"HEAVEN help me! I can go no further!" The young man who uttered these exclamations sank faint and exhausted upon the marble steps of a stately mansion, situated upon the banks of the beautiful Hudson. His face was very pale and haggard, his clothes in disorder, and covered with dust and blood. He appeared utterly incapable of any further effort, and had evidently abandoned himself to a fate which he deemed inevitable.

His words had not been entirely unheard. A young and beautiful girl stood at one of the open windows, looking out. She had observed the approach of the tired stranger, and listened to the exclamations he had made. Evidently she understood at once the peril and danger of his situation, for, following a sudden impulse, she crossed the shady piazza, and approached him, silently.

"Will you walk in, and rest yourself, sir?" she asked, softly.

The man turned suddenly. He had not heard her approach, and was therefore totally unprepared for the unexpected vision he saw before him. It was only for a moment that he hesitated, however, then he answered respectfully, though mournfully:

"Never, never!" cried the girl, with a shudder. "I will save you!"

You, miss?" asked the refugee, in deep astonishment. "It is impossible! I am grateful to you for your pity and compassion, but I fear you cannot aid me! I am too much fatigued and exhausted for further effort, and you had better leave me to my fate."

"I cannot see you murdered before my very eyes, sir! I am nearly powerless, but I will do all I can for your safety. Come with me.” She turned to enter the house, but the young man hesitated.

No, no," he said, quickly, "you have not reflected properly, and shall not be involved in my peril. I will remain here and brave it alone?"

"Then I shall stay with you, and thus incur double danger! I love my country, and would shield all who do battle for her cause. Go with me, and all may yet be well! For Heaven's sake, do not hesitate!"

He could not resist this appeal. He arose slowly, and tottered after her.

"I shall yield myself up to you," he said respectfully. "But, remember, if trouble ever comes from this, I would fain have deterred you."

She conducted him into the house. They crossed the long hall, and ascended the grand staircase. Near the head, they paused at a docr.

"This is my uncle's study," said the girl. "He is a tory, but luckily happens to be absent just now, and no one in the house is aware of it but myself. I think you will be safe, here, until we discover a better hiding-place."

She opened the door, and they entered the apartment. It was rather large, and handsomely furnished, but there were no embrasures, the

and compassion.

"You must robe yourself in this," she said,

Before he had time to answer, they both heard the report of fire-arms in the distance, and caught a glimpse, through the trees, of a party of soldiers, hurrying as fast as possible, down the road towards them.

"Yes, and as completely in the power of my enemies as if a prisoner at this moment," he returned, quickly, and then continued, indicating the approaching men, "Look! those are tories! They are in pursuit of me! We have had a skirmish over yonder, and they came off victorious. I fled, but it will be of no avail. They will reach us in a moment! I can go no further, nd my blood will answer for my temerity!"

with your back towards the door, looking over the papers. Your safety depends upon the merest chance, still I can do nothing more for you. They will be sure to search the house, if they suspect you are near."

"I feel assured of your well-wishes, my lady, if nothing more," he said, gently taking her hand in both his own. "By what name shall I call my fair benefactress?"

"

'Lilian Marston," answered the girl, blushing deeply.

"Lilian! I will remember that name," he returned, earnestly. If my life is spared, the memory of this hour shall be treasured sacredly. God bless you!"

speaking turned into this avenue. One of the soldiers is certain that he saw him enter the house. Where is Mr. Durant? We wish to obtain his consent to search the premises."

Lilian descended to the piazza. The tories were approaching the house in a body, and at their head was a certain Hubert Lincoln, the son of a wealthy royalist of the neighborhood, and would-be suitor for the hand of Lilian, although thoroughly detested by her. She took no pains to conceal her dislike, and therefore, as may be imagined, it was with no very enviable feelings that she observed his approach. In a moment he had reached her side, and stood panting from excitement.

"We have achieved a glorious victory, Miss❘ Marston," he said at last. "It was a tough one for a mere skirmish, though, but the rebels were completely routed. They fought like very devils, but the odds were against them. Can you not congratulate us?"

"For what! Because your hands are red with human blood?"

"Rather that King George has now fewer enemies, and Washington a less number of soldiers ! Is not that a sufficient matter for rejoicing?"

Only to the depraved and heartless!" was the indignant answer. "Such alone would be glad at the violent death of any one."

"That is a woman's opinion, and I shall receive it as such. They always take such matters more seriously than we of the other sex. But one of those dastardly rebels fled in this direction. Have you seen him pass?"

"I am no spy upon the actions of other people, sir, and rest assured I should be the very last one to reveal it to his enemies, even if I had !"

Lilian Marston trembled from head to foot, but she did not betray herself.

