thing hard in the close fitting leggin of the savage. With a quick grasp he drew forth a large Indian hunting knife. Nee-o-ski did not attempt any defence; he had tried the strength and agility of Nelson before, and he knew it would be vain.

He stood in sullen silence. "Cowardly dog," exclaimed Nelson, "you have forfeited your life."

"Strike," said the savage, baring his breast with true Indian indifference, "Wab-sha-ash is too much for the Wolf. The Great Spirit guards him, or the Black Otter should have died where he stands. Let him strike, if he would save his life; Nee-o-ski never forgives."

"Villain," said Nelson, "I will not kill you, for I do not fear so false a heart. Go," continued he, pointing in the direction of the wigwams, "Wab-sha-ash will follow."

The baffled chief did as he was bidden, and strode away to the lodges. Nelson assembled the chiefs and braves; and after rehearsing the narrow escape he had had, gave up the Black Wolf to be punished as their code of laws should direct. It is sufficient to state here, that his crime was considered an offence against the tribe, and he was consequently sent into exile from which he was never permitted to return.

The next thing with Nelson was to seek Running Brook, and reward her for preserving his life a second time. He found her on the banks of the river, pulling away the branches of the willow to weave into curious baskets; and approaching her, he caught her attention by uttering the soft name of Tow-is in a low, mild voice. She started, and looking around, would have fled, as though she feared he would offer her other reward for the generous deed she had done, but he gently detained her. "Twice has the Running Brook saved the life of Wab-shaash; he is not ungrateful. What shall he give to her in return? Let her come with the Black Otter to his lodge, and choose the most beautiful things she can select. They shall be hers."

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The Running Brook can do a brave deed without a reward. She could not see the good Pale-face die by the fangs of a false doubletongued snake. Nee-o-ski is gone from his tribe forever. He will follow the Running Brook no more with his false words of love. It is enough that she is free from his vile presence."

"But the Black Otter cannot feel right until he has rewarded her for her brave deed. Let Tow-is speak, and Wab-sha-ash will grant."

She stood a moment, as if confused, and uncertain what reply to give. At length, without

raising her eyes from the ground, she murmured in a low voice, "The Black Otter dwells alone, he has no one to mend his moccasins or look after his venison."

Slowly did Nelson comprehend the meaning of the young girl, so delicately expressed; and when it did break upon his mind, he started as if a sudden pain had beset him. Could it be, that this young creature wished to devote her life to him? Did she love him? Could she trust him in preference to the braves of her tribe? He determined to ascertain without delay. "The Running Brook is very beautiful; do not the young braves talk to her of love?"

"Tow-is will not hear."

"Will Running Brook leave the lodge of Wau-sha-ra and dwell in the home of Wab-shaash, and mend his moccasins and prepare his venison ?"

"She will," was answered in the same low voice.

"And," continued Nelson, " will Wau-sha-ra see his beautiful Running Brook give herself to the Pale-face?"

"Ask Wau-sha-ra," replied the Indian girl; "he will answer."

Nelson's mind was made up on the instant. He had often admired the artlessness of the young creature, beautiful as the dawn of day; her services to him demanded a reward; and in her innocence she had named that reward; he had long dismissed all thought of returning to his native land to claim a fairer bride; he would, therefore, take the young girl to live with him, and repay her devotion by unremitted kindness. In this way he should make her happy and wrong no one.

"The Running Brook may go now. Wabsha-ash will think of what she says."

That same evening he sought Wau-sha-ra, and demanded the old chief's daughter as his bride. Wau-sha-ra was astonished; he had not thought of this; and he knew what was the practice of the whites with their Indian wives. Though much attached to Nelson, he hesitated to give his beautiful Tow-is to him, to be cast off by and by for a fairer. Calling her, therefore, he thus addressed her :

"Does the Running Brook know that the Great Spirit is not pleased that the Pale-face and the Red man should dwell together? Are not the young braves, in her tribe, warriors enough for Running Brook? Let her answer."

