"So help me God," said the chaplain earnestly. "Ay, the day will come, Rhiwallon, when the nation's voice will be bravely uplifted against this mighty evil, and England's arm not fear to strike the blow where yours and mine may long aim fruitlessly! If I may but sow here and there some scattered seed which shall hereafter choke with its mighty growth the cruel tares of intemperance and misery which bind our homes fast round with their unholy tendrils, and crush out from the hearts of our people their holiest hopes and affections--yea, their very life itself--I shall feel I have not lived in vain! Nor may you indeed so speak of yourself, Rhiwallon, for your wondrous discovery has verily wrought its meed of good, as the earl has often told me; and who shall say that but for your skill she whom I love might not ere now have shared the fate of yon fair lady of your own hapless love? The Lady Shanno, though she may never be wife of mine, has verily escaped already the worst ills of the unhappy curse, and but for its woful secret shadow would be wholly free. You have saved her, dear Rhiwallon; and although we may never wed, think you it is nothing to me that her fair life shall be surely untainted for the most part by her cruel heritage, and her last hours in the mercy of God hours of quietness and peace?" "My drug has verily not been without its efficacy," said the physician, his face brightening a little; "but your prayers shall work doubtless greater miracles, Percival. I have laboured in the bitterness of an unchastened spirit, but you with heart and soul in God's keeping shall surely reach a further goal!" "The bitterness of death is not yet past, Rhiwallon," answered the young man sadly; "and on the morrow I go hence, not yet seeing my goal nor any light to guide my wandering feet, save such distant gleams of dawn as fail yet to cheer me!--Hush, who knocks?" It was Lady Shanno herself who entered, looking like some fragile flower in her white robes, her face etherealised by suffering to a shadow of her former girlish beauty, and her long golden hair floating over her slender form showing many a streak of white amid its glistening waves. She came to the Black Horseman's arms and embraced him silently; then taking Percival's hand, led them both to the earl's apartment. It was midnight ere the chaplain left the castle after the long interview over which we must draw a veil, and as Primrose stood with him one last moment upon the threshold and they gazed silently upon the dark valley at their feet, the castle clock solemnly tolled forth its twelve slow strokes upon the still night air. "Our wedding-day, sweetheart!" murmured Percival, and the girl's sweet upturned face looked into his sad eyes with love unspeakable as she clung yet closer to him.