her deportment; but Delancey had unfortunately even lost that nice perception of propriety and love of character that serve, in no small measure, to protect the thoughtless and the rash from profligate excesses. He thought of nothing but the beauty of this wanton, whose seductions had already so bewildered him, that he had seriously begun to think of offering her his hand. It was unfortunate for him, that Ury was at this moment too absorbed in his own thoughts to take notice of his friend's aberrations. They appeared indeed to have forgot each other; and scarcely met except at meals, where neither seemed disposed to interrupt each other's silent speculations. Charles, in the mean time, made every attempt to discover the place of residence of his mysterious mistress; but as she strictly enjoined upon him not to follow her when they separated, he found it for a long time impossible to satisfy his curiosity. Once he attempted to follow her, at a cautious distance, but she discovered his intention, and threatened solemnly never to meet him again, if he ever ventured a second time to trace her to her lodgings. Unable, however, to restrain his growing curiosity, he followed her the next night, at a still more circumspective distance; but after pursuing her retreating figure around fort Garden, Benson's brew-house, Stevens's tanpits, and so back to the old Dutch church-yard, he lost sight of her entirely. At last one night, he determined to summon all his ingenuity to effect his purpose. It had just begun to rain; but he knew that this would not prevent the girl from being true to her appointment. Having disguised himself in a dress very different from that which he usually wore; he took a station at some distance from the place of rendezvous, near enough to see the incognita when she approached; but so esconced himself behind an old building that she could not possibly see him. She came at the appointed hour, and after walking about a long time, with much impatience, she finally left the spot. He now pursued her cautiously; and although she appeared to observe him once or twice, his disguise effectually prevented her suspicions. Instead of going the roundabout way home which she had generally gone, she now turned directly down Beaver-street into the Broadstreet, and disappeared, not far from the Jew's Alley. Delancey could not tell exactly where she vanished, but thought it was at a gate which led into the yard of Hughson's tavern. This tavern was in very bad repute; it had been for some time past a noted place of resort for all the idle blacks of that part of the town; and Hughson began to be suspected by the city magistrates as a receiver of stolen goods, and a harborer of thieves. Could the object of

his pursuit be so vile a woman as to herd with such notorious vagabonds? Impossible. She most probably lived in the adjoining house, the appearance of which better corresponded with his wishes and anticipations. But what was he to do? Irregular as his habits had been, he shrunk from entering a house so notoriously infamous. Besides, if he should conquer his aversion, with what face could he inquire about a woman whom he did not even know by name. Whilst he was meditating what to do, he thought he heard her voice, among others, in the back room of the second story of the tavern. There was an alley which separated Hughson's house from the neighbouring one; and a window opening into this alley from the room where he thought he heard the voices. This window, from which the light of a candle proceeded, was the only one not closed; and it was not more than twenty feet above the ground. Delancey determined to scale the side of the house; and entering the alley, he contrived, by mounting first upon a shed, and supporting himself upon some projecting timbers of the adjoining building, to reach the window, though not without considerable difficulty. The darkness of the night skreened him, he well knew, from all observation from within; and his extreme curiosity drowned all those compunctious visitings of conscience, which would have prevented him, at any other time, from the violation of even a tavern-keeper's secrecy. He looked into the room, in fearful expectation to see there the beautiful, but (as he was now convinced) the abandoned creature, whom he had gradually permitted to gain over him so dangerous an empire. Instead of this, he saw a spectacle which astonished him beyond measure. Thirty stout black fellows, of different ages, were seated round a circle described upon the floor; and Hughson the tavern-keeper stood in the centre, administering to each of the gang an oath accompanied with strange formalities and fantastic ceremonies. Hughson's daughter was assisting in the solemnities, if such they could be called, and his wife was preparing a sort of supper in one corner of the room. Delancey now recollected the stories that were abroad about the Negro Plot, and was convinced that he had become, without intending it, a witness of their execrable rites. Struck with terror at the sight, he was preparing to descend with all possible precipitancy, when the sound of voices, high in dispute, on the staircase that led up to the room, arrested his attention. Above the rest was heard a firm strong voice, which he recognised with a fearful thrilling of the heart. The effect upon the party within the room seemed still greater Vol. II. No. III.

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than upon himself. The blacks started from their seats; and Hughson ad his daughter looked upon each other with signs of evident embarrassment and vexation. There was a loud beating now against the door, and Ury's voice was heard again, sternly demanding instant admittance. The blacks looked towards Hughson, who attempted in vain to conceal his chagrin. "What does that d-d meddling priest mean," he cried, biting his lip, and stifling his voice, "by interrupting us to night? If he comes in, he'll spoil sport again, as he's done already more than once. Let the old fox take care, or he'll find a bloodhound that shall match him." The volley of execrations which accompanied this effusion were cut short by a second assault upon the door, and Ury's voice was heard exclaiming, "open the door instantly, or, if ye hesitate a moment, I'll denounce ye to the police!" "With slow step and manifest reluctance, Hughson at length drew back the bolt, and Ury, with a stern undaunted air, walked into the very centre of the The conspirators seemed dismayed at his unwelcome entrance; and he evidently exercised a strange inexplicable influence over all of them. Even Hughson himself, whose hard unyielding features gave token of a firm and stubborn spirit, shrunk aside as Ury passed him, and did not dare to raise his eyes even to look upon his back. The blacks pressed close against the wall, while the priest stood boldly up before them, and addressed them with the harsh tone of a man accustomed to obedience, and secure of his authority. "Ye poor deluded creatures, and is this then your return for my indulgence? Is it thus ye keep your word with me? And do ye think that I will long endure this wickedness and folly? Shame on ye all! to be so cheated and cajoled by that arch-monster there! Have I not told ye, he will sell your necks for a half-gallon of Jamaica rum? And do ye then believe that I am not in earnest when I tell ye, that unless ye change your doings, half of ye shall certainly be hung in chains, or what ye more deserve, burnt at the stake? I have borne three times your fooleries and your mummeries. 1 bear with them no more. as there's a God in Heaven, so sure as ye dare meet again, I give your names with all my proofs that day to the police. Think not I fear your vengeance. I am stronger than ye all, for I have placed the documents of your guilt where they lie ready to be opened, if any violence is done to me. He who murders me, betrays and hangs or burns ye all! Remember that! As for you John Hughson, who are the cause of all this mischief, see to yourself more nearly. I hold your