"It is not at all necessary, sir," she answered, calmly. "I will grant you full permission, myself, and bear all the censure arising therefrom. I know my uncle would approve of such a course."

"Thank you! Still I do not wish Mr. Durant should think, even for one moment, that we entertain a single suspicion or doubt in regard to the actions of so noted a royalist as himself but-"

"But you do not feel so certain in regard to myself," interrupted Lilian, with a smile. "You know I would gladly give shelter and protection to a so-called rebel, if I only had an opportunity! Is it not so ?"

"I shall not deny the imputation, Miss Marston," returned the captain, gallantly, "but I will at least give you the credit of possessing considerable candor, and more penetration.”,

"A portion of your men might be sent to search the out-buildings," said Lilian, by way of turning the conversation, "as you appear so well satisfied that the fugitive is somewhere near, and I will conduct the remainder over the house."

"The idea was well thought of! But what must Mr. Durant think to find a party of soldiers ransacking his premises? I freely confess that I do not at all like the looks of the disagreeable job before us!"

"You consider yourself as discharging your duty; that is enough. Come!"

The young girl crossed the piazza, and entered the house, followed immediately by Captain Lincoln and a couple of his best men. The attic was searched first, every nook explored, then the second story, and finally they paused before the very door of the apartment in which the fugitive had taken refuge. For a moment Lilian trembled with fear and dread.

"This is my uncle's study," she whispered, at last. "It will not be well to interrupt him now. You see that the room is occupied."

"Well, well," at last he began again, "it appears that you and I have a different way of thinking in regard to this matter, though I am very sorry to disagree with you on any point.

recognized the dressing-gown.

"I believe I will go in," he returned, in the same low, guarded tone. "When he discovers who it is, and for what purpose I am here, doubtless he will be glad to see me, and forgive the interruption."

"I know his character well enough to think you had better not make the attempt. He does not wish to be disturbed on any account. You can see there is no hiding-place here, and of course the fugitive cannot be concealed in the room. Perhaps it may be for your own interest to regard his wishes"

These last words decided the captain. A delicate hint was conveyed through them which he very well understood. He left the house, with his men, and learning that the rest of his party had been as unsuccessful as himself, they soon went dashing down the road at a mad gallop, much to the delight and relief of Lilian, who watched their departure from an upper window.

In a few moments the young girl again sought the refugee, who was very profuse and earnest in his thanks to his fair benefactress. Upon discovering that her protege was still too weak to depart, she conducted him to the attic, as a safer place, now that it had been searched, and after arranging everything as much as possible for his comfort, bade him adieu, and left him alone to his own reflections.

Have ye aught

To urge against me?-treason to the state, Or private wrong, or public injury ?-Miss E. ROBERTS. Three days slipped slowly by. The refugee still remained in the attic, not having entirely regained his usual strength and vigor, where Lilian Marston visited him as often and regular. ly as circumstances permitted, plentifully supplying him with food and other requisites so necessary to the confined life which the unfortunate young man was obliged to lead. Luckily for them both, the attic was seldom visited by any member of the family, and Mr. Durant continued absent most of the time from one cause or another, and did not once meet Captain Lincoln, or an explanation might have ensued which would have been unfortunate at least, even if not hazardous to the safety of the fugitive.

Many long conversations took place between Lilian and her charge. Gradually she grew more and more interested in him, until at last she would have hesitated to confess, even to herself, all the emotions with which he inspired her. At first it was only a womanly pity and compassion which influenced her, but these shortly gave way, though unconsciously to herself, to much deeper and tenderer feelings.

Her visits to the attic were entirely unnoticed, being paid at dusk, or when the household were employed in a different part of the building. Near noon of the fourth day she sought the refugee, looking pale, and trembling.

"You must remain here no longer," she said.

"My uncle has arrived, and I just now observed Captain Lincoln coming up the avenue towards the house. He will be sure to speak of your escape, and they will at once discover the imposition we practised upon them. Then my share in the proceedings will come out, the house be searched again, and, should you rem n here, you certainly would be captured. So you see there is no time for delay, but you must fly at once, if you have recovered sufficient strength for the undertaking."

"I had been thinking of departing to-night, at all events," said the refugee. "But I never can forgive myself, if this affair causes you trouble, Miss Marston."

"O, do not fear on that account, sir! Rest assured I shall not be harmed, whatever is discovered! But we must hasten! There is an unfrequented passage which leads directly from the next floor to the orchard behind the house. We will descend by that! I shall accompany you as far as a path which will take you by a short route, through the woods yonder. Just beyond you will find a small party of patriots encamped, doubtlessly friends of yours, with whom you will be in comparative safety."

"You are right; they are my own men-at least I judge so. But I yield myself to your guidance. Shall we go now?"

"Yes; the sooner the better. Now be expeditious, but noiseless!"

They descended the stairs together, traversed the passage, and soon found themselves wending their way, unobserved, between the thick, old apple-trees in the orchard. At the edge of the forest they paused a moment.

"You are sure," asked the young man, anxiously, "that you incur no risk in accompanying me so far-satisfied no harm, directly or indirectly, will ever come to you from it?"

"Yes, yes! You could not possibly discover, unassisted, the path of which I have spoken, for some time, perhaps not at all, and under your present circumstances, every moment is precious, and must not be wasted!"

"I believe you are right. But, at all events, you will possess my eternal gratitude and esteem for all you have undertaken in my behalf."

He took her hand gently in both his own, as he spoke.

"I have only done my duty, sir," she said in a low voice.

"Nay, but you have performed an act of which any one might well feel proud. You have given shelter to a fugitive, and protected a man even whose name you do not know. Your memory shall ever be cherished for this."

"I am satisfied that he is a friend to his country, and that is enough."

"Your real kindness of heart is only rendered so much the more manifest. Nevertheless you shall learn more of me. My name is Wallace Lynn. I have been in command of a small party of troops out on a scouting expedition, and we were returning to head-quarters when surprised by the gang of tories led on by Captain Lincoln. They greatly outnumbered us, and after a short but desperate encounter, my men were obliged to seek safety in flight. You already know what became of myself. Probably the few that still remained of those under my command, collected on the other side of the woods yonder, as I knew of no other party in the vicinity."

"I thought as much, as I heard the servants speak of them as being a band which was mostly broken up by a recent skirmish. But we are delaying here when we should be far on our way. Let us press forward. Captain Lincoln may have sent spies, even now, in search of us."

For a long time they pressed forward in silence, penetrating into the deepest recesses of the forest. The route was comparatively smooth and even, though the trees were large and very thick, and cast dark, heavy shadows all around. Suddenly Major Lynn (for that was his official title) paused, and bent his head to the ground, listening intently. "We are pursued," he said at last. "I hear the trampling of horses' feet!"

"Then we have no time to lose. So much the more cause for expedition."

"But I must go on alone, Miss Marston. You must not be taken with me, if I have no opportunity to escape. Even should you meet the tories, they may think you are only out for a walk. Then return, I beg of you! Should you be found with me, it may fare hard with you."

"However he might dislike my line of conduct, my uncle would never suffer me to be abused! Without my aid you are lost. You would never find your way through this forest, to the American camp, unassisted! I undertook the part of guide, and I will not desert you. It may be forward and unmaidenly-such a course in the behalf of a stranger-but I could not see you die there before my own door, in the first place, and even now I say you must not be carried back to the same horrid fate, when a little sacrifice on my part would prevent it. Do not seek to deter me. You see I am determined!"

tect her. Still I could wish you would not risk so much for my sake."

By this time the sounds occasioned by the approaching party of horsemen had begun to grow rapidly more and more distinct. Lilian heard them and yet she continued to remain firm and undaunted. They both knew that their pursuers gained upon them very fast, but the knowledge only caused them to put forth fresh exertions. Quite a long distance was accomplished in this manner, when a sudden neighing of steeds, and a loud shout from the tories, all at once denoted they had come to an alarming proximity to them. Major Lynn saw there was no time to lose.

"There is no use in going further in this direction," he said. "We should very soon be overtaken. Our only hope must be in finding a suitable place among the shrubbery near at hand, where we may conceal ourselves."

He turned to the right, as he spoke. A few rods further on a few clumps of stunted evergreens clustered thickly about a huge, isolated rock, which some terrible convulsion of nature, or some other unexplained cause, had left deep in the recesses of this wood. Towards it they now directed their steps, and the young man pushed aside the heavy, matted branches for his companion to enter, himself following speedily behind her. They found a large enough space enclosed between the bushes and rock to establish themselves comfortably.

A few moments of horrible suspense followed. Lilian leaned sick and faint against the immense boulder, while Major Lynn drew nearer the bushes where he might peer out. They had not long to wait. In a very short time the tories came dashing past, so near that they might have heard every word that was uttered, and then disappeared among the trees further on.

"Thank heaven, they have missed us!" cried Lilian, with renewed hope.

The young soldier endeavored to speak a few words of encouragement to the maiden, which revived her spirits greatly. Half an hour passed, and Major Lynn was about to propose resuming their flight, when suddenly the galloping of the returning party reached his ears. Lilian also heard the sound.

"Lost, lost!" she gasped. "This is terrible, after all the hopes we have entertained."

Her companion could not comfort her. He dared not prepare her mind for a fresh disap