gasped at length, so absorbed with the splendid bauble that he did not notice the almost wolfish glare with which the old man's eye was fixed on his.-" And may this be MINE? Did you not say you could put it into my power?"

"Ay, Carl, it may be yours!" replied the stranger, in a low, earnest tone, still fixedly eyeing his companion's

countenance.

"Ay, ay! it may? Name, then, the price! Name your price, old man!" exclaimed Carl, eagerly. Checking himself, however, he added suddenly, in a desponding tone, "But why do I ask its price? Fool that I am, my whole fortune-ay, the fortunes of all our family, would not purchase one only of these jewels!'

The more Carl looked at the gorgeous toy, the more was he fascinated. It was studded with gems of such amazing brilliance, as to present the appearance of a circle of delicate violet and orange-hued flame, as the stranger placed it in different points of view. Carl could not re

move his eyes from the bracelet.

"Take it into your own hands-it will bear a close scrutiny," said the old man, proffering the box, with its costly contents, to the student, who received it with an eager but trembling hand. As he examined the gems, he discovered one of superior splendour and magnitude; and whilst his eyes were riveted upon it-was it merely his nervous agitation—or, gracious heavens! did it really assume the appearance of a human eye, and of awful ex

pression?

Carl's eyes grew dim, the blood retreated to his heart, and his hands shook violently as he pushed back the box and its mysterious contents to the stranger. Neither spoke for some seconds. The old man gazed at Carl with evident astonishment.

"What-what shall I call you?" murmured Carl, as soon as he had recovered the power of speech. "What means that-that-that damned eye which looks at me

from the bracelet? Do your superiors, then, use even sorcery to inveigle their victims?" His teeth chattered. "Away with your damned magic! Out on you! Away -or I shall call for help from without!" And Carl fiercely drew half out his poniard.

Tut, man," rejoined the stranger, calmly, after listening with patience to Carl's objurgations. "Now, to hear you rave in this wise! You—a man—a scholar! The days of sorcery, methinks, are gone for ever; and as for the INQUISITION that you din into my ears, I myself fear, but more hate, that cruel and accursed institution. But what have we to do with it here? How are you to be carried off into Spain, good friend, supposing me to have come hither in my strength for such purpose?" This was said slowly and deeply- the speaker's eyes searchingly fixed on those of him he addressed. The student, however, answered not, and the old man resumed.

""Tis but your own heated fancy that has likened one of these jewels to an EYE-he, he, he!" said he, with a faint attempt at laughter. "What is it that has frightened you but a large diamond? A human eye, i'faithhe, he, he !—But, to away with these womanish fancies, I would know, at once, Carl, as a matter of business, whether you wish to call yourself the owner of this bracelet ?"

Carl paused.

"Will you really, then, give me no answer, Carl?" "Ay-Heaven knows I would fain be its master-for 'tis an enchanting, a dazzling—yet a fearful

"Bah!" exclaimed the old man, impatiently.

"Well, then," continued Carl, doubtingly, "since temper fails you, I will to the point. "Suppose, then, I were, in a manner, disposed-I mean-hem!-What I would say, is-in short, if it were to come to pass that I were earnestly desirous (which I am not) of having this bracelet-not for myself, mark me, but for another".

"To the point, man! To the point!" interrupted the stranger, with anxious asperity.

"Well, I say, if I were disposed to purchase the bracelet, what would be your terms? What must I do? What give?"

"Oh, my terms are most easy and simple-so much so, that you may perchance even laugh at hearing them. Find me but the fellow to this bracelet-and both shall be yours."

Carl suddenly became cold and pale. The stranger's peculiar words and manner had roused painful suspicions in the breast of the student-transiently however—that certain doings of his must be intimately known in certain awful quarters; and that the stranger's plan was but a subtle trap for making him develop them. This feeling gradually yielded to one of sheer astonishment, as the stranger repeated his terms, in a significant tone, and with great earnestness of manner.