"The Pale Medicine man says that all are brothers."

"The Running Brook does not know that the Pale-face will tire of her, by and by, and send her away and take in her place a pale woman." Looking up suddenly to Wab-sha-ash she exclaimed, "Will the pale man do this ?”

Nelson replied, "Never; he will be true to the Running Brook always; for he owes her his life."

"She seemed satisfied, and turning to the old chief her father, replied, "Wau-sha-ra's daughter will trust the Pale-face."

It

The old sachem said no more, but bade them prepare for the ceremony on the morrow. came. Nelson brought his most brilliant ornaments and cloths, as presents to the father of Tow-is; and amid the wild rejoicings of the red men, the beautiful Running Brook was borne to the lodge of Clarence Nelson, a far different bride from her he had selected at twenty. From that time until the close of our last chapter, she had dwelt with the Black Otter, and been a most faithful attendant upon his wishes. He was ever kind to her, and he even spent many hours instructing her. She had a ready comprehension, and the desire of pleasing him stimulated her to great effort; and his instructions, given orally of course, expanded and beautified her mind, till she came to be quite a companion for his leisure hours. He had as great love for her as he felt for any living being; and the idea of leaving her never occurred to him.

For several years he had been a member of the State Legislature; and though occasionally she evinced some uneasiness at his departure, to mingle exclusively with the whites, still each return seemed to give her greater confidence in him, and at last she ceased to fear.

Among the agents sent out by the government to pay off the Indians, was one of Nelson's old associates, though by no means an intimate one. He saw the beautiful Running Brook, and knowing that such engagements were frequently broken by the traders, immediately conceived the base design of dissolving this, and possessing himself of the artless Tow-is. He found occasion, therefore, to relate to her the story of Nelson's early love, representing him as still intending to return and marry the pale woman, and offering to make her his wife when the Black Otter should cast her off. She fled from his presence like a startled deer; but the arrow had not missed its mark, as will be seen by the words of her song.

When Nelson returned to his lodge on the night when we left him, he found Running

Brook apparently the same as ever. No mention was made of the circumstance; and matters passed on as usual, until he commenced preparing to go to Detroit, having been again chosen a legislator. She seemed restless and abstracted; and when he bade her adieu, said, "Let Wab-sha-ash seek the Running Brook in the lodge of Wau-sha-ra, when he returns. She will be glad to see him."

When they meet again our story will come to a close.

THE Winter had passed as usual, with Nelson in the city. He had shared in the debates and exciting movements of the Legislature; and his voice was not unfrequently heard in strong argument on the various questions that arose. The session had broken up, and Nelson had arranged his affairs so as to depart on the following day. A grand entertainment was to be given that night at the house of one of the wealthy citizens of the city; and Nelson, with other members, was invited. He went, because he was expected to go; and a refusal would have argued a disrespect for the entertainer. Little did he divine the events that were to transpire that evening, else he might have hesitated long about going. The guests were all assembled; the evening was far advanced, and the company in the height of enjoyment, were amusing themselves in various ways as best suited their tastes; when Nelson, having grown weary of witnessing scenes that recalled too painfully his early life, left the rooms, and went forth upon the piazza, to enjoy a few moments solitude. A large chandelier was suspended from the centre of the piazza, and its brilliant light fell strongly upon the features of a lady who stood leaning against one of the pillars. She looked up as Nelson ¦ approached; and both stared as if an apparition had suddenly emerged from the darkness, and the words, "Clarence Nelson" and "Helen Hyde" burst simultaneously from their lips.

