whole country. But perhaps you knew him before, guest to a verandah, which opened on the garden and I am tiring you with my talk." and commanded a view of the desolate ruins of the "On the contrary," said Guy," you interest me hospital. "Here I think we shall be unheard," greatly. But what is keeping Gilbert? He is very continued he to his moody and stern companion. long in returning; perhaps the pond is at a dis-" Speak on."

tance."

"No," replied Blanche, "it is quite near. I begin to wonder also that he is so long.'

"God be praised!" whispered Guy's conscience; for all conspired to confirm his previous conjecture. "God be praised! He has escaped, and I am spared the commission of an act which would have filled me with remorse to the end of my days. My errand is accomplished, and, to avoid any unlucky mischance, I shall instantly return to where I left my little vessel." Then, wrapping himself in his mantle, and grasping his sword, he strode towards the hearth, where Blanche was busily preparing some food. "Farewell, kind hostess!- " he hur riedly began, as though he feared to be detained; accept my warmest thanks for your hospitality. I must depart immediately. Farewell!" Blanche raised her eyes in astonishment, unable to account for this sudden resolution. "Are you obliged to go?" she inquired. "How? What is this? I know not what you mean. Is it possible that I have offended you?"

66

"On the contrary, you have gained my esteem and friendship," replied Guy, in great agitation; "and for that very reason I must depart. "I do not comprehend you. My husband, Gilbert, will be very much grieved when he finds you gone at his return."

"I wish to go before his return," continued Guy. "I wish to spare both him and myself a painful meeting. Unfortunate woman, do not detain me! The happiness of your life is departed, should I remain." Once more he pressed the hand of Blanche, and turned towards the door; but started back as though annihilated-for on the threshold he met Gilbert.

"How? where are you going in such a hurry?" exclaimed Gilbert, after silently scanning the youth for a moment. "Return, I beg, my worthy guest. The weather is unpleasant. A cold wind blows from the sea, and the appearance of the sky is more like winter than summer."

"I will," replied Guy, in constrained tones. "I dare not take a place at your table, eat your bread, and drink your wine, and afterwards do the deed which I am commanded to execute. Cast aside your disguise, brother Perrail; runaway companion of the Templars! I myself will do it. Grasp, sign and pass-word, have already revealed me to thee as a brother; hear now my name. I am called Guy de Montfort, and am the nephew of Aumont, the grand master of those who, escaped from the sword of the persecutor, have sworn once more to build up the Temple of Solomon, in defiance of the powers of darkness. I, who am yet but a neophyte, am sent here by our noble brotherhood to thee, thou perjured master of our order! Canst thou divine my errand?"

"You are to kill me," replied Perrail, with composure. "I know the punishment of perjury." You know it," exclaimed Guy, fiercely," and yet you were guilty of it!"

"Young man," replied Perrail, with dignity, "judge me with the heart which God has implanted in your breast.”

"But your oath!" interrupted Guy.

"Hear me," said Perrail," before you unsheath your dagger, and avenge your injured brethren; for a noble fire gleams from your eyes, and I should wish you to compassionate, not to despise me. Driven by the cruelty of tyrants from our homes, and saving nothing but our lives, I sailed with Aumont, the successor of our murdered superior, to a more hospitable shore. These events occurred before I had taken the solemn vows of our order; and my doing so was deferred until Providence should send us brighter days. Meanwhile, on St. John the Baptist's Day, we swore to avenge ourselves upon our enemies. As the blood of the holy Baptist watered the foundation of the glorious temple of Christianity, so we hoped that ours should prove the cement of that new temple which should be built in place of Solomon's, in the land which had been the cradle of our order. Years, however, passed away, and all our enterprises failed. King, emperor, and pope, were all against us, and, with untiring severity, enforced the edicts for our annihilation. Even the people refused to sympathize with us, for the Gilbert gazed at the youth with a calm and steady misdeeds of some of our more unworthy brethren; glance, which penetrated to his soul. "Dear, sir, ," their pride and luxury had estranged the hearts of said he, at last, to Guy, who stood like a detected the poor. At this juncture I was despatched by culprit before him, "you will not surely affront me our master to sound the popular voice, and gain inbefore my neighbors, by thus suddenly leaving my formation respecting the sentiments of the French house, without even explaining the business which nation towards us. The result of this mission led you here. See! I have brought you beautiful proved our expectations hopeless. Sad and disfish, which the steward of the estate has kindly per-pirited, I was preparing to return, when I chanced nitted me to catch from the pond. Blanche shall cook them, and you shall have as good a dinner as the Templars themselves could have had."

