathearn and Princess of the Orkneys, I have it in my power to bring a sovereignty to your head, and the fondest of wives to your bosom." As she vehemently spoke, and clung to Wallace, as if she had already a right to seek comfort within his arms, her tears and violent agitations so disconcerted him, that for a few moments he could not find a reply. This short endurance of her passion, aroused her almost drooping hopes; and, intoxicated with so rapturous an illusion, she threw off the little restraint in which her awe of Wallace’s coldness had confined her, and flinging herself on his breast, poured forth all her love, and fond ambitions for him. In vain he attempted to interrupt her; to raise her with gentleness from her indecorous situation; she had no perception, but for the idea which had now taken possession of her heart; and, whispering him softly, said, "Be but my husband, Wallace and all rights shall perish, before my love, and your aggrandisement. In these arms, you shall bless the day you first saw Joanna of Strathearn !"

The prowess of the Knight of the Green Plume, the respect he owed to the widow of the Earl of Mar, the tenderness he ever felt for all of womankind, were all forgotten in the disgusting blandishments of this disgrace to her sex. She wooed to be his wife; but not with the chaste appeal of the widow of Marion. "Let me find favour in thy sight, for thou hast comforted me! Spread thy garment over me, and let me be thy wife !" said the fair Moabitess, who in a strange land cast herself at the feet of her deceased husband’s friend. She was answered, "I will do all that thou requirest, for thou art a virtuous woman !" But neither the, actions, nor the words, of Lady Mar, bore witness that she deserved this appellation. They were the dictates of a passion, impure as it was intemperate. Blinded by its fumes, she forgot the nature of the heart, she sought to pervert to sympathy with hers. She saw not, that every look and movement on her part, filled Wallace with aversion; and not, until he forcibly broke from her; did. she doubt the, success of her fond caresses.

"Lady Mar," said he, "I must repeat, that I am not ungrateful for the proofs, of regard you have bestowed on me; but such excess of attachment is lavished upon a man that is a bankrupt in love. I am cold as monumental marble to every touch of that passion, to which I was once but too entirely devoted. Bereaved of the object, I am punished; thus is my heart doomed to solitude on earth, for haying made an idol of the angel, that was sent to cheer, my path to heaven." Wallace said even more than this. He remonstrated with her on the shipwreck she was making of her own happiness, in adhering thus tenaciously to a man who could only regard her with the general sentiment of esteem. He urged, her beauty, and yet youthful years; and how many would be eager to, win her love and to marry her with honour. While he continued to speak to her with the tender consideration of a brother, she, who knew no gradations in the affections of the heart, doubted his words; and believed that a latent ire glowed in his breast, which her art might yet blow into a flame. She threw herself upon her knees, she wept, she implored his pity, she wound her arms around his, and bathed his hands with her tears; but still he continued to urge her, by every argument of female delicacy, to relinquish her ill directed love; to return to her domains, before her absence could be generally known.—She looked up to read his countenance. A friend’s anxiety, nay, authority, was there, but no glow of passion; all was calm and determined. Her beauty, then, had been shown to a man without eyes; her tender eloquence, poured on an ear that was deaf; her blandishments, lavished on a block of marble! In a paroxysm of despair, she dashed the hand she held, far from her; and standing proudly on her feet—"Hear me, thou man of stone!" cried she, "and answer me on your life and honour; for both depend on your reply: Is Joanna of Strathearn to be your wife?"

"Cease to urge me, unhappy lady:" returned Wallace; "you already know the decision of this ever-widowed heart." Lady Mar looked steadfastly at him: "Then receive my last determination!" and drawing near him, with a desperate and portentous countenance, as if she meant to whisper in his ear, she suddenly plucked St. Louis’s dagger from his girdle, and struck it into his breast. He caught the hand which grasped the hilt. Her eyes glared with the fury of a maniac, and, with a horrid laugh, she exclaimed, "I have slain thee, insolent triumpher in my love and agonies!—Thou shalt not now deride me in the arms of thy minion; for, I know, that it is not for the dead Marion you have trampled on my heart, but for the living Helen!" As she spoke, he moved her hold from the dagger, and drew the weapon from the wound. A torrent of blood flowed over his vest, and stained the hand that grasped hers. She turned of a deadly paleness, but a demoniac joy still gleamed in her eyes. "Lady Mar," cried he, while he thrust the thickness of his scarf into the wound," I pardon this outrage. Go in peace; and I shall never breathe to man, nor woman, the occurrences of this night Only remember, that with regard to Lady Helen, my wishes are as pure as her own innocence?"—"So they may be now, vainly boasting, immaculate Wallace !" answered she, with bitter derision; "men are saints, when their passions are satisfied. Think not to impose on her, who knows how this vestal Helen followed you in page’s attire, and without one stigma being cast on her maiden delicacy. I am not to learn the days, and the nights, she passed alone with you in the woods of Normandy !—Did you not follow her to France?—Did you not tear her from the arms of Lord Aymer de Valence? and now, relinquishing her yourself, you leave a dishonoured bride to cheat the vows of some honester man !—Wallace, I now know you; and as I have been fool enough to love you beyond all woman’s love, I swear by the, powers of heaven and hell, to make you feel the weight of woman’s hatred!"