At that moment an alarm was given that the mansion was on fire, and in an instant the flames were seen in a vivid glare rushing from different parts of the building.

Sir Eustace flew to ensure Kathleen's safety, and Lord Fitzmaurice that of

his lady.

Many of the country people were now seen hastening to offer all the assistance that lay in their power, and it was proposed to carry the ladies to a farm house at no great distance from Ivy Hall. Lord Fitzmaurice supported his lady, and Sir Eustace followed with Kathleen. Poor old Carroll saved his harp, but would not remove from the lawn, where he remained a sorrowful spectator of the calamity so little expected.

The first beam of sunset had disappeared and the moon was seen slowly rising above the distant mountains; Sir Eustace, who was unacquainted with the windings of the path, did not keep pace with the Baron, of whom, with lady Fatzmaurice they soon lost sight amidst the deepening shades; he continued, however, to proceed cautiously along with his fair charge, when the full moon passing from beneath a dark cloud, revealed to Kathleen that they had wandered into a different path from that which led to the farm house. This discovery she instantly intimated to Sir Eustace, requesting him to retrace his steps as speedily as possible, that the Baron and her mother might not be alarmed at her prolonged absence.

Sir Eustace affected to comply with her desire, but in reality directed his steps in a contrary direction to that which she directed him to pursue, and Kathleen soon found by the evidence of the bright moonlight, that Sir Eustace was conveying her still further from the road she had intreated him to regain.

Her indignation and alarm at this discovery may easily be imagined, and notwithstanding the assurances of Sir Eustace that her apprehensions were entirely groundless, she resolutely refused to proceed.

"My father is well acquainted with these roads, Sir Eustace," she said, “ and will, I know, come in quest of me, supposing that you may have mistaken the road to the farm,"

At that moment one of Sir Eustace's pages approached, leading his white courser, on which the Knight forcibly placed Kathleen, who rent the air with shrieks for assistance.

The trampling of horses was heard approaching, and Sir Eustace with a sudden spring seated himself behind her.

"Save me, heaven!" she exclaimed, raising to her lips the small silver cross that was attached to her rosary.

Sir Eustace spurred his horse violently, and the white courser set up a gallop.

Kathleen again shrieked wildly; the horsemen were still in hearing, and seemed to be following in the track Sir Eustace was pursuing with his fair prize.

With a violent effort Kathleen loosed herself from his hold, and springing from her seat at the hazard of her life, fell to the ground, where for some time she lay in a state of insensibility; and the false knight, not to confront the horsemen, who were close behind, gallopped away in a contrary direction, and was speedily out of sight.

Kathleen, though stunned, had not received any serious injury by her fall, and she soon recovered from the temporary insensibility into which she had fallen.

She beheld a young and handsome Knight, who seemed to watch her return to consciousness with the most anxious solicitude.

"Where, where! is my father?" she exclaimed wildly, save, oh! save me, from Sir Eustace Desmond!"

"Sir Eustace Desmond!" exclaimed the young Knight, who was attended by a numerous retinue, "what cause of offence, fair lady, have you received from him ?"

"He is an unworthy knight,” she exclaimed; "he has basely sought to convey me forcibly from my parents. I sprung from his horse and fell senseless to the earth. Save me from his power, and if thou art an honourable Kuight, convey me to my father."

While she was speaking the young knight, as well as his attendants, evinced the utmost astonishment.

"Some villainy has been at work, fair lady," he answered, "but suffer me at once to remove your fears of Sir Eustace Desmond, and to assure you of protection from the villain who has dared to assume his name. I am Sir Eustace Desmond."

Kathleen looked incredulous.

“I blame you not, fair lady” resumed Sir Eustace," since an impostor has presumed to make it subservient to his lawless designs, but if you will inform me whither you wish to be conducted, I have credentials in my possession that will, with the evidence of my friend Sir Ralph Aylmer, who accompanies me, and is well known in this part of the country, remove at once all doubts of my identity."

It is impossible to describe the feelings of Kathleen while she listened to Sir Eustace's assurances, of which, when he mentioned Sir Ralph Aylmer's presence, she no longer entertained a doubt. Sir Ralph Aylmer was her father's much esteemed friend, and his honour bad ever been unquestionable.

"I am the daughter of Lord Fitzmaurice," she said, while the remembrance

of the recent calamity that had deprived her parents of the only home that remained for them of their once fair castles and stately halls, overwhelmed her with feelings of such poignant anguish that it was with the utmost difficulty she briefly as possible informed Sir Eustace and his friend of her father's meeting with the perfidious stranger, and the unexpected calamity that had thrown her into his power, and concluded by requesting they would conduct her to the farm house, where she hoped they would find Lord Fitzmaurice and her mother.

"Most happy am I," Sir Eustace replied, who had, with Sir Ralph Aylmer, listened with the most intense interest to her short but affecting tale, "to be the fortunate messenger, conjointly with Sir Ralph Aylmer, of glad tidings to Lord Fitzmaurice. His friends, of whom Sir Ralph Aylmer has not been the least active, have obtained in his favour a grant from the royal authority for the restoration of his forfeited castles and large estates-of this grant we are the bearers, and were on our way to the nearest town, where we proposed to remain for the night, and set out in the morning for Ivy Hall, to communicate the welcome intelligence to Lord Fitzmaurice. It is but this evening we ar rived from Dublin, intending to-morrow to proceed from Ivy Hall to Rose Abbey, the castle of which I am now the proprietor, and where some of my servants are now preparing for our reception.

At that moment the voice of Carroll was heard, strained to its highest pitch, calling on his dear young lady, and denouncing ten-fold vengeance on the Fairy Earl.

A joyful exclamation from Kathleen directed him to the spot where she stood with Sir Eustace and his friend, surrounded by their numerous retinue. The old minstrel threw himself at her feet.

"Rise, good Carroll," she exclaimed, "I have glad tidings to impart; but tell me where you left my father is he-is my mother in safety?"

:

They are at the farm house, overwhelmed with consternation on your account, my dear young lady," said the old man, wiping away the tears that were rapidly trickling down his aged cheeks. Alas! alas! they have no other home now!"

"Not so, my good friend," cried Sir Eustace; "but you come in good time, to guide us to Lord Fitzmaurice: let us hasten to relieve him from his anxiety for his daughter's safety, and in the meantime we will rejoice your faithful heart with a tale of unhoped joy.

Almost frantic with delight, Carroll led Kathleen with her noble friends, followed by their attendants, to the farm house.

The scene that followed, language is inadequate to describe; joy, gratitude, and wonder beamed in every eye; one only sterner feeling clouded the lustre of the brilliant fire that lightened in the noble aspects of the Baron and his