although not over five feet ten inches in height, with a slight and somewhat effeminate person, was evidently endowed with great strength and activity. His features were regular, and his countenance, taken altogether, would have been rather pleasing, had it not been for a faint and somewhat sinister smile or expression constantly playing over his face, and giving the observer a disagreeable feeling, unaccountable and unexplainable, but still a doubting, unpleasant sensation. His eye was a light blue, rather large and sleepy, and, unless when much excited, with the lids drooping over them, and usually rolling quickly and suspiciously around, not beaming with a straight-forward, steady glare, but from the corners, and with a sudden, abrupt motion. His hair was flaxen, rather thin and straight, but very fine and silken, and laying close to his head. His face was long and rather pale, or sallow, never changing or showing any emotion, or any of the workings of the heart, unless when deeply enraged or excited, and then there was a fearful change; and, at such times, a broad blue vein usually swelled up across the forehead and temple, and his swarthy cheeks became blotted with light red blotches. He was generally very taciturn, and seldom spoke unless when addressed, or when greatly interested or excited, and then he poured out his words with much volubility, and a light froth accumulated in the corners of his mouth. He now stood perfectly silent, gazing intently on the ground, answering not a word to the many remarks and questions of Old Ned, and seemingly hearing nothing, and buried in a profound and, from the flitting clouds on his face, not very pleasing revery. He had received a fine education, and was a polished scholar for that age of our country in the West; but had, along with his other studies, devoted much of his time to the wild theories of infidel and atheistical philosophers, and came home from the schools a thorough disbeliever and a confirmed and settled fatalist. He had not only imbibed the false and shallow doctrine of the Necessarians, but, along with them, necessarily became corrupt and immoral to a fearful degree. His life will show to what fearful extremes his boasted philosophy and religion of reason lead him. -On the other hand, Morten, the younger brother, could not

He

stand still a moment, but was constantly and restlessly moving about, carrying on a running conversation with Old Ned-now praising White Cloud, and then Thunder-now hurrying Old Ned, and then assisting (much to the annoyance of the old servant) in saddling the horses. He was some two years younger than his brother; was, perhaps, a shade taller and stouter built; had a broad, open face, and rosy cheeks, dark, curling hair, and bright, laughing, hazel eyes; and when he smiled (which was very frequent) he exhibited a row of perfectly white and beautiful teeth. His nose was of the most classic Grecian order, and Napoleon himself would have envied him his small hands and feet. was a noble sample of that very common genus in Kentucky, a wild, harumscarum, thoughtless, reckless, dare-devil, untrained young gentleman, who, without being vicious or remarkably wicked, could be led or induced by more thoughtful or colder heads to do and dare anything. Economy was a word unknown in his vocabulary; his pockets were opened to the inroads of any who might choose to make an assault-his purse was always in his hand; and he would loan a friend, or give, when his feelings were touched, the last cent he had, and borrow with equal recklessness from the next friend he met. He never hesitated to assist a friend, either in a brawl or with his purse; and had as little hesitation in calling upon a friend to do him a like service. He fell in love (an excusable weakness!) with every pretty face he saw, and would have married, at the drop of a hat, any right merry girl that would have been silly enough to have him. On the whole, he was what we call in Kentucky a "clever fellow"-which, my dear reader, means nothing more or less, in plain English, than a wild, frolicking, good-hearted, good-for-nothing chap, against whom there can be no positive charges of crime or meanness, but to whom it would not be advisable to loan money, or credit too largely, if you ever wish to be paid. If to your question in Kentucky, respecting a lawyer, merchant, or doctor, the reply is, "Oh, he is a very clever, good fellow," you may take my word for it, and write him down at once as good for nothing under heaven but to eat a good dinner, drink any named quantity of toddy, play cards from sunrise to sunrise, and engage in any sport

the devil may send or luck turn up. I believe, in our Eastern States, a "clever fellow" means an intelligent business man; but out with us, it is entirely different. For to say he is a "nice man," is a provincialism signifying a fool and dandy; and to dub him with the title of "clever fellow" is a broad character, very indefinite, meaning most anything but steadiness or a recommendation. Morten was naturally a good-hearted, noble fellow, who would weep over misery or wretchedness, and forget it the next moment; who would curse tyranny, resist cruelty, and fight for the oppressed, yet become oblivious of everything in five minutes by the watch. He could be forced to do nothing, but persuaded to do anything-and his life, character, and actions, were all formed and fashioned by association, and were good or evil, according to the influences brought to bear at the moment of commission.

