wall, all mingling their light, and pouring forth a dazzling effulgence and radiance. Lewen's soul was elevated to Heaven. His arms folded over his breast, seemed to exclude thence all thought of the world, its cares, its pursuits, its inhabitants. He trod in the star-paved courts of Heaven, and he drank ardour in his religion from the Fountain of Light. His whole heart was engrossed by a conviction of the sanctity of his voca tion, of its immense importance to mankind, because it comprehended man's everlasting destiny. He anticipated the period when his-the true Church of Christ-should have universal dominion amongst men, and he gave his talents, his understanding to the pursuit. To assist the progress of that period, he had devoted his youth to the severest and incessant studies. He had kept the weary vigil, intensely

engaged in those avocations which were to enlarge his mind to its utmost capability of extension. He had travelled from convent to convent, seeking to acquire the abstruse points of learning from those who, at that period, almost engrossed it. He had used mortifications, abstinence, prayer, that he might be a meet vessel to receive the unction of the Spirit, and to enlighten mankind by his doctrines. All these had one object, the promulgation of that creed which he believed to be reared on the basis of eternal truth. At this moment, his soul was absorbed by intense devotion, by an unreserved surrendering of itself up to the Divine will. If mortal eye had then beheld him, he would have shone as a being of celestial mould, for the brightness of his countenance glowed with the splendour of immortality. He seemed a temple

worthy of the Divinity; and the halo of eternal hopes shone as a glory around him.

It seemed as if the unhallowed hands of those who had, with Vandal fury, torn down the sanctuary of the men devoted to God, had hesitated at the sacrilege of demolishing His temple. The chapel was not entirely despoiled. The altar piece and the decorations were torn away, but the altar itself stood, divested of its adornments. The white marble of its steps was discernible in the pale gleams of moonshine, which were gradually piercing the dun clouds, and streamed through the windows. Some of these were still entire, decorated with their gorgeous painted glass, that stained with its own hues the light it adnitted. This was to be the scene of Lewen's conference with

Valerius, and he paused at the foot of

the altar.

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Virgin-Mother of God!" he said, prostrating himself,-" Thou who art daily blasphemed by impious men,— whose temples they despoil,-whose worship they deride, whose power they contemn,-whose mercies they reject-vouchsafe to enlighten me, and to penetrate my soul, that the light of thy truth may burn more brightly there, in contrast to the desolation and the darkness of this thy temple; where so many rapturous voices have mingled in anthems of thy praise, where so many saints have gained an immortal crown,— where so many pious servants have departed from this life in the odour of sanctity, and have received the recompense of their reward in the life that is to come! Sanctify my efforts in thy service and to thy glory! Intercede for me with thine eternal Son, that he will

be pleased to pour out his' spirit upon ine, to enlarge my faculties, to extend my powers of endurance and of action,→→ to increase my talents, that I may the more successfully strive to restore those eternal truths, which the impiety of men seeks to efface from the tablets of human hearts! Oh, spirit of the most High, purify my lips with the fire that hallowed those of thy prophet, ap pointed to denounce thy judgments against a people rebellious as those, who now strive against thee! Permit nothing to issue from my mouth, that may militate, in the slightest degree, against the interests of thy church on earth! Give me courage to exhort, to perform, to reprove, to awaken, to convert! Let me be worthy of the vo cation whereunto I am called, and suffer me never to forget, that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall