for him if the jury agreed, or wanted his advice. The night waned; the sky grew gray in the east; and presently the day broke--but no verdict. At an early hour the judge returned, and the court-room filled again. Nine--ten--eleven. Suddenly there was a hum--a shuffling in the hall. The door was thrown open by the gray-headed constable, and the jury entered. 'The jury's agreed,' cried the officer. There was a dead silence; and the foreman gave in the verdict: 'GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE!' Rust moved not; no change of color or feature was perceptible, except a slight smile, and that too faded in a moment. The trial was over; and the crowd poured through the streets, yelling with delight, and stopping those whom they met, to tell them that Michael Rust was doomed to die. Rust sat without stirring, until an officer touched him, and told him that he must go. He then rose, and followed him without a word. The crowd gathered around him, as he went out; but he did not notice them. His brother walked at his side, but he heeded him not; and when he reached his prison, without uttering a word, he flung himself wearily upon his bed, and was soon sound asleep. He awoke, a different man; and when his lawyer called to see him on the following day, he found him as fierce as a caged beast. He endeavored to utter some remark of consolation; but Rust impatiently motioned him to be silent. He spoke about a clergyman; but the reply was a laugh, so mocking and scornful, that he was glad to drop the theme. 'Is the game ended?' at last inquired Rust. 'Is there no farther cast of the die left?' The lawyer looked at him, as if in doubt of his meaning. Rust, in response to the look, repeated the question. 'Is there nothing more to be done, in that farce called the law? Is there no farther blow to be struck for life?' 'We can appeal,' replied the lawyer; 'but there is little chance of success.' He took Rust by the hand, and said in a soothing tone: 'My poor friend, you must be prepared for the worst; for I cannot promise to save your life.' Rust rose and stood directly in front of him; and pointing to a small coin which lay on the table, said: 'Not the tenth part of _that_ would Michael Rust give to have one hour added to his life; but I _will not_ be driven from it. I _will not_ be beaten down and crushed.' He stamped furiously on the floor. 'Fight!' said he, fixing his glaring eye on the lawyer; 'fight to the last; leave nothing untried; spare not gold; bribe--corrupt--suborn; do any thing; but do not leave the triumph to my enemies. It's that that is tearing away at my heart. It's _that_ which is killing me,' exclaimed he, bitterly, shaking his hands over his head. 'We shall leave nothing untried,' said the lawyer. 'Perhaps too we may obtain a pardon, for if ever a murder was justifiable, that was.'