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ALLAN MENTEITH OR, st. SWITHIN'S CAVE. A SCOTTISH ROMANCE.

BY E. HAMILTON.

The Cave of St. Swithins stood upon the borders of a broad and deep Highland lake, formed of basaltic pillars, through which the waters entered to some depth, and when chafed by a tempest, used to make the hollow arches and rifted crevices echo with a mournful and terrific sound. That night the waters lashed and roared as if the demons of destruction Avere waging Avar upon their bosoms. With difficulty did Allan gain the cave by a narrow pathway, which, winding round the hase of hhe mountain, led to a small opening which conducted into its heart. Deep and impenetrable darkness reigned throughout, save when the lightning for a moment irradiated its walls, and showed the waves heaving and swelling, tipped with their feathery foam. In one corner of the cave Avas a rude seat, formed by nature out of the solid rock, like a great G-othic chair, and according to the legend which from time immemorial had existed among tho inhabitants, had been once the seat of the Saint Swithin, to

whom innumerable virtues as well as evils were attributed, but none greater than the one contained in* the episode quoted in our story. To this Allan directed his trembling footsteps ; and seating himself in it, with a beating heart and trembling lips pronounced the following : — "By the sacred blood of St. Swithin bold, When his naked foot traced the midnight -wold, I call thee, fiend, to appear this night, And to me reveal thy promised plight." Strange and unearthly rose upon the blast ; the wind swept through the cavern with terrific fury ; a bright flame rose from the water, and the form of a tall and hideous-looking woman stood before him. In her hand she held the branch of a pine ; her hair was grizzled, and fell in thick masses, over her naked shoulders and bosom, displaying only a skeleton form covered with shrivelled skin ; her eyes gleamed with an unearthly brightness, and her deep sepulchral voice fell on the ear of Allan like the knell of death, while she said : " Behold ! True to the spell thou hast spoken this night, I come to reveal my promised plight." "Ah! is it so?" exclaimed Allan. Am I then in the presence of the 'Night Hag ?"

" Yes, bold mortal, thou hast severed the seal that bound thy future destiny. Speak thy wishes, and I will answer thee." " Then be it so," cried Allan, desperation taking the place of terror in his heart. " TeL me, shall I ever hold the means to satisfy my enemy, Murdoch M'lvor?" " Thou shalfc !" exclaimed the hag. " And in two days ?" "In two clays !" she replied. "And by what means?" asked Allan. "By blood!" screamed the fiend, and a loud laugh burst from her bosom. " Horrible ! horrible ! and by whom shall that blood be shed ?" cried Allan. "I cannot tell; three answers hast thou already had ; the spell is broken !" A loud clap of thunder burst in the heavens ; the cave shook to its foundation as if crumbling into pieces ; and all again was darkness. Por sever.il minutes Allan was unconscious of what had taken place, and when he began gradually to recover his senses, and the doubtful issue of his mission flashed upon his mind, he would have given worlds, had he possessed them, not to have pryed into the book of futurity. Slowly-and with trembling steps he regained his aunt's mansion ; buf sleep was denied him ; his villany to his poor cousin hung upon his heart and filled him with remorse, and he resolved that in the morning he should solicit for his release. He did so ; his suit was fortunate, and before the morning Donald was at liberty. That day, according to custom, Lady Alice was seated in the family hall to receive her numerous tenantry who came to pay their yearly rents. In a corner, apart from others, sat Allan, apparently perusing a book with intense interest, but his mind was otherwise occupied. The mysterious answers of the fiend, the dread exposure should he not be able to meet the demands of Murdoch, and the gnawings of a guilty conscience, all were busy within him. Tenant after tenant arrived, each producing his stipulated sum to the Lady Alice. The dark eye of Allan may be seen occasionally to glance to the piles of gold and silver which heaped the table, then quickly return to the page again. "Ah ! " thought he, " but a little pai't of that would suffice to set my mind at rest," and device was soon at work in his guilty bosom. Before the business of the day was closed, the evening had come, and Lady Alice, after bidding her tenantry adieu, who were now enjoying her hospitality, and once more receiving Donald to her bosom, whom in her heart she had never fairly considered guilty, ordered tbo ' books and papers to be deposited in the iron chest, which we have before alluded to, and where was kept the family plate ; -then collecting the money into a feather bag, she. carried it with her to her chamber for better security till she was able next rnoi'ning to count it correctly. To a late hour the guests kept to•gether, mi when at length they de-

