Enter GERALD, L. Sir P. Ah, Gerald here! How vain concealment! Well! come you to give evidence of my shame ? Ger. I come to announce one, who for many years has watched each action of your life. Sir P. Who? Ger. Morrington. Sir P. I shall then behold the man who has so long avoided me Ger. But ever has been near you―he is here. Enter MORRINGTON, wrapped up in his cloak, L. X Sir P. Well, behold your victim in his last stage of hu man wretchedness? Come you to insult me? [Morrington clasps his hands together, and hides his face.] Ah! can even you pity me? Speak-still silent-still mysterious—Well, let me employ what remains of life in thinking of hereafter. [Addressing heaven.] Oh, my brother! we soon shall meet again. And let me hope, that stript of those passions which make men devils, I may receive the heavenly balm of thy forgiveness, as I, from my inmost soul, do pardon thee. [Morrington becomes convulsed with agony, and falls into Gerald's arms. Evergreen assists him.] Ah, what means that agony? He faints! give him air! [They throw open his cloak and hat. Sir Philip starts.] Angels of mercy! my brother! 'tis he! he lives! Henry, support your father! Hen. [Running to Morrington.] Ah, my father! he revives! Sir P. Hush! [Morrington recovers. Seeing his brother, covers his face with shame, then falls at his feet.] Mor. Crawling in the dust, behold a repentant wretch! Sir P. [Indignantly.] My brother, Morrington! Mor. Turn not away-in mercy, hear me! Sir P. Speak! Mor. After the dreadful hour that parted us, agonized with remorse, I was about to punish home what your arm had left unaccomplished; when some angel whispered "Punishment is life, not death-Live and atone!" Sir P. Oh! go on! Mor. I flew to you-I found you surrounded by sharpers -What was to be done? I became Morrington! littered with villains! practised the arts of devils! braved the assassin's steel! possessed myself of your large estates lived hateful to myself, detested by mankind-to do what? to save an injured brother from destruction, and lay his fortunes at his feet! [Places parchments before Sir Philip. Sir P. Ah! is it possible? Mor. Oh, is that atonement? No: By me, you first beheld her mother! 'Twas I that gave her fortune! Is that atonement? No: But my Henry has saved that angel's life-Kneel with me, my boy-lift up thy innocent hands with those of thy guilty father, and beg for mercy from that injured saint. [Henry kneels with him. Sir P. O, God! how infinite are thy mercies! Henry, forgive me-Emma, plead for me-There-there. Xhe [Joining their hands. Mor. Then let me die-blest, most blest! Sir P. No, no; [Striking his breast.] Here-I want thee here-Raise him to my heart. [They raise Morrington. In the effort to embrace, he falls into their arms exhausted.] Again! [They sink into each other's arms. Bob H. [Comes forward.] If forgiveness be an attribute which ennobles our nature, may we not hope to find pardon for our errors-here? [The curtain drops THE END. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE SUS. BOB. EMMA. SIR P. MOR. HEN. GER. EVER. R.] [L. |