which justice demanded, and our crimes deserved. It was in this dreadful moment that our daughter with her last breath, by the most solemn adjurations, exacted and obtained a promise from Don Juan not to expose her parents to a public execution by disclosing what had passed. Alas! alas! we see too plainly how he kept his word: behold, he dies a martyr to honor! Your infernal tortures have destroyed him.'

No sooner had the monk pronounced these words in a loud and furious tone, than the wretched Don Juan drew a sigh; a second would have followed, but Heaven no longer could tolerate the agonies of innocence, and stopped his heart forever.

6

The monk had fixed his eyes upon him, ghastly with terror; and as he stretched out his mangled libs at life's last gasp, Accursed monsters,' he ́exclaimed, may God requite his murder on your souls at the great day of judgment! His blood be on your heads, ye ministers of darkness! For me, if heavenly vengeance is not yet appeased by my contrition, in the midst of flames my aggrieved soul will find some consolation in the thought, that you partake its torments.'

Having uttered this in a voice scarce human, he plunged a knife to his heart, and, whilst his blood spouted on the pavement dropped dead upon the body of Don Juan, and expired without a groan.

THE GAMESTER.

At Tunbridge, in the year 1715, a gentleman, whose name was Hedges, made a very brilliant appearance; he had been married about two years to a young lady of great beauty and large fortune; they had one child, a boy, on whom they bestowed all that affection which they could spare from each other. He knew nothing of gaming, nor seemed to have the least passion for play; but he was unacquainted with his own heart; he began by degrees to bet at the tables for trifling sums, and his soul took fire at the prospect of immediate gain; he was soon surrounded with sharpers, who with calmness lay in ambush for his fortune, and cooly took advantage of the precipitancy of his. passions.

His lady perceived the ruin of her family approaching, but at first, without being able to form any scheme to prevent it. She advised with his brother, who at that time was possessed of a small fellowship in Cambridge. It was easily seen, that whatever passion took the lead in her husband's mind, seemed there to be fixed unalterably : it was determined therefore, to let him pursue his fortune, but previously take measures to prevent the pursuits being fatal.

Accordingly every night this gentleman was a constant attendant at the hazard tables; he understood neither the arts of sharpers, nor even the

allowed strokes of a connoisseur, yet still he played. The consequence is obvious; he lost his estate, his equipage, his wife's jewels, and every other moveable that could be parted with, except a repeating watch. His agony upon this occasion was inexpressible; he was even mean enough to ask a gentleman, who sat near, to lend him a few pieces, in order to turn his fortune; but this prudent gamester, who plainly saw there was no expectation of being repaid, refused to lend a farthing, alleging a former resolution against lending. Hedges was at last furious with the continuance of ill success; and pulling out his watch, asked if any person in company, would set him sixty guineas upon it-the company were silent. He then demanded fifty-still no answer. He sunk to forty, thirty, twenty-finding the company still without answering, he cried out, 'by G―d it shall never go for less,' and dashed it against the floor, at the same time, attempting to dash out his brains against the marble chimneypiece.

The last act of desperation immediately excited the attention of the whole company; they instantly gathered round, and prevented the effects of his passion; and after he again became cool, he was permitted to return home, with sullen discontent, to his wife. Upon his entering her apartment, she received him with her usual tenderness and satisfaction; while he answered her caresses with contempt and sternness; his disposition being quite altered with his misfortunes. 'But my dear Jemmy,' says his wife, perhaps you don't know

the news I have to tell; my mamma's old uncle is dead, the messenger is now in the house, and you know his estate is settled upon you.' This account seemed only to increase his agony; and looking angry at her, cried, ‹ There you lie, my dear, his estate is not settled upon me.' ‹ I beg your pardon, says she, I really thought it was, at least you have always told me so.' No, returned he, as sure as you and I are to be miserable here and our children beggars hereafter, I have sold the reversion of it this day, and have lost every farthing I got for it at the hazard table. 'What, all?' replied the lady. Yes, every farthing, returned he, ' and I owe a thousand pounds more than 1 have to pay.' Thus speaking, he took a few frantic steps across the room. When the lady had a little enjoyed his perplexity, No, my dear, cried she, you have lost but a trifle, and you owe nothing; our brother and I have taken care to prevent the effects of your rashness, and are actually the persons who have won your fortune; we employed proper persons for this purpose, who brought their winnings to me; your money, your equipage, are in my possession, and here I return them to you, from whom they were unjustly taken; I only ask permission to keep my jewels, and keep you, my greatest jewel, from such dangers for the future.' Her prudence had the proper effect, he ever after retained a sense of his former follies, and never played for the smallest sums, even for

amusement.

A WONDERFUL STORY.

Towards the latter end of Queen Anne's wars, Capt. John Beams, commander of the York merchant, arrived at Barbadoes from England. Having disembarked all his lading; which consisted chiefly of coals, the sailors, who had been employed in the dirty work, ventured into the sea to wash themselves; they had not been long in the water before a person on board spied a shark making towards them, and gave notice of their danger; upon which they swam back, and all, except one man, reached the boat in safety: him the monster over took, and griping him by the small of the back, soon cut him asunder and swallowed the lower part of his body: the remaining part was taken up and carried on board. The deceased had on board a dear and intimate friend, who no sooner saw the remaining part of the lifeless trunk of his much loved companion, than he vowed to make the devourer disgorge the other, or lose his life in the attempt; then plunged instantly into the sea: the shark beheid him, and made furiously towards him. Both were equally eager, the one of his prey, the other to revenge his friend's untimely death. The moment the shark opened his rapacious jaws, his adversary dexterously diving, and grasping him with his left hand, somewhat below the upper fins, successfully employed his knife in his right hand, giv