66

"The gentleman wishes to leave us," interposed Blanche. In my ignorance I have given him offence; or else our humble accommodation is not to his taste."

With these words, he emptied the net in which he carried the fish, into a large vessel filled with water, and busied himself in assisting his wife in her preparation. Meanwhile, a sudden resolve darted into the mind of the youth, and earnestly he grasped the hand of his host.

"A word with you!" said he, in a meaning tone. "Now instantly it must be spoken! I wish

to be without witnesses.'

"As you please," replied Gilbert, calmly; and making signs to Blanche to remain behind, led his

to make the acquaintance of Blanche, and her family. Now that I saw the hopes of our order utterly annihilated, and that my weak arm and small ability were powerless to help and assist it, the thoughts of returning to exile, far from the dear land of my fathers, to waste existence on some iron-bound coast washed by the northern ocean, became daily more and more insupportable. I decided then to remain and to marry Blanche; but I broke no oaths, for I had as yet taken none. An old priest, attached to the order of the Temple, being at this time about to visit our exiled brethren, I wrote a letter to the grand master, declaring my resolution, and returning my insignia, which I despatched by him. All

these were received by Aumont, but he sent me no sure. This is the spot, and the treasure never left answer This is the amount of my offending; it is its hiding-place. The bailiff died in my arms, and for you to judge of it. Against the order I have confided to me the secret, while I was still in exile, nover sinned; for no living soul has learned from and before I revisited France. It was in order to me its existence, far less its statutes, signs, or pass-preserve the riches of the order that I purchased words. Even my wife is ignorant on these sub- these neglected ruins; and, finding the treasure still jects; for never by a single syllable have I betrayed in safety, I covered the spot with yonder heap of my brethren. You now see, Sir Guy de Montfort, that my transgression has not been very great; nevertheless, I am ready to suffer punishment. My wife, it is true, will become a widow, and my boy a fatherless orphan; but their sorrow will, after a time, pass away; and, meanwhile, I do not regret the five happy years I have spent with Blanche, even though I pay for them so dearly with my blood."

hastening, pale and breathless, towards them, scarcely able to carry her little boy in her trembling arms. "For God's sake, Gilbert, save yourself!" she cried, in her anguish. "The whole neighborhood is in an uproar; an armed multitude are approaching our dwelling. They say that a Templar is concealed here; and the magistrates have sent officers of justice to apprehend him. Neighbor Remy hastened to the house by a short cut to give us warning."

"Treachery!" thundered Guy; whilst a horrible suspicion crossed his mind, and compelled him to draw his sword from the scabbard. Traitor, who with honeyed words of apparent honesty, allured me into the snare ! Now all is made clear. What was it delayed thee so long this morning? Didst thou not inform the government of my concealment? Tremble, wretch! My arm can strike ere thy plans succeed!"

So saying, he aimed his sword at the head of Perrail; but Blanche darted between, in time to avert the blow; for the sight of her blooming loveliness, and the cries of the innocent babe, for the instant disarmed him.

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Guy, oppressed with shame and sorrow, cast himself on the bosom of the noble Perrail; and after embracing him, took the hand of the terrified Blanche, and accompanied her to the place of safety. "What do you want, friends and neighbors?" said Perrail, advancing towards the excited multitude; wherefore do you besiege my house?"

e-it is the treasure

deal with; "but the treasure-
that we ought to seek for."
"Yes! yes!" shouted the mob. "Go on, Gil-
bert, and guide us, or it will cost thee thy life."
Against his will, Perrail, with a few friends, who
gathered round him, was pressed forwards by the
crowd towards the ruins of the hospital. At the
very spot where Guy had taken leave of Perrail
they halted, and the multitude once more furiously
demanded the treasure. At his refusal to answer,
the most eager divided themselves into parties, and
explored the crazy ruins and dilapidated vaults, in
the vain hope of discovering gold and silver. Re-
naud alone kept his eyes fixed upon Perrail, deter-
mined that his victim should not escape. "Fly !”
whispered the brave man's friends; we will cover
thy flight."

