138 RISEN BY PER SB VERANCE. 



his hand, fell into the bath close by. He had left in writing 

 on a folio sheet of paper, which was lying on the table, the 

 following words : — 



* Dearest Lydia, — My brain burns. I must have walked ; 

 and a fearful dream rises upon me. I cannot bear the 

 horrible thought. God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, 

 have mercy upon me. Dearest Lydia, dear children, farewell. 

 My brain burns as the recollection grows. My dear, dear 

 wife, farewell. * Hugh Miller.' 



And 'so passed this strong heroic soul away.' 



When Hugh Miller shot himself, Dr. Guthrie had been 

 absent from home. ' On my return to the house next day,' 

 he writes, ' I had two very painful duties to perform. The 

 first was at the request of his eldest daughter, a very amiable 

 as well as able young creature, to go up to the room where 

 her father lay, and cut off a lock of his hair for her. I shall 

 never forget the appearance of the body as I entered the 

 room and stood alone by the dead : that powerful frame, 

 built on the strongest model of humanity ; that mighty head, 

 with its heavy locks of auburn hair; and the expression of 

 that well-known face, so perfectly calm and placid. The 

 head was a little turned to one side, and the face thrown 

 upwards, so that it had not the appearance of an ordinary 

 corpse, but wore something of a triumphant, if not a defiant 

 air, as if he were still ready for battle in the cause of truth 

 and righteousness — defying his enemies to touch his great 

 reputation as a man of the highest eminence in science, of 

 the most unblemished character or the most extraordinary 

 ability, and, more than any one of his compeers, entitled to 

 be called a defender of the faith. The result of the post- 