The lady recovered herself first. "Mrs. Harwood, if you please," said she, bowing. An awkward silence ensued. There seemed no chance of escape; and Nelson felt himself chained to the spot as by a magnetic influence. For years the thought of meeting Helen Hyde had not occurred to him, save as a thing altogether impossible; but now fortune seemed to have purposely thrown them together. A moment's reflection taught them how to act. Approaching

her, he said, "Mrs. Harwood, I remember all, 'tis written here," laying his hand on his heart, "but let the dead Past bury its dead, and he extended his hand.” She did not refuse to take it; yet it was done so calmly, though kindly, that he was almost unmanned. "Mr. Nelson," said she, in a slow measured voice, "the dead Past hath buried up many of its dead with us, its dead vows, its departed hopes and its perished joys. Had we both learned in youth to trust no future however pleasant, we should not be calling loudly for the dead Past to bury up its dead from our sight. Neither of us can have dismissed from remembrance the events of our early lives; but let there be no improper recalling of them now. By some strange fortune we have met. Let it be as strangers. I desire no further information of what has transpired with you since we last met. I can see that Time has laid his hand upon your brow as he has upon mine. Let there be courtesy and kind feeling between us, but no approach to the past."

"It shall be as you say, Mrs. Harwood," said Nelson in a subdued voice; "but permit me to ask an introduction to the fortunate man who has possessed the hand of Helen Hyde. I shall the more easily confine myself to propriety of language and demeanor."

"I am

"That cannot be," answered she. alone; he whom I called husband, sleeps in the grave with other near and dear friends. I can only say that his virtues were innumerable, and are remembered with the deepest respect by his wife."

A sigh from Nelson was the only response; and bowing a good night, Mrs. Harwood passed into the house. Nelson left the party very soon after, and with the earliest dawn was on his way back to his wild associations. We have no means of making his heart speak out its feelings, but we cannot doubt they were of a character far from pleasant.

As he approached the place of his destination, the last words of Running Brook revived in his memory, and sounded strangely. He had often thought of the mystery that marked her last interview with him, and wondered what could have been its cause; and the words "Let Wabsha-ash seek Running Brook in the lodge of Wau-sha-ra," gained solemnity at every step. He did not go to his own house, but turned immediately to that of the Ottawa chief. The old sachem met him at a little distance, and addressed him thus: "Wab-sha-ash is welcome. VOL. XX. 33

Let him come into the lodge of Wau-sha-ra ; Running Brook has watched his coming many days, and her eyes could not sleep when the stars came out in the sky, because they saw not the form of Wab-sha-ash. The Great Spirit has called the Running Brook to the happy fields; and the child of Wau-sha-ra is about to enter the home of the braves who have gone hence. But she waits to see the Black Otter. If he would listen once more to the music of her voice, if he would look once more into her dark eyes, let him come to the lodge of her father.”

Nelson was startled and distressed at this intelligence. He entered with the old chief, and hurried to the side of his daughter. She occupied an apartment separated from the rest of the lodge by a partition of skins. Upon a pile of buffalo robes, covered with fine furry skins, lay the wasted form of Running Brook. She did not see Nelson as he approached, until he addressed her in an agitated voice: "Will the beautiful Running Brook look at the Black Otter? he waits to hear her voice once more."

She started up at the sound of his voice, gave one short Indian ejaculation, and sank exhausted again on her couch of skins. Nelson advanced to her side, and bending over her, stroked the dark locks that lay back from her dusky brow, tenderly, while he clasped one of her wasted hands in his. She looked up in his face, and a gleam of joy shot across her wan features.

"The Running Brook is glad to see Wab-shaash again. She has many things to tell him before she goes beyond the great river, and she feared sometimes that her voice would be gone before he came. If he will look at the Running Brook, he will see that she has but a little time to stay. Let him listen to her words, and be happy."

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Why does the Running Brook go to the happy fields so young? Does she not love to dwell with the Black Otter?"

"She was very happy in his lodge, till Keno-sha, the Fox, told her of the white love of Wabsha-ash; and she knew his heart was not with the dark girl of the forest, but pined to go back to the land he had left and to his pale woman of the East. Then for a while there was no star in the sky, and it was all dark around Running Brook. But the Great Spirit told her to come to his beautiful home, and she was glad to obey. Will the Black Otter listen to the words of Towis, before she passes away like the mist from the bosom of the waters ?"

