"Sir," said John, addressing Claverhouse, "I'm neither knave nor rebel--I hae lifted up my voice to the God o' my faithers, according to my conscience; and, unworthy as I am o' the least o' His benefits, for threescore years and ten he has been my shepherd and deliverer, and, if it be good in His sight, He will deliver me now. My trust is in Him, and I fear neither the frown nor the sword o' the persecutor." "Have done, grey-headed babbler!" cried Claverhouse. Lieutenant Mowbray, who still sat with his face from the prisoners, raised his handkerchief to his eyes. "Captain," said Mr. Duncan, "there's a day coming when ye shall stand before the great Judge, as we now stand before you; and when the remembrance o' this day, and the blood o' the righteous which ye hae shed, shall be written with letters o' fire on yer ain conscience, and recorded against ye; and ye shall call upon the rocks and mountains to cover ye"---- "Silence!" exclaimed Claverhouse. "Away with them!" he added, waving his hand to his troopers--"shoot them before sunrise!" Shortly after the prisoners had been conveyed from the presence of Claverhouse, Lieutenant Mowbray withdrew; and having sent for the soldier who had interfered on behalf of Mary--"Macdonald," he began, "you were present yesterday when the prisoners, who are to die to-morrow, were taken. Where did you find them?" "In the old man's house," replied the soldier; and he related all that he had seen, and how he had interfered to save the daughter. The heart of the officer was touched, and he walked across his room, as one whose spirit was troubled. "You did well, Macdonald!" said he, at length--"you did well!" He was again silent, and again he added--"And you found the preacher in the old man's house--_you found_ HIM _there_!" There was an anxious wildness in the tone of the lieutenant. "We found him there," replied the soldier. The officer was again silent--again he thoughtfully paced across the floor of his apartment. At length, turning to the soldier, he added--"I can trust you, Macdonald. When night has set in, take your horse and ride to the house of the elder prisoner, and tell his daughter--the maiden whom you saved--to have horses in readiness for her father, her brother, and--and her--her _husband!_" said the lieutenant, faltering as he spoke; and when he had pronounced the word _husband_, he again paused, as though his heart were full. The soldier was retiring--"Stay," added the officer, "tell her, her father, her brother, and--the preacher, shall not die; before daybreak she shall see them again; and give her this ring as a token that ye speak truly." He took a ring from his finger, and gave it into the hands of the soldier.