TO BENEFIT.-- 
TTJKDAY, ATJGXJ1 
“Would that it were !” 
j&t. 
“I cannot trust the foul tde.” 
“You can appreciate the sacrifice which I have 
made in telling you this dreadful talc. You are 
free to do as you will.” 
“Oh, God! This is infamous!” gasped the 
stricken lover. 
“Will you marry her noir?” 
“Marry a-” 
“Hush!” interposed Colonel Melville, with 
flushed cheek. Marry her, and I will settle 
hundred thousand dollars upon her. As I regarc 
it, she has committed no crime. She has beer 
more sinned against that sinning ; and her soul iij 
as pure aa though the touch of contamination hat 
never fallen upon her.” 
“Would God that I had never seen her!” criec 
Dr. Greenwood, in the most terrible anguish.” 
“I say her soul is as pure as when she was 
born into the world. A hundred thousand dol¬ 
lars shall be your portion.” 
“No, sir.” 
“Consider well. I was not willing she sho\ilc 
become your wife without your knowledge oj 
these facts.” 
“You were noble and generous, sir. I apl 
preciate your motives, and I thank you from th{ 
bottom of my heart; but I never can look upoi 
her face again.” 
“And thus betray my secret?” 
“I have heard the rumor before.” 
“No one believes it.” 
“I will leave the city.” 
“Iam sorry for you, sorry for her, for sh| 
loves you with all her heart.” 
“Oh God !” sighed the lover, as he seized hij 
hat and fled from the house. 
His hopes were blasted. Fannie Melville sucll 
a thing! Her painted smile was a lie, and alj 
that he had loved a phantom ! 
Ere the shades of evening had darkened upoi| 
the city he had fled like a felon from its walls. 
CHAPTER III. 
lilGHH-aeit. | 
Near the coast of Maine, and not far from thJ 
Imouth of the Kennebee^gjfo small but beautiful 
[island, whica, Ida Vac ***ifof V. irevte name','! 
shall call Highrock. On 1 the seaward side, th| 
land terminated in an abrupt cliff, while the otl 
er extremity was a sandy beach. The middle wa 
covered with a thick growth of pine trees, part 
which had been cleared away, to furnish a “gar 
den spot” for Mat. Rider, an old fisherman, wh| 
[dwelt onthe island. 
Mat. was universally regarded as a“queer stick,] 
yet he was as honest, warm-hearted, and just, 
he was singular. His history would no dout 
furnish a very interesting and instructive narrsj 
tive ; but as Mat. is not the hero nor his wife tl 
heroine of our romance, we shall beg his pardol 
for the slight we put upon him, by our neglecf 
and pass on to our story. 
Three years have passed away since the eventl 
iof our last chapter, and the family of old Mat) 
at Highrock, had been reinforced by the addj 
tion of a young woman, who was generally ri 
garded as insane. How she came upon the island 
what was her history, or what her name, neithe 
