Not of lands, or houses, or gold, or honors, but something a thousand-fold greater--an inheritance of hatred and revenge!" "My mother!" "Listen to me, my daughter, and my dying malediction be upon thee if thou fulfillest not the trust.

Thou hast heard the name of Kingsland ?" "Ay, often; from my father ere he died--from thee, since.

Was it not his last command to me--this hatred of their evil race?
Did I not promise him on his death-bed, four years ago?
Does my mother think I forget ?" "That is my brave daughter.

You know the cruel story of treachery and wrong done thy grandmother, Zenith--you know the prediction your father made to my father, Sir Jasper Kingsland, on the night of his son's birth.

Be it thine, my brave daughter, to see that prediction fulfilled." "You ask a terrible thing, my mother," she said, slowly; but I can refuse you nothing, and I abhor them all.