"Thou hast not said--thou dost not dare to say--thou lovest her! Cameron, I have felt friendship for thee. Thou hast resided in the hall of my fathers. My hand is withheld from thee. But, if thou dost not renounce, at once and for ever, all pretensions to the love of Elizabeth Macpherson, thou hast looked thy last on this green earth and those glorious heavens." "Renounce all pretensions to the love of Elizabeth Macpherson! I tell thee, proud man, that the daughter of the highest Macpherson might think herself honoured by an alliance with a Cameron." "Insolent serf! unsay thy words, or maintain them with thy sword!--Crouch, like a low-born slave as thou art, and beg Macpherson's pardon, if thou darest not bare thy coward blade." "Macpherson, thou didst not call me slave or coward, when, side by side, we two stemmed the stream of battle in its wildest rage;--nor was it a coward blade that hewed out a safe retreat for thee, when thine own arm waxed weak and thy steps were unequal on the field of the slain." "Thou dost well to speak of what thou knowest will prevent me from chastising thy base treachery. 'Tis what I might have expected;--'tis done like a cowardly Cameron!" "But that thou hast a sister, Macpherson, that taunt had cost thee dear. Thou knowest that thou speakest falsely." "Falsely!--defend thee, villain, or die like a slave! The feud of our fathers is but renewed--their spirits behold our strife!" cried Macpherson, and, drawing his claymore, rushed upon Cameron almost before his blade was bared for the combat.