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before him he beheld the mysterious figure which in the same wood had foretold to him the birth of an heir.
An indescribable terror oppressed him, and he stood silently gazed on the figure without power to address it:—her eyes were fixed upon him with a look of the most appalling and fiend-like exultation. "Roderick has done well," she exclaimed, "he has preserved the kite that shall bear away the dove within its talents:—rememberest thou how prophetic were my words? Roderick of Glenross attend to me now!—the deed is done which at once destroys, and wraps in fancied security all thy high raised hopes.—Hark!—hearest thou not the knell of the race of Strathmore?—mighty Roderick, on one condition I will be thy friend, and all these threatened evils may be averted; tear that brilliant cross from thy bosom, trample it under thy feet—then kneel and worship me!”
The figure paused as if expecting an answer, but Roderick, enraged, instantly drew his sword. "Wretch," he exclaimed. At that moment, a sudden film seemed to pass before his eyes, he raised his hand to his face and instantly removed it, a loud and demoniac laugh rang in his ears, but the figure had vanished.
The words of the mysterious figure rung in his ears. "Hearest thou not the knell of the race of Strathmore?—my Boy!" he exclaimed; and as the hollow sound of the death-bell floated heavily on the gale, the heart of Roderick was cold as the icy form for which it tolled.
Roderick, imagining his worst fears confirmed, was several minutes before he could articulate "My wife—my boy,"—Are well," replied the weeping nurse. "for whom then are those sounds? and why does the sable banner float over the battlements of Glenross?" "Your daughter, the infant Helen," replied Maud, "has breathed her last." A mountain seemed taken from the breast of Roderick, and he attempted not to veil his raptures as he soothed the increasing agitation of Maud, she supported herself, as she led the way to the lady Malvina's apartment.
Wallace had scarcely attained the age of fifteen, when