"He will listen," said Nelson, "but will not

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A faint smile lit her features for a moment, at the answer; and she replied, Ken-o-sha told the Running Brook that the pale woman lived alone, and that Wab-sha-ash wished to go back to his old home and marry her. Is it not 80 ?"

"The pale woman is alone. Wab-sha-ash saw her but a day since. The Black Otter will never leave his beautiful Running Brook for the pale-face. She need not fear."

"Running Brook will be cold as the snow upon the bleak hills, before the trees have budded, or the birds have come from their warm homes at the South. Wab-sha-ash and the great sachem Wau-sha-ra will lay her by the shore of the big water, beneath the bending willow, that she may sleep where her feet loved to wander, and the song of the bright waters will come around her grave. She has had many sweet dreams of the beautiful home that Wab-sha-ash told her of, beyond the sky, where the sun and moon never go down, and where there is no pain and no dying; but all love, for the dusky girl of the Ottowas, as well as the beautiful pale woman, towards the rising sun. Is it not so ?"

"It is so," said Nelson, recalling to mind conversations be had held with her in answer to her inquiries about his heaven. "Running Brook has not forgotten the words of the Wab-sha-ash. When she dies she will find the bright home she speaks of, and be happy forever. But she will live many years in the lodge of Wab-sha-ash to make him happy."

"Let not the Black Otter seek to win the soul of Tow-is from the pleasant fields with soft words. He cannot love the pale woman, and the Indian girl at the same time; and Running Brook cannot be happy without all his love.

"Let him hear once more what she would say. Let the pale woman come to the lodge of Wau-sha-ra, Tow-is would look on her beautiful face and say soft words to her. 'Tis the last thing she will ask of Wab-sha-ash. Shall it be so ?"

"It shall be so," answered Nelson, the pale

woman is a great medicine; she will comfort Running Brook and make her well again. She shall come before three sleeps.”

"Wab-sha-ash is kind. Now he may go, Tow-is would sleep."

Bending over her, he touched her dusky forehead lightly with his lips, and was about to disappear, when she said in a low voice, "Let the Black Otter come every day at the going down of the sun."

"Tow-is may look for him," was the answer, and he was gone. He immediately despatched a messenger to the capital, with a missive to Helen, in which he gave her a brief representation of the circumstances, and solicited her to come to the dying Indian girl.

Three days passed away, and the eye of the dying girl grew brighter and brighter. Each day, as the sun sank beneath the western hills, the trader entered the apartment of the departing Tow-is; and each time he came forth with a sadder brow and more silent lip. During the day he sat in a retired spot that overlooked nearly the entire surface of the bay, and watched with anxious eyes the different vessels as they passed. On the third day at evening, just as he was about to descend from his post, to pay his customary visit to Running Brook, a large steamer came in sight; and in a moment more he saw that she was headed for the shore. A strong conviction seized his mind that Helen was on board, and without waiting to ascertain, he entered the lodge with a quick nervous step, and hastened to the dying child of Wau-sha-ra. At a glance he saw that Death would delay to claim his own but a brief time longer. The dusky cheek exhibited a strange pallor, and the pinched features and wonderfully brilliant eye, told indisputably that the great Sagamore's daughter was nearly at her journey's end. She turned her eyes upon him with the same reverential look with which she was wont to regard him, and motioning him to sit down a little distance from the couch, said with difficulty, “The bright sunshine is gone forever from the eyes of Tow-is. Once more the stars will come out to look upon her, and then she will sleep and never wake. Does the Black Otter look for the pale woman? Will she come before the Ottawa girl has shut her weary eyelids and gone to the long sleep?"

"She will," answered Nelson," Wab-sha-ash will bring her in a few moments. The heart of the Black Otter is heavy; there will be no light in his lodge when Tow-is is gone; and leaning

his head upon the couch, and burying his face in his hands, groan after groan burst from his lips, till he was nearly convulsed. Raising herself slightly, the Indian girl laid her emaciated hand upon his shoulder, and said feebly but solemnly, "Wab-sha-ash must not make the last hour of Running Brook sad with his grief; he was good to her always, and many happy years has she dwelt with him. Is he not willing she should dwell with the Master of Life and be happier still?"