As sure

life and death at my disposal; provoke me not again, or you repent too late." The rebuke of him who is too strong to be resisted, is all powerful. Hughson quailed before the anger of the priest; and the blacks silently and sullenly obeyed the orders of Ury, who commanded them to begone without an instant's hesitation to their homes. The priest then renewed his menaces to Hughson, and left the room, warning him again, that he had papers and proofs of the designs of the conspirators, which he had ordered to be opened in case of his death. Hughson stood a moment, a statue of disappointed malice. Then venting some share of his vexation in a volley of frightful execrations, he called hastily and angrily for Mary Burton; and on her not entering immediately, he passed quickly into an adjoining room, followed by his wife and daughter.

Delancey now descended and hastened home, and found the priest pacing up and down his room in manifest agitation. Charles immediately confessed to his friend that he had been a witness to the scene at Hughson's tavern. Ury seemed at first displeased, and somewhat grieved at this discovery. He looked fixedly in Delancey's face, as he asked him, whether he had honor and steadiness enough to be the depositary of a dangerous but important trust. Charles made the most vehement protestations of fidelity; and Ury then delivered into his hands a sealed packet, enjoining with great solemnity, the utmost care and circumspection. "It contains," he said, "convincing proofs of Hughson's criminal designs, and a full exposure of all the plans of this detestable conspiracy. The blacks are dupes of that enormous villain, or I should not hesitate to denounce the whole gang at once to the police. You may think, that there is little mercy to the citizens, in this lenity to these fools; but I have a hold upon them that I am confident will soon break up their plot. They dare not stir a step, for they know me too well to suppose that I would hesitate to put my threats into execution. In a few days, I shall protect them from the influence of Hughson by a manœuvre which it is not necessary for you to know. In the mean time, keep this packet always close and safe about your person. If any of these ideot-ruffians are so mad as to attempt my life, give up the documents to the civil authorities at once. You doubtless think I ought to do so now, but why should 1,-—if I feel sure of saving these deluded wretches, without the smallest risk to any of my fellow-creatures? In spite, however, of all his professions of security, Ury spoke with so much hesitation, and in a tone of such manifest despondency, that his friend felt very strangely and fearfully aflected. He had some strong

misgivings that Ury had grossly overrated his influence over the blacks, and it is certain that if Delancey had but seriously reflected for a moment, he would have necessarily perceived this was one of those dangerous miscalculations of which benevolent enthusiasts are very often guilty. He took the packet, however, and promised faithfully to follow the instructions of his friend. After a silence of some minutes, during which Ury seemed absorbed in deep and painful meditation, he repeated his injunctions with still greater solemnity; and then added, "there is but one among them all, of whom I have any serious apprehensions. Mary Burton is my bitter enemy. I have exasperated her by an offence which no woman was ever known to pardon. I have aroused in her dark and unforgiving bosom, by a deed which well deserved her everlasting gratitude, a spirit of deadly and implacable revenge. Over her I have no control whatever, for she will sacrifice every thing to accomplish my dishonor and my destruction. She has it unfortunately in her power to make me appear a partner in this plot; which indeed many will regard me as a madman in attempting to suppress, without the aid or interference of municipal force. In answer to Charles's inquiry who this Mary Burton was, the priest replied with evident unwillingness to dwell upon the subject. that she was a relation of the Hughsons, who had lived with them for some years past, and who was suspected of abetting them in most of their iniquities. Delancey would have urged his friend to a description of her person, for he had already began to suspect that his anonymous mistress was no more nor less than Mary Burton; but he felt unwilling to pursue a sub ect the continuance of which was so obviously irksome to his friend.

Nothing more was said by Ury for several weeks respecting the conspiracy, and Charles began to think that Hughson and his accomplices had indeed abandoned a design, the execution of which would certainly involve them all in inevitable ruin. In fact, the circumstances of the plot no longer occupied his attention; and except when he laid aside the packet every evening, he scarcely gave the thing a thought. In proportion as the effect of the discovery he had made passed away from his memory, the image of his mistress returned with all its original influence to his mind. He refused to believe that so beautiful a creature could be nothing more than the tool of such a monster as the villain Hughson, and he was convinced that she dwelt in some other house in the vicinity. He spent several days in reconnoitring the neighbourhood, without success. He saw no one who in the least resembled the unknown. He