engaged--and on the day of trial, Hamilton stood before the assembled county--an arraigned culprit in the presence of those before whom he had walked in honor from childhood. As the trial proceeded, the confidence of his friends diminished, and those who had doubted, became confirmed in the belief of the prisoner's guilt. Trifles light as air became confirmations strong as proofs of Holy Writ to the jealous minds of the audience, and one fact was linked to another in curious coincidence, until the chain of corroborating circumstances seemed irresistibly conclusive. His recent intimacy with the deceased, and even the attentions which friendship and hospitality had dictated, were ingeniously insisted upon as evidences of a deliberate plan of wickedness--long formed and gradually developed. The facts, that he had accompanied the deceased on his way--that he had lost the path in a country with which he was supposed to be familiar--his conduct on hearing of the death of his friend--the money--the knife--caused the most incredulous to tremble for his fate. But when the breast-pin of Hamilton, found near the body of the murdered man, was produced--and a pistol, known to have been that of the prisoner, was proved to have been picked up near the same spot--but little room was left, even for charity to indulge a benevolent doubt. Nor was this all--the prosecution had still another witness--the pale girl who sate by him, clasping his hand in hers, was unexpectedly called upon to rise and give testimony. She shrunk from the unfeeling call, and buried her face in her brother's bosom. That blow was not anticipated--for none but the cunning myrmidons of party vengeance, who had even violated the sanctuary of family confidence, in search of evidence, dreamed that any criminating circumstance was in the possession of this young lady. At the mandate of the court, she arose, laid aside her veil, and disclosed a face haggard with anxiety and terror. In low tremulous accents, broken with sobs, she reluctantly deposed, that the clothes worn by her brother, on his return from that fatal journey, were torn, soiled with earth, and bloody! An audible murmur ran through the crowd, who were listening in breathless silence--the prisoner bowed his head in mute despair--the witness was borne away insensible--the argument proceeded, and after an eloquent, but vain defence, the jury brought in a verdict of _guilty!_ The sentence of _death_ was passed. * * * * *