"The family dog gave a familiar bark of joy, and a voice that I thought drowned in the deep ocean said: 'Down, Shep! down, sir.' My heart stood still. The next moment, the door opened, and Malcolm Graham stood before me. He extended his arms. "'Mary! Mary!' he cried, 'hae ye na welcome?' "I started to my feet; I am sure that my eyes must have glared with terror. I sank upon the chair by the side of the cradle, and pressing my hand upon my heart, continued gazing. I was speechless with terror and grief. "'What is in that cradle, Mary?' "'It is my child, my babe, Malcolm.' "'Tell me its name, Mary Gordon.' "'Roland Gordon Bruce,' I answered, in trembling tones. "He struck his head with both his hands in anguish--'Hae I come home for this? Oh, Mary! how could ye sae forget me?' "'I thought you dead, Malcolm; and by this marriage, I have made my father happy.' "'Look here, Mary!' said the wretched man. Opening his vest, he took out an old worn pocket-book, from which he drew the lock of golden hair, tied with the faded ribbon of the maiden's snood, that I gave him on the night of our parting. "'I hae never parted with it, Mary, and it shall go wi' me to my grave.' "I was near fainting; no words can paint the anguish of that hour. "'Go, Malcolm, go; you must not be seen here. I cannot even shelter you from the storm. I can pray for you, Malcolm, but we must meet no more.' "My cousin advanced--before I could prevent it, he clasped me to his bosom, pressed one last kiss upon my icy forehead, and in another minute was gone. "Alas! alas! just as he passed out, my husband entered. He knew him--it was Malcolm Graham, the one whom he had always feared as his rival in the affections of the one he loved. "'How dare he enter this house?' was the first salutation. "'He thought that I lived here yet as Mary Gordon, husband. You have no reason to fear either him or her whom you call by the sacred name of wife.' "He was pale with anger; fire shot from his dark eyes. I was terrified. I walked up to Stephen Bruce, and laid my hand upon his arm. "'Stephen, am I not your wedded wife? wedded in the sight of Heaven! do you think that I, Mary Gordon, the descendant of heroic martyrs, can ever forget her plighted faith, plighted before God's holy altar?' "'No, Mary, you will not forget your duty as a wife; but your heart is wi' Malcolm Graham, your early luve.' "'Stephen, Malcolm is dead to me--we shall never meet again. I do not wish him to cross our path.' "From that hour our domestic peace was at an end. The family malady had certainly made its appearance in the case of my unhappy husband. I was kind, affectionate, attentive to all his wants. I hushed the voice of memory, and learned to be even cheerful in the performance of daily duties. I looked upward daily, hourly, Roland, and I was sustained in my hour of trial.