Such was Morten Powers, who had now mounted the wild and almost untamed thoroughbred Thunder, and was spurring him around the enclosure, yelling like a Camanche, much to the pleasure of Old Ned, and the enjoyment of a dozen young "darkies," who had gathered around the stable; while the more careful and calculating Lonz was examining the bridle and girth in the equally wild and spirited White Cloud before he risked his valuable neck on her rather dangerous back. And now they were both mounted— one on the superb coal-black Thunder, looking like an angry, stormy cloud, guided by the hand of a glorious angel, his glossy black breast and sides already covered with snowy flakes of foam, his wide nostrils distended, wild and furious with his unusual burden, his long black mane floating up like a wing of the tempest, and his brilliant eye corruscating its fierce lightning. Yet this most beautiful and wonderful of God's animal creation had tried his powers with man, and was conquered-for he now trembled at the voice of his equally wild rider, and acted as if instinct had already taught him how vain and useless all his exertions were, when controlled by the strong and skilful hand of such a

master.

Lonz himself, when once firmly braced and seated on the back of the faultless white mare, seemed to gather new life and excite

ment, and his whole face was lit up with a smile, but such a smile as a tyrant would wear when he held his foe crouching beneath his foot. One desperate effort did the terrified animal make to unseat her rider; but his iron hand, pressing the Spanish bit, bore her almost to her haunches; his swarthy cheek became red with excitement; that dark blue vein stood out upon his temple, swelling up, as if striving to burst from its living confinement; and with an oath he plunged the cruel spur deep into her panting, snowy flank; and away rushed the brothers-the dark and the white spirits the one like the whirlwind on a summer day, driving along on the fleecy, snowy clouds, coming when least expected, and destroying all before it; the other, riding the dark tempest, but guiding it far away from the habitations of man. Morten answered the "fox hallo" of his father, and waved his cap to the lovely Ellen; but Lonz, sullen and stern, spurred furiously on, neither looking to the right nor the left, and in a moment more they were both hidden in the dark embrace of the forest.

One had gone forth to joy and sport; the other, to commune with his dark soul, conceal a crime, and maybe, commit a far greater for his was a soul clouded by infidelity, and cruel, remorseless, and pitiless, by belief in Fate. No wonder the old father wept at the thought of parting with those gallant steedsfor, like the Arab of the desert, he had raised and nursed them; and no one, who has not parted with a favourite horse, can conceive the deep emotion excited by such a separation.

SCARCELY had the dark shades of the deep forest enshrouded the brothers from the view of their pure and guileless sister, before Lonz reined in his mare, and, hailing his companion, said: "Now, Morten, we must hurry away to Wilson's as soon as possibletake our breakfast with him as we promised, and then away you may go to the hunt-but as for myself, I have other business. I came not home to kill foxes or break my own neck in these accursed thick woods; but I have one to deal with, as cunning as Reynard in his palmiest day. For," he continued gloomily, while his eye rolled uneasily and quickly around, "without jesting, I must this day have an understanding with Burton, for weal or wo depends upon his acquiescence with my wishes."

"Ay, Lonz, may the devil take you and your plans," was the sharp reply of the impetuous Morten. "Would to God I had never seen a card, or that my hand had withered and refused to grasp the painted papers, seemingly so innocent, but which have caused my utter ruin and dishonour."

"Silence, Morten," was the stern, quick rejoinder of the now aroused Lonz. "Know you not the old but very wise adage 'that walls have ears,' and would you now have our father acquainted with our secret ?”

"No, no, Lonz, God forbid; I would rather die than to look upon his noble face sorrowed and darkened by the disgrace of his sons," was the quick and vehement exclamation of the younger brother. "Heard you not our old father," he added mournfully,