Na, na, sir; - in troubled times, as I understand,« said Mrs. Maclure,
»there's sudden changes - Montgomery, and Ferguson, and mony ane mair that were
King James's greatest faes, are on his side now. Claver'se spake our friend
fair, and sent him to consult with Lord Evandale. But then there was a
break-off, for Lord Evandale wadna look at, hear, or speak wi' him; and now he's
ance wud and aye waur, and roars for revenge again Lord Evandale, and will hear
nought of onything but burn and slay - and oh, thae starts o' passion! - they
unsettle his mind, and gie the enemy sair advantages.«
    »The enemy!« said Morton - »What enemy?«
    »What enemy? Are ye acquainted familiarly wi' John Balfour o' Burley, and
dinna ken that he has had sair and frequent combats to sustain against the Evil
One? Did ye ever see him alone but the Bible was in his hand, and the drawn
sword on his knee? did ye never sleep in the same room wi' him, and hear him
strive in his dreams with the delusions of Satan? O, ye ken little o' him, if ye
have seen him only in fair daylight, for nae man can put the face upon his
doleful visits and strifes that he can do. I hae seen him, after sic a strife of
agony, tremble, that an infant might hae held him, while the hair on his brow
was drapping as fast as ever my puir thatched roof did in a heavy rain.«
    As she spoke, Morton began to recollect the appearance of Burley during his
sleep in the hay-loft at Milnwood, the report of Cuddie that his senses had
become impaired, and some whispers current among the Cameronians, who boasted
frequently of Burley's soul-exercises, and his strifes with the foul fiend;
which several circumstances led him to conclude that this man himself was a
victim to those delusions, though his mind, naturally acute and forcible, not
only disguised his superstition from those in whose opinion it might have
discredited his judgment, but