outlaws were by no means afraid to pay occasional visits to their own relatives, and from time to time to hold communication with them.  Nay, not only was this the fact, but, what is still more strange, many persons who were related to individuals connected with this daring and unmanageable class were in the habit of attending their nightly meetings, sometimes for the purpose of preventing a robbery, or of killing a family whom they wished to suffer.

One night, during this period of our narrative, Barney’s brother contrived to have secret interview with him for the purpose of communicating some information to him which had reached his ears from Shawn-na-Middogue, to the effect that Caterine Collins had admitted to him (Shawn), upon his promise of marrying her—­a promise made only for the purpose of getting into her confidence, and making her useful as an agent to his designs—­that she knew, she said, that it was not his brother Charles who had brought unfortunate Grace Davoren to ruin, but Harry Woodward, and, she added, when it was too late, she suspected something from his manner, of his intention to send Charles, on that disastrous night, in his stead.  But Shawn, who knew Caterine and her connections well, recommended Michael Casey to apprise his brother that he could not keep too sharp an eye upon the movements of both, but, above all things, to try and induce him to set Woodward in such a way that he could repair the blow upon him, which, in mistake, he had dealt to his innocent brother.  Now, although Barney almost detested Woodward, yet he was incapable of abetting Shawn’s designs upon Suit Balor.

“No,” said he to his brother, “I would die first.  It is true I do not like a bone in his body, but I will never lend myself to such a cowardly act as that; besides, from all I know of Shawn, I did not think he would stoop to murder.”

“Ay, but think of our companions,” replied hia brother, “and think too, of what a notion they have of it.  Shawn, however, is a different man from most, if not all, of them—­and he says he was urged on by a fit of fury when he found the man, that he thought the destroyer of Grace Davoren, speaking to her in such a lonely and suspicious place.  It was his intention to have bidden him to stand on his guard and defend himself, but jealousy and revenge overcame him at the moment, and he struck the blow.  Thank God that it failed; but you may take my word that the next won’t—­because Shawn now swears, that without preface or apology, or one moment’s warning, he will stab him to the heart wherever he can meet him.”

“It’s a bad life,” replied Barney, “that Shawn’s leading; but, poor fellow, he and his resaved hard treatment—­their house and place torn down and laid in rains, and instead of protection from government, they found themselves proclaimed outlaws.  What could he and they do?  But, Michael, it was a different thing with you.  Our family were comfortable—­too much so, indeed, for you; you got idle habits and a distaste for work, and so, rather than settle down to industry, you should join them.”