Percival tried the distance between them with his stick, and for a moment paused irresolute. "The words of the gipsy are verily being fulfilled," he said musingly. "The river-spirit is indeed let loose in the valley, and is running riot! It is but now an old shepherd told me there had been no such storms or floods in the valley within the memory of man! Well, I will not be rash. 'Twere vain to try to swim across such a foaming torrent! I must e'en risk the leap. But, Shanno--sweetheart--you must first leave the bridge, and let me know you safe on yonder bank, for my weight alone will sorely try the strength of these rotting timbers!" "I sought for a boat, Percival," said the girl, trembling from head to foot, "but none are left out in such weather, and Morgan, who keeps the keys of the boat-house, is away amid yon riotous crowd, where he and our brave men have striven in vain to save our church! Methought I could have crossed the river had there been some craft at hand, and we could have so returned together." "I am glad you found no craft, sweetheart!" he answered earnestly, "for you must verily have been dashed to pieces ere you reached the other side! Nay, the leap is my only chance. Have no fear for me.--Shanno, you must obey me! Till you call to me that you are safe on yon bank I will never risk it!" Primrose shuddered, hesitating with a wild fear of putting any yet greater distance between herself and him she loved; then, her trustful spirit of obedience gaining the mastery, she boldly crept to land, and called to him to follow. He leaped, and such a wild crash followed, that Shanno rushed madly forward, and had but just thrown her arms around him before the footway along which she had passed was torn asunder and tossed into a thousand fragments; and clasped in each other's arms they two stood alone above the raging torrent on the few planks which yet remained firm upon their strong posts in the very midst of the stream. On either side of them a black gulf yawned deep and dreadful, and the blinding spray dashed up and covered them as the river boiled and seethed beneath their feet in its mad fury. "Dear love, you have waited long hours for me," said Percival, "and you are cold and wet. How can I save you? You should have let me die here alone! Did I not bid you stay on the bank in safety?" "I was cold and wet," said Primrose dreamily, "but my heart was warm. Sweetheart, life without you would be death! A grave beside you here in this dark river is sweeter far than life. In the dark river--you remember what the gipsy sang?--'In the dark river the Primrose and Lily shall sleep!' Farewell, my lily-knight! We have loved faithfully on earth through much suffering, and God will never part us in heaven!" And in the blackness of the storm the chaplain commended his own soul and hers into the hands of Him who "holds the waters in the hollow of His hand, and metes them whithersoever He