"has been so often sounded throughout the empire, that the meanest serf dreads the name, and shrinks from your villany."

"I know it all," said he thoughtfully, "but the purest characters may be tainted by calumny. Mustapha, it is in your power to reclaim one, who otherwise may be for ever lost; none but yourself know who I am, to them I might be friend or foe; what say you? will you do what is in your power?"

"Will you ask me to betray my trust-to prove a traitor to my sovereign? No, Abd-ul-Hamid, my commands are strict, and must be obeyed; you are my prisoner, and will do well to surrender at discretion."

"Mustapha," he replied proudly, "when I was a Janizary and fought for my country, to surrender was my farthest thought. I was taught from a boy to conquer or die; and do you think that now, when my liberty or life is at stake, I would pursue another course? No, what I would have done for my Sultan, I now perform for myself,-and I surrender only as a corpse."

"We will try-your sword, sir; or I call those who will assist in your capture."

Hamid seized a pistol from his belt, and presenting it to the head of his opponent, said, "If you move or utter but one word, my lord, which may command assistance, I fire! Now then we are on equal terms, and I ask you again, will you aid in my pardon? Consider, I do not act thus to affright you to a compliance to my wishes, but in mine own defence; be candid in what you say, for if I discover in you one spark of treachery, you die. Now, your answer."

"You had it in my former words, and you should know I am not one to swerve from my oath."

Hamid mused a moment and then said, "I have cast my last die and have lost; 'tis well, I must now earn the name I have got; Mustapha, answer me one question, ere we part, perhaps for ever,-your daughter-" "Ask me not of her," was the answer he received; "Alla be praised, she is safe." A smile passed over the handsome features of Abd-ulHamid, as he received the equivocal answer, and augured a happier issue to his plans than he before thought. "Adieu, Mustapha," said he, turning to go, "but before I leave, you shall see I was not a murderer who sought your life:" as he spoke he discharged his pistol, holding his hand about a yard from the muzzle. As the smoke cleared off, the noble looked up and beheld his enemy uninjured-"the weapon was charged with powder only; but think not, Mustapha, the others are so-they are ready for more deadly use. Adieu!"-and in a moment he was gone.

The troops had been aroused by the noise of the pistol in the tent of their commander, and not seeing him come forth with the stranger, they concluded he had died by his hand; and seeing the unknown hastily remount his steed, they all, as if actuated by one common feeling, rushed forward to his seizure. Hamid saw the peril of his situation, and raising himself in his stirrups demanded the cause of the uproar.

"Seize him!" cried a commanding voice from the rear, “seize him, and he who brings him to the ground, shall receive the reward." Hamid

looked round, and beheld the speaker was Mustapha. Rage and indignation at his baseness seemed suddenly to inspire him with the courage of a madman, and discharging his pistols at those who held the reins, he clapped the spurs into the flank of his tried steed, and urged on the noble animal towards the hill; luckily for him the royal troops had considered themselves in a state of security, and were none of them prepared for pursuit, so that when they had discharged their weapons, their chance of capture was over. "He is gone," muttered Mustapha, as he followed with his eyes, his fine form hastily retreating from his sight: "Fools! why were ye all from your guard? prepare ye now, and speedily-he will be upon my house ere the sun has waned, but I will foil him there." The soldiers obeyed the command rapidly, but in silence; and in a few minutes, Mustapha, at the head of a small troop of horse, was on the road to his estate: when he arrived at his mansion, his first inquiry was for his daughter, and finding she was alone, he proceeded to the apartment where she stayed. The surprise and grief of Ada may be imagined, when she perceived her father enter, for although she tenderly loved him, she wished not to have her plans thwarted.

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Ada," said he, throwing himself upon a couch," you must prepare for your departure; the banditti are abroad, and this is not a safe spot in which you can remain alone."

The beauteous girl almost fainted as she heard her father's commands, but summoning her courage, she endeavoured to remonstrate against such a sudden movement. "But, father," said she, “we are perfectly safe; the men will not dare to approach so near the capital, and this spot is such a favourite of mine, you will not debar me the pleasure of its enjoyment."

"I will debar you nothing, Ada, but what is for your own happiness. I know from certain evidence the fellows are abroad, and for your own safety you must go." This, which was said in a positive tone, convinced the maiden she must obey, and with a heavy heart she commenced the necessary preparation. In three hours after Ada had been conveyed to the city, and the chief and his followers had returned to their encampment.