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"I remain in the hands of God," replied he, with equanimity; and did not even change color when some of the ruffians returned with the intelligence that the place had been discovered where the treasure had been concealed.

"Dost thou deny it still?" thundered the voice of the malignant Renaud; "the empty nest is found, but where are the birds that were in it? where is the accomplice that carried them off?" "The

Perrail maintained an indignant silence. king's seneschal has the right to demand that question, and not you," replied the faithful Remy, in a tone of defiance.

Calm yourself, brother!" said Perrail, "I am guiltless. The powers of hell have betrayed your secret, and not I. Think you I wish your destruction? No! I desire to save you. Follow Blanche through that door, which opens to the vaults of the temple-court. A narrow foot-path will thence lead you to the corn-fields at the end of my estate. May "To unmask a secret sinner, is the duty of every God's blessing accompany you, and save you from honest man," replied Renaud," and Gilbert is such your pursuers! In half-an-hour's time you will a person, for no man knows whence he comes; reach the shore. Meanwhile I shall delay the mur- doubtless he has been a dependent of the accursed derous wretches. Fly then! and may you reach Templars, who misled our youth, wrung from us your bark in safety! Guard well the casket, and the fruit of the soil which we earned with the sweat greet the brethren for me." of our brow, and spent the profits of our weary labors in luxury and debauchery. Is there one of you who has not just cause to avenge himself on the detestable knights? Thy garden, Nicholas, was forcibly taken from thee by their bailiff. Thy son, Matthieu, used to be forced to watch night after night, after a weary day's labor, that the rest of a certain luxurious knight might not be disturbed. And thy grandchild, honest William, was whipped by their commands until he died, for the small offence of catching a hare and getting it roasted. These deeds of cruelty, and a hundred others, we have seen with our own eyes, and yet, here stands "Do not believe him! He lies!" cried Renaud, a man who gives shelter to one of the accursed brood an envious neighbor; "I myself saw him walking whom the king has banished, and with him divides with the miscreant whom the foreign fisherman the treasures of their heretical society! Look at talked about. They took their way to yonder ru- him, how like an honest man he stands! How he ins. Concealed behind a hedge, I heard them speak-even dares to smile! Neighbors, will you put up ing of a treasure which they were going to dig up. "with this contempt? Perhaps he himself is a con"A treasure!" shouted the multitude eagerly, cealed Templar! Perhaps the wretch even bears whilst desire of plunder glared from their greedy eyes; where? where ?"

"Deliver up the blasphemer-the heretic-the Templar whom you have concealed!" shouted the enraged mob.

66

"I have got no Templar here," replied Perrail, fearlessly. "You are mistaken."

"Listen to me," exclaimed Perrail, in vain striving to calm them. "Control your unworthy passions, and remember that you are men and Christians!"

their secret mark on his breast."

So saying, Renaud seized Perrail to examine him, who indignantly pushed him back; but the insidious speech had already made a deep impression, and with a wild cry the enraged multitude darted on their victim.

"We don't forget it," cried the ringleader; we know we are men; but the Templars are the children of the devil, whom they do not scruple to call their father. We are Christians, while the Templars are heretics, who despise Christ, and wearing eyes. idolatrous images on their breast. They must be burned, for king and pope have sanctioned it; and it shall be done."

"I do not care a straw for the Templar," growled forth Renaud, who understood the people he had to

Blinded by fury, a smith armed with a hammer struck a murderous blow on the head of Perrail. Bleeding, he sank to the earth, while the purple crown of martyrdom again hovered before his clos"Hiram!" he exclaimed, as his senses wandered. His lips moved perhaps once more to utter the hallowed name of Jesus; but in vain! Darkness obscured his vision-the dew of death glistened on his brow, and the seneschal, who a short time after arrived, found the multitude,

ashamed of what they had done, standing in speechless consternation round the corpse; some of the more charitable striving to reänimate the unfortunate Blanche, who, returning at the fatal moment, had swooned away.

as the uproar subsided, "My Lord and Master, your clemency has touched my heart, and filled it with gratitude. Let me now, however, conclude the story of the unfortunate Perrail, who fell a martyr to his fidelity to the order. Being detained by adverse winds, I had time to learn the melancholy news. In the night I returned to the house of mourning, and persuaded the bereaved widow to accompany me, along with the corpse of her husband, and her orphan boy. I promised that friends of Perrail should protect her and her child, and for that purpose I have brought them hither."

