He saw her from the first, but could not move--something nailed him to the spot. She approached, but for a minute was so breathless and exhausted, that she could not speak--"Saunders Skelp!"--at length moaned the poor broken-hearted girl--"Saunders!--ye are going to tak the sacrament the morn," she paused, and leant, "_peching_ on her staff," as the MS. hath it--"Ay, Saunders, ye are going to commemorate our Saviour's death, and--and--I am gaun to dee, Saunders." "The tears ran down her cheeks, and I was like to be worried mysell, for greet I couldna. "'Saunders. Is it no written, that if thou hast ought against thy brother, thou shalt leave thy gift before the altar, and first go and be reconciled unto thy brother?' "'Even sae--sae is it even written, Jessy.' "'Time _has_ been when you aften said I was dearer till you than mony sisters--but that's past and gane--gane like the last winter's snaw; yet is Saunders Skelp's hate sae deadly that he refuses to tak off Jessy Miller's parting and sin-clogged soul, the grievous weight of his own bitter, bitter curse.' She waited lang for an answer, but I gied her nane--'I cam to ask yere forgiveness, Saunders--_and I hae asked it_'--here she grat as if her heart was bursting--'and--and--oh God, whom I have offended, cast me not off in this my utmost need--_and I have been refused_--one struggle more, and my task is ended, Saunders'--and she caught my hand in baith of hers whether I would or no--they were cauld, cauld as lead--'I hae deserved this; but hand my heart, _I didna expect it_--Saunders, I have only now to say God bless you, and to bid you fareweel for ever.' She sank down on the whin-stane at my feet--the fiend had seared my heart harder than it, and I never even offered to help her up. "I thought she was _awa_ awthegither; at last, gathering strength, she spak the last words I ever heard her utter. "'I am come to clear Moses Bland, and to richt you, Saunders.' "Oh, the sweet low music of that mournful voice! "'The young laird--Mr Adderfang'--she _gasped_, it could nae langer be called speaking--'that _serpent_, William Adderfang, has been the ruin o' me--ruin here, and--and--condemnation in the world to come.'