The third day had arrived, and Abd-ul-Hamid, alone, set forth to learn the issue of the determination of one who held his fate in her power. The sun had just risen as he emerged from the hills, and stood before the late residence of her he loved; slowly and cautiously he approached it, and as he stood at the entrance, he looked round to see that no one was within sight, and then gave a loud knock; the blood thrilled through his veins, as the sound was reverberated through the house, but no one answered to the summons: his heart misgave him, but he tried again-the same silence prevailed-another and another, even louder than before-but it remained still unbroken. "She is gone," said he, seating himself at the threshold, and burying his face in his hands; "Kamak, it was true !—she is false !-she has discarded me for another. Alas, Ada! where is your plighted troth; your love? But she is mine," said he, springing to his feet," she is my bride, and not the world shall take her from me! I am discarded by the world, by her I love! my last, my dearest hope has gone, and

now shall they know their own fate!" As he spoke, he collected a quantity of sticks and dried leaves which lay strewed around him, and placing them at an angle of the house, which was composed chiefly of wood, set them on fire; the combustible material of which the mansion was formed was soon caught by the devouring element, and in a few minutes, the favourite residence of the noble was enveloped in flames; a bright red glare was shed around, which vied in splendour with the rising sun; and as the timbers crackled and refused their support, the roof fell, and the gilded minarets which had so lately towered to the clouds, were now level with the dust. As Abd-ul-Hamid mounted his horse, and looked upon the devastation he had occasioned, he wielded his lance above his head, gave vent to his feelings in a madlike shriek, and spurring his steed, was soon lost amongst the hills.

It was about this time, that Ilarran, with a party of their troop, descended to the plain to reconnoitre; by some unguarded movement he had proceeded too far, and when he least expected it, found himself hotly pressed by a strong fire from a party of the enemy. "To cover!" said he, gazing around him, "to cover, my good fellows! give no quarter, but make good your retreat; I wish to heaven that Hamid were here to share in our glory." As they turned to retire, they found themselves surrounded on every side by their foes; Harran saw the danger of his situation, and with the coolness of one accustomed to such, collected his followers, and drew up in a square, presenting at every point of attack a strong line of lances, strongly resembling our own chevaux de frise, behind each, two rows of spears, and supported by them from a charge, were the musqueteers ready to return the fire of the enemy. Often did Mustapha, with a chosen few, rush on to the attack, and endeavour to break the line of the enemy, but as often was he repulsed by the loss of some of his best troops; thus they continued for two hours, the bandits still firm at their post, although their numbers had been materially diminished: when Mustapha, tired of the frequent endeavours to break their line, drew off, as if to refresh his men, but actually to draw the rebels from their post. Harran would at this moment have given his life for the return of Hamid, but this was time for action, and not for vain regret, and he conceived it most necessary to get the troops from their exposed situation; with this feeling, and considering the enemy off their. guard, he rushed forward, and commanded all who loved their lives, to follow him. "Ay! ay! muttered Kamak, although it is to death." Mustapha desired no more; his men had been on the alert ready for their charge, and as they advanced in a disordered state, they were received upon the spears of an enemy five times their number. slaughter was merciless, not one of the brave fellows escaped, but all fell fighting to the last gasp; as Mustapha looked upon the dead, and was certain of the victory, he drew off his men, who encamped themselves at the other extremity of the plain. Thus, for the want of their leader, was a brave troop utterly destroyed.

The

The fight had hardly concluded, when Hamid, breathless, pale, and in haste, appeared upon the plain; as he sprung from his horse, he looked round upon his oft tried troops, but they lay before him breathless-dead. "I feared this," said he, pacing amongst the corpses ;

"I feared it; and it has come to pass! Oh! Alla! Oh! Mohammed! my prophet, must I die? am I thus banished from mankind, without one being who will be my companion in the world?-Oh! my brain! my brain!" said he, pressing his forehead with his clenched fist, "it will burst!-Ah! ah!" said he, in an hysterical laugh—" I must go—it is my fate; but I must die brave-yes! the Devil must die brave! and springing to his saddle, he rushed forward with his lance in its rest;his words-his actions bespoke that he was mad. Mustapha had not dismounted, and was still in advance of his troop, and perceiving a stranger advancing with apparent hostile intentions, placed also his lance in its rest, and seemed prepared for an encounter. On came