"Now, brethren, I have concluded my recital," said Sir Guy de Montford to the assembled Templars gathered together, as heretofore, in the vault of the ruined chapel of St. John, on the bleak and rocky coast from which the young knight had sailed a short time previously. "I could not slay him, because I believed him guiltless: let him, therefore, "You did well, De Montfort!" replied the Grand who believes himself without sin among you, cast Master; "the noble death of Perrail merits all the the first stone at me! I now fearlessly place my-poor recompense we can offer; let her therefore be self before you, my brethren and my judges;-do conducted into our presence. And now, my brethwith me what seems best to you. I did not tremble ren," he continued, turning towards the knights, when, with twenty swords at my breast you tried" cover the emblem of the Blessed Trinity, and my courage in these vaults, ere I set out; and I do remove all our mystic symbols from the vault." not tremble now before your poniards, for my conscience approves me, and I know that I have done right. If the rank of Master is only to be obtained by bloodshed, then I abjure it forever, and separate myself from this association of cruelty, whose members, under the mask of benevolence and brotherly love, conceal fiendish hatred; and who hide the assassin's dagger under the insignia of a peaceful handicraft."

Guy was silent, and there was for some moments a solemn pause, while the Grand Master sat in deep consideration, with his head leaning on his hand. At last, he raised his eyes towards the emblem of the Blessed Trinity represented on the canopy above his chair, and from the divine fountain of wisdom imbibed lenity and prudence.

66

"Brother Perrail undoubtedly left us," at length he said; nevertheless we shall cherish no rancor against him on that account, for he did not break the oath to defend the rights of the order, but, on the contrary, lost his life in preserving Brother Guy from the destruction which threatened him. On another account also, we must still number Brother Perrail in our ranks; he has shown the perfection of human benevolence; and is not perfection the aim of our association?"

"So let it be!" exclaimed the brethren with one voice; while Guy replied, in altered tones, as soon

PUNCH.

His orders were obeyed. Blanche was admitted. She seemed bowed down with care and sorrow, as, conducted by Guy, she approached the venerable Grand Master, and would have sunk at his feet, had not he, touched to the heart, raised her in his arms; then, gently laying his hands upon her head, he blessed her, and said: "Like thee, poor stricken one! we call from the depths of our affliction to the Lord of hosts, and hope for a new Jerusalem, and a bright future of immortality. God is my witness, that, from this day henceforth, I shall look upon thee as my daughter, and upon thy orphan babe as my son, and, after my death, my nephew shall take my place in fulfilling this duty."

After saying these words, Aumont commanded the poor widow to be led away, and the dead body of her husband to be brought. The knights, with one accord, lowered their swords as the corpse was carried in, and over the coffin of their martyred companion, was Guy de Montford, by grasp, step, sign, and brotherly kiss, received to the dignity of Master.

Near the chapel of St. John, the body of Perrail was deposited in holy ground. A heap of stones was his only monument, but, during many long years, his humble resting-place was visited with veneration by the members of the order.

holders, in the style of the paving, lighting, or police rate; and in consideration of this payment MUSICAL NOVELTY.-The spread of music in every inhabitant will have a supply of music reguthe metropolitan thoroughfares has become so gen-larly laid on, before his door, either once, twice, or eral, that a company is, we believe on the point of formation, with a view of affording a regular supply of harmony to all the streets, squares and crescents, in London and the suburbs.

The company is to start with a capital of one thousand organs; so that the organization will be at once tolerably complete; and there will be a reserve fund of five hundred guitars, which will be available for special purposes. The shares may be paid for either in money or instruments-not legal instruments, such as bills, which suggest only promissory notes-but instruments of a metallic currency, such as trombones, French horns, trumpets, and cymbals, which are in fact symbolical of harmony. Any person may pay his deposit either in gold, silver, or brass, and the contributor of two cornets à piston will stand in the same position as a subscriber of one sovereign.

The source from which the shareholders will derive their profit will be a rate levied on all house

thrice a week, according to the wealth and respectability of the neighborhood. A numerous staff of itinerant musicians will be employed, and will be taken on duty to their respective districts by a regular superintendent, from a sort of central barrack in the neighborhood. Every square of consequence will be entitled to a troubadour, on alternate evenings with the nearest crescent, and by an arrangement with the company, on payment of an increased rate, two troubadours, or double service, may be laid on during the height of the season.

By private agreement a troubadour can be introduced on to the premises, for a limited period, once in each week; but, for this, the charge will, of course, be proportionate. In the more humble neighborhoods it is proposed that a lower class of professors shall do the musical duty; and for this purpose the staff of itinerant organists must be exceedingly large, as the demand is very extensive in the less wealthy localities.

less, hapless horde,

my lord!

Another and another, and the sight is still the same; Suffering that knows no solace, and sin that knows no shame.

Arrangements have already been made to adapt | Lo, the maggot life of London! And that hope"Marble Halls" to one hundred instruments, so that the inmates of two, three, or even four-pair In foulness bred, in foulness fed, is work for you, backs or fronts, may have an opportunity of at once dreaming that they "dwell in marble halls," and are loved "all the same," notwithstanding the dinginess of their apartments, and the diminutiveness of their incomes. Should the scheme succeed, as far as we are justified in announcing it at present, a vocal concert will be added for laying on a continued series of popular songs throughout the Here are human hearts to frame anew-Bethink entire metropolis. The poet of Cremorne will be placed at the head of the lyrical department, vice Bunn extinguished.

Hunger by thousand tables; savage life 'mid thou

sand schools;

you of the tools.

But hark! another Voice is up, and pompously it

booms

From well-spread tables, easy beds, and trimly furnished rooms.

"I am Respectability: things must not go on so; There's nowhere I can drive my gig, but something calls out woe.

RATHER TOO NICE.-Oar old friend, the Herald, commenced one of its leading articles the other morning with the words, "We are not very fond of interfering with other people's affairs." Surely our respectable contemporary does not mean to say that its own affairs are the only subjects it delights" to write upon. A journalist who is averse to interfering with other people's affairs, had better retire from business at once, for he cannot expect that his prattle about himself would prove a source of interest to the community.

For my part, all I know is, I wish the drains were fewer;

Poor folks will throw things down 'em-as for unwholesome air,

I know our street 's extremely sweet, and that's all my affair."

Whereon chimes in big Bumbledom, "You 're right my worthy friend;

'Tis time this stuff and nonsense were brought unto

an end.

There's the Union Workhouse for the poor-you
should see how we have broke 'em
Into temperance by short diet, into industry by
oakum."

But hark! that hoarse and hollow Voice-'t is from
a Newgate cell-

Or, like glow-worms, scattered, twinkle and wink" up from below

But 't is not to gaze on this fair sight that thro' the night we go.

Not a builded brick, or stone, or stick, on those wide acres thrown,

But bears a tongue within it-hath a language of

its own;

In street, and square, and alley bare, with its growth of human seed,

Is a great book spread beneath us-look down, my lord, and read!

In steeples upward springing read prayer, struck

into stone;

In prisons barred and bastioned read crime, and curse, and groan;

In lighted west-end houses read mirth, and warmth, and show;

In foul St. Giles' hovels read squalor, want and

Be

silent, heartless blind-worms!-a different tale I tell ;

I've wrestled crime for centuries, and feeble all I feel,

Tho' my bones are bones of granite, and my sinews hammered steel.

Ye little wot how hard and hot the tide of crime

flows ever;

How it laughs my Canute talk to scorn, and mocks my stern endeavor;

How Law aghast aside is cast before that fearful sea Which makes a plaything of the scourge, and a toy of the gallows-tree.

"Call Mother Church to help me ; let Saint School do all she can ;

Give them Child Crime to fight with, and leave me the full-grown man,

Or soon the evil saps my walls, and down forthwith ye fall,

Master Bumble, Sir Respectable, gig, mace, cocked