Ignorant of whither he went, as night was closing he found himself in a lonely glen, where at the base of a mountain stood a tower, at the gate of which he breathlessly demanded shelter, succour, and rest. On being admitted, he asked what place this was? "Stronmiolchoin--the house of Glenstrae!" replied the wondering gateward. "The dwelling of Alaster Roy?" "Yes." "Then I am lost--utterly lost!" exclaimed the unhappy Lamond, as he sank exhausted on a seat. "Lost! how--what mean you?" asked the laird of Glenstrae, coming hurriedly forward. "Who are you?" "The son of Lamond of that Ilk." "By whom are you pursued, that my house will fail to afford you succour?" asked Glenstrae. "I am pursued by MacGregors," replied the sinking fugitive, "and I beseech you, by all the claims of hospitality and compassion, and by your authority, to save me from them." "You are safe," said Alaster, kissing the blade of his dirk; "but what have you done--whom have you slain?" "Whom?" reiterated Lamond, in a hollow voice. "Yes; there is blood upon your hands, and on the hilt of your dirk." "Alas!" said Lamond, and paused. "Speak! for you are safe in the house of Glenstrae, whatever you have done," said the chief impetuously; but the unhappy fugitive clasped his hands, for a din of voices rang at the tower gate, and Dugald Ciar Mhor, with other pursuers, came rushing in, bearing with them the body of Evan, and after informing the unfortunate father of what had occurred, they loudly demanded that the assassin should be surrendered unto them. "I have passed my word to protect him, and I must respect it, even in this moment of agony!" replied Glenstrae, while the tears rolled over his face; "never shall it be said that a MacGregor broke his word, even to an enemy!" In their rage and sorrow for what had occurred, his wife and daughter besought him to yield the fugitive to the clansmen, that they might put him to death; but Glenstrae stood over him with his sword drawn, and said,-- "Let no man here dare to lay a hand upon him! MacGregor has promised him safety, and by the soul of my only and beloved son, whom he has slain, he shall be safe while under the roof of Glenstrae--safe as if beneath his own!" And before the interment of Evan, when the sorrow and the angry passions of the assembled clan would be roused to their full height, the chief, with a chosen party, escorted young Lamond far across the mountains, and almost to within sight of his home in Cowal. "Farewell, Lamond," said he, gravely and sternly; "on your own land you are now safe. Farther I will not and cannot protect you. Avoid my people, lest your father may have to endure the sorrow that wrings this heart of mine; and may God forgive you the woe you have brought on the house of Glenstrae!" In a few years after this, the Field of Glenfruin was fought; the castle of Stronmiolchoin was destroyed, and Master of Glenstrae, then an aged man, and all his people were proscribed fugitives.