parted, the only one who remained afoot Avas Allan. Ho had retired to Ms chamber, but his mind was fixed upon the accomplishment of a certain act — an act of crime — the robbery of his aunt. He determined by the deed to evade the commission of murder which the Night Hag had prophesied would befall him ; and he thought that if he could enter his aunt's chamber, as he had already done, and secure the sum that was necessary for the defrayment of Murdoch's tax, from the money yet uncounted, ho might escape detection, lull the avarice of Murdoch, and again be happy. Foolish hope ; what can cover crime ? Nothing. It was now midnight, and with a silenb and stealthy pace ho descended from his room, and gaining the door of his aunt's, quietly undid the latch. The low breathing of the worthy matron fell upon his ear like the accusing voice of justice ; his heart beat audibly against his breast ; he paused, his resolution seemed to forsake him; he was about to return, but the form of Murdoch stood before his fevered sight ; the finger of dishonour seemed to point at him ; the angel of repentance fled from his bosom, and he was again in the toils of the tempter. He gained the table, and passing his hand over it, to his confusion found the prize was not there. Where, where could she have placed it ? At that moment the moon burst brightly from behind a cloud, darting its beams into the apartment with a brilliancy almost equal to that of day. Allan beheld his aunt reclining sweetly in slumber ; a smile was playing on her aged features, and he thought that in the breathings of her sleep she murmured a blessing upon his name. Prom beneath her pillow he saw the sought-for treasure, but how to secure it ? No matter, it must be done; and cautiously ho slipped the wallet from its restingplace ; but slight as was the motion it was enough to waken the lady Alice. She sprang from her pillow and uttored a loud scream. Allan was endeavouring to escape from the room, but the light of the moon revealed his figure. "Ah! Allan, is it you?" she exclaimed ; " would you rob your aunt ?" It was plain he was discovered. Disgrace was for ever upon him. There was no way left to bury the secret but by her death. Murder at once took possession of his heart. Ho seized his dirk, and the next moment buried it in the heart of Lady Alice. Her screams had aroused the household, who were now heard to be hurrying towards the chamber. How to conceal himself he knew not. He rushed into the hall ; there stood the old iron chest ; he knew the secret spring that unlocked it ; he touched it ; the lid flew open, and springing into it drew down tho lid, and thus lay secure from observation." The first who reached the chamber of Lady Alice waa young Donald, who beheld the wallet lying on the floor which in his terror Allan had left behind him. He seized it, and the domestics entering and finding him there with it in his hand, their mistress murdered, and horror rendering him pale and speechless, at once concluded that he was the assassin. His former crime, which by many had been disbelieved, was now fully credited, and the ill-starred Donald was arrested as the murderer of Lady Alice.

The authorities of that time were most summary in the execution of the | laws, and next day, in the hall, was Donald arraigned for trial. All testified to the situation in which they found him ; and it was evident to every one that he had deprived his aunt of life for the purpose of possessing himself of the money collected for the rents the day previous. But yet Allan was missing ; he could be nowhere found. Had he too been destroyed for the better purpose of advancing the views of the. cruel Donald? Poor Allan ! but yesterday he had obtained the release of the muraerer from gaol, — alas ! but to destroy thy aunt, and perhaps thy noble self. In brief, Donald was doomed the following morning to suffer death, and the poor youth was on the eve of being carried to prison from the hall, when a female voice, in loud tones, was heard exclaiming Avithout : "This way, villain! you shall not escape me ! Help ! help ! here is the murderer !" All eyes were directed to the quarter whence the voice came, and Catherine Graham burst into the hall, pale and almost exhausted, dragging with her the villain Murdoch, and followed by a crowd of people. " What means this, girl ?" exclaimed the judge. " "Who is that man whom you have dragged hither ?" "He is the murderer!" cried Catherine, " the assassin of Lady Alicehe that was seen lurking about this place two years ago, when the family plate was stolen from that iron chest." Several individuals testified at once to his identity. " Speak, fellow, what know you of the murder ?" demanded the judge. " Nothing," replied Murdoch sulkily. " How came you in this quarter at the very time the murder had been committed ?" " I came to see — to see- — " and j Murdoch looked around, thinking he would recognise Allan. " To see whom ? speak, sirrah !" " "Why to see an old crony of mine, Allan Menteith." A deep cry of astonishment ran throughout the crowd ; while the judge continued : "And for what purpose ?"

" Why to receive payment of a small bond which was owing by him to me," replied Murdoch. ""What was the nature of that bond ?"

" That is a secret between ourselves," replied tbe ruffian. " "Were you ever in these parts before ?" " Why, yes — I think I was " " And on what occasion ?" " Why, to see my friend Allan, to be sure. Have you auglit more to ask of mo?" " Yes, and expect that you will answer without prevarication; on your truth depends your acquittal." " Urnph," muttered Murdoch doggedly. "You were in this neighbourhood when the family plate was extracted | from yonder chest, some two years ago?" " I was." " And you were the person that did so?" " 'Tis false !" shouted Murdoch, in a voice of thunder. "'Tis false! it was not me — it was " and he paused suddenly, as if afraid of revealing the secret. '" Who ? speak, fellow, your life depends on your answer," replied the judge. " Well, then, if I must tell, it was my young friend, Allan Menteith." A thrill of horror burst from the crowd. " How, Allan Menteith ; 'tis impossible ,• yeu wish to exculpate yourself by casting the guilt upon an innocent man. Were Allan here you would not dare to say this ; besides, I suspect you have murdered him as well as the Lady Alice.' 1 " Murder — no, no ; I am bad enough, but my hands are yet free from blood ! Allan not to bo found ? 'tis singular. I could stake my neck against a halter that he is not far from here," said Murdoch.

" We shall look to that hereafter,"' continued tbe judge. " But you confess that you were accessory to the stealing of the plate, some two years since ?" " I do." " I remember it was said that there was a secret spring to the chest, which must have been known to the parties ; if therefore what you say be true, prove it by pointing out that spring." "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Murdoch. " Tli at I can easily do ; make way there, and I'll show you." The domestics stood aside, and the ruffian, approaching the chest, touched a spring — the lid flew open — and the body of Allan Menteith was discovered, cold and lifeless from suffocation. Terror and amazement stood on every countenance ; and the evidence of Murdoch, with -other circumstances, showed that Allan was the murderer, and Donald innocent. More need not be said — the trio is told, gentle reader, which shows that if there are supernatural agents, and mortals seek their help, they will find that they but " keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hopes."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TT18690918.2.26

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 18 September 1869, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,239

ALLAN MENTEITH OR, st. SWITHIN'S CAVE. A SCOTTISH ROMANCE. Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 18 September 1869, Page 6

ALLAN MENTEITH OR, st. SWITHIN'S CAVE. A SCOTTISH ROMANCE. Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 18 September 1869, Page 6

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