Let them go instantly, or we burn them!--Who presses forward there ?" "Ha!" cried Pascal, "Marcel here! he is her enemy!" "Liar!" cried Marcel; "I love her better than thou, boaster as thou art! What wilt thou do for her--thou whose heart is so soft ?" "I come to assist her--to defend her." "And I to be her husband, in spite of all, if she will be my wife." "I come for the same purpose," cried Pascal, without shrinking from his rival's regard; then turning to Franconnette, he said, with firmness, "Franconnette, you are safe no longer; these wretches will pursue you from village to village; but here are two who love you--two who would brave death, destruction, for your sake--can you choose between us ?" "Oh, no, no! speak not of marriage.

Pascal! my love is death--go! forget me! be happy without me! I dare not be yours!" "Happy without you! it is in vain: I love you too well; and if it be true that you are the prey of the evil one, 'twere better die with you than live away from you!" Doubtless, the beloved voice has power above all things over the softened heart: at the last step of misery we can dare all with desperate courage.

Before the assembled crowd she exclaimed: "Oh, yes, Pascal, I do love you--I would have died alone; but, since you will have it so, I resist no longer.

If it is our fate--we will die together." Pascal is in heaven--the crowd amazed--the soldier mute.

Pascal approaches him.