Hamid with the velocity of the wind, to die by the hands of the enemy, but not to die unrevenged; and seeing one willing to oppose his path he raised himself in his stirrups, and thrust forward the weapon with a deadly aim; the chief reeled, relaxed his hold, and without a groan fell lifeless to the ground. He was brave, and his manly spirit scorned to show fear even in death. Hamid raised a yell -a mad and deafening yell at his victory, and dashed into the centre of the troops; many fell by his hand, but their numbers were too numerous for success-and he was driven there by the world a madman, and to die. He might have escaped, but he did not desire it. At last a ball passed through his temples, and brought him to that fate which he so earnestly sought. He lived and died brave even to

madness, which terminated his existence.

The following day, two corses were borne into a large mansion in the capital, attended by a numerous body of servants. As the pall was removed to expose their faces to the public view, a female, who was present, swooned in the arms of her attendants; restoratives were applied, but without avail, for life had fled. It was Ada, who, on seeing the body of her father and lover, could not survive the shock. They now remain buried in one vault in the suburbs of the city, and thus, by the hasty prejudice of one, did they all fall. Love not hastily, nor misplace your affections; it is a gem which when once pledged can never be redeemed, without unhappiness to both; and for that shall we have to answer at a future day. It is given to us to use, but not to abuse.

PRISON DISCIPLINE.

THE extensive alterations and improvements which have been made in our criminal code within the last ten or twelve years, have created a necessity for new modes of regulating the economy of our gaols, both as regards their construction and internal management. But previous to our going into a detail of the changes that have taken place in other countries, and of those that are proposed to be made here in these matters, it may be as well to inform such of our readers as may not have been acquainted with the facts, that until about the period above specified, the criminal laws of Great Britain were the most cruel, sanguinary, and immoral in their nature, and the least capable of repressing crimes against life and property, of any code of laws in

*

Europe. The estimable and highly-gifted Sir Samuel Romilly in the course of his public exertions, brought the subject before Parliament, and exposed its deformities, but in vain as to any real improvement, although some trifling changes were made, more, as it would appear, for the purpose of allaying the indignant feelings that began to be expressed by the British public, than with any sincere desire of reformation. But at length "The Society for Diffusing Information upon Capital Punishments" was formed. This association was composed of several leading members of both houses of Parliament. Professional gentlemen of high character, bankers, merchants, and opulent tradesmen-all these classes spontaneously came forward, being convinced that it was their duty to use every constitutional means to rid the nation of its monstrous criminal code. Aided by the public press, which gave its powerful aid in this great movement, the Association commenced its operations upon a very extensive scale; its ramifications were established in all the cities and principal towns of England, Ireland, and Scotland; and these communicating promptly with the great society in the capital, brought forward masses of evidence, and expressions of public opinion founded upon them, that no government, of whatever party, found they could safely resist. This rational "pressure from without" being now under the control of an intelligent and well-organized association, soon showed the irresistible influence of the public voice, when directed by reason in its demands for justice. The consequence of these great movements resulted in the gradual displacement of above seventy statutes of blood, by which thousands of British subjects, men, women, and children, had been doomed to die on the public gallows, for offences merely against property. In place of those statutes others have been enacted, whereby the lives of the convicted felons in such cases are no longer subjected to the executioner for the amusement of the common rabble; but instead of this revolting exhibition, punishments severe in their nature, and certain in their operation, have been provided. These have been found infinitely more effective for the repression of the criminal offences to which they are applied, than the savage inflictions to which they have justly

succeeded.

This legal revolution, which was not only bloodless, but fraught with justice and mercy, having been so far achieved, it naturally led the way to great changes in our prison regulations; in order that those melancholy abodes of vice and crime might be made efficient in carrying forward the objects of the new penal code.

For this purpose it became necessary to change our entire system of criminal imprisonment; and even the designation of the old system has been altered to "Prison Discipline" and "The Penitentiary System."

It is of these new modes of managing convicts, that we wish to give our readers a correct outline; and this duty to the public we find the more pressing, on account of the great ignorance, and the consequent uncertainty which prevail in the public mind on this very important subject, and still more, because some interested and ignorant persons

*In this great struggle the Morning Herald was conspicuous.