Nelson raised his head and gazed at her, as if awe-stricken to hear such words from her lips. She saw it, smiled, and sinking back, breathed out softly, "Tow-is is happy." As she lay with her eyes shut, he glided from the room and hastened down to the beach to meet Helen, as he did not doubt she was there. He was right in his supposition; she had come at his bidding, and at his request proceeded without delay to the lodge of Wau-sha-ra. Nelson introduced her formally to the chief, who received her with profound respect, after which he led her to the side of Tow-is. Here he could not speak, but left the two, so unlike and yet so like in tenderness, to greet each other as their natures and circumstances dictated. As Mrs. Harwood approached the bed-side, Running Brook laid her hand with a smile upon her heart and then extended it to the other, who took it, pressed it upon her own heart, and placed her hand upon the heart of the dying woman. After a moment the latter folded her hands across her bosom ; and Mrs. Harwood seated herself upon a low stool that Nelson had placed for her.

Tow-is did not speak; she seemed waiting for some word or sign from the trader. Approaching her he said with great effort, "The Running Brook may say what she wishes, the Pale woman will hear her like a sister. Her eye brightened and she commenced, Nelson interpreting, "Wab-sha-ash has told the beautiful Pale woman why she has come to the lodge of Wausha-ra; and now let her listen. Many moons ago, when Running Brook was hardly a woman, she loved the Black Otter and wished to live in his wigwam, to look after his moccasins and venison. He gave her a place in his lodge, and called around her the brightest sunshine, and the sweetest music; and it seemed to her that she would not leave him even for the happy hunting grounds. He told her of a beautiful home beyond the stars, and she learned to think she should go there when she died. By and by the sunshine turned to darkness, and the music

was all gone, and she forgot to hear the birds sing; for she had learned that it was not love that made the Black Otter take her to his home. But the light came again, only it is farther off, and the music, only it sounds away in the skies; and voices sweeter than the birds, have called her away; and when the moon rises above the old elm and looks upon the lodge of her father, Running Brook will have no more pain or sorrow forever. Then will the beautiful pale woman, that the Black Otter loved in his youth, live in his lodge, and keep his heart from getting sad. Let her answer."

Helen was for a moment bewildered, and knew not what to answer; but the dying girl watched her eagerly, and she felt there was no time to lose, and she replied:

"The Running Brook must not grieve that the Pale woman cannot do as she asks. "Tis true the Black Otter loved her, a long time ago; but he left her, and for many years she was sad and wished only to die. Then beautiful words came to her from the Master of Life, and she became happy, happier than ever; and she ceased to think of her sorrows. The Black Otter and the Pale woman do not think alike; they do not feel alike; they could not be happy together now. It would not be well. He will stay with Wau-sha-ra and his red brothers, and think often of his beautiful Running Brook, and be good and happy; while the Pale woman will go back to the land of her birth and to the little ones God gave to her care; and by and by both will meet the Running Brook in her bright home, and all dwell together forever. Do not the Pale woman's words sound good to the Indian girl?"

After musing a moment, the latter replied: "Tow-is cannot tell; they sound strange; but she has no time to talk; for a strong hand is drawing her away. She has looked upon the gentle pale-face, and her heart calls her, Loh-etah. She will be happy, and the Black Otter too."

She lay silent a moment, and just then the moonbeams shot over the elm and darted into an opening of the lodge upon the features of the girl. She spoke, "Bid the sachem Wau-sha-ra come to his daughter." A sign from Nelson brought the old Sagamore to her side. Silent and composed he stood with the true Indian philosophy written upon his face; but there was anger beneath. He gazed upon his daughter. She strove to raise herself. Helen passed her arms under her, and lifting her emaciated frame,