Colin stood astonished at this speech. He scarcely knew what he said, but faltered out, “Who, sir, has dared to say anything to my mother's dishonour, or to bring her into any disgrace?” The old man tapped him with serious significance on the shoulder as he replied, “Your father, my boy,--your father!” “How!” exclaimed the young man in a tone of deep excitement: “who is he? for I never knew who was my father.” “You!” replied Jerry bitterly, “ought never to have been born!” “What can you mean, man, by all this?” demanded Colin. “I tell you,” answered the old man, “your father is a villain, and you--you are--but never mind. Since you _are_ born, and _are_ alive, show that you are worthy to live by properly resenting your mother's everlasting injuries. _My_ vengeance has been untiring, but it has not succeeded yet. Together we can do anything. True, the man must be called, as he is, your father. What then? The punishment of such fathers cannot come from better hands than their own sons. As they sow the wind, let them reap the whirlwind.” “What is it?” demanded Colin, interrupting him, “that you would propose to me?” “See you,” said the old man, drawing closer, “you are in love with a girl, named Fanny Woodruff. Nay, nay, do not interrupt me, I know better than you do. I tell you you love her, and can never marry any one else. Her father is confined as a madman. He is now in my power. I am his keeper. You want to liberate him, and rightly too. _He_ has told me all about it, and I believe him. Now, let me see the spirit of a true man in you; take up your mothers cause, and never forgive till you are revenged, and he shall by me be set at liberty. Join hand and heart with me against the villain called your father.” “Who is he?” again demanded Colin. “Lupton of Kiddal,” answered Jerry. “Mr. Lupton my father!” “The same. I shot at him once.” “You?” “I, with this same right hand.” “And I,” added Colin, “prevented it, and saved you from the gallows.” The old man stood mute--confounded. His whole countenance changed with deadly fury, and in the next moment he rushed upon Colin with apparently the desperate intention of forcing him over the balustrades of the bridge.