“I—I, Carl Koëcker-find you the fellow to this bracelet!" exclaimed the student. "Surely you must be mad, or mocking me."

"Whether I be mad or not, concerns you little, so as I can make good my promise. You have my termsyou may make the bargain, if you have but a little spirit!"

"Will you give me till to-morrow night to consider whether I will accept them ?" inquired Carl, after a long and puzzled pause.

"No," replied the stranger, imperatively.

"Hem!" exclaimed Carl, suddenly; "so you have but one bracelet. How came you by it? You know, old man, that if I buy it, I must be satisfied that I can keep it."

"Keep your questions to yourself. Enough for you that I have it," replied the stranger, sternly.

"Another question, nevertheless, I must put. Where is the other bracelet?"

"It must be sought for," replied the old man, gloomily, placing his broad-brimmed hat on his head, as if to overshadow his eyes-" and it is worthy the search, though a prince were the seeker. He, moreover, who shall have this, has a clue infallible to the discovery of the other."

"Then why not search for it yourself?" inquired Carl, quickly. A flush overspread the stranger's face, and he seemed, for a moment, somewhat confused.

"You are sent hither by the Inquisition," said Carl, with a cold shudder, at the same time plunging his right hand into his bosom, in search of his poniard - half resolved to take summary vengeance on the daring and perfidious spy. He controlled himself, however, and

repeated his question in a calmer tone.

"Why do not you seek for the fellow-bracelet, old man?"

"I may not, Carl. That must be sufficient for you. You need not enter on the search-you need not take this bracelet; but if you will venture, and should succeed, 'twill be the greatest day's work you ever did. It will bring you riches and honour; and, above all, you shall see both these beautiful trinkets glistening on the white arm of her ".

"Hold! I madden! Speak not!" gasped Carl, springing with sudden emotion from his chair-pressing his hands against his forehead, and gazing fixedly on the bracelet, which the stranger still held in his hands.

"'Tis an overwhelming thought truly! It is!-butbut I find the fellow to this bracelet ?" he continued, with a bewildered air, "where, in Heaven's name, am I

to search for it?"

"Where you can, and where you dare,” replied the stranger, with a significant emphasis, which greatly impressed Carl.

"And how long shall I have to try my fortune?— Tut!-'tis an idle-a mad question truly, a foolish

scheme; but, supposing-in a word, how long will you give me?"

"Two days from this time; and on the third, I will come and see you again."

"Alone?" inquired Carl, with a searching glance. "Yes-alone," replied the stranger, pointedly.

"And can you give me no clue, whatever?-None?" "No, assuredly; else the merit of your search would fail. You will not be long in finding one, if you do but set about the search heartily.—Ah, Carl, Carl," he added, suddenly, with as much gaiety as his extraordinary features could assume, "you have a white hand, and a small wrist!" Carl glanced at them complacently. “I wonder, now, whether it were small enough for this bracelet? Try it on, man-try it on!-Your wrist, I think, is but a trifle larger than hers "The last word brought the blood into Carl's face, even to his temples— and a tempest to his soul. Scarce knowing what he did, he took the glittering bracelet, and with a little difficulty, clasped it about his wrist.

"Ah, ha!-How wondrous well it suits you! In truth, it might have been made for you! Your wrist might have been a lady's!" said the old man, laughing; and, rising from his seat, he scrutinized the bracelet narrowly, and adjusted it more nicely. "And now, Carl Koëcker-see you part not with it, in your search! Farewell, Carl!" The stranger stepped towards the door. "Stay stay, old man!" exclaimed the student, amazedly. "Whither are you going? Ha-ha, der teufel!" he continued, almost leaping from the floor with sudden fright-Why, thou fiend! I cannot remove the bracelet! It clings to my wrist like adamant !—It will cut my hand off! Ah-ah-it is cutting to the bone," he groaned. He strove violently to wrench it off. "Take it off! Take it off!-I cannot move it! Help, help!-dear, good old man, for mercy's sake"- But

his visitor was opening the chamber-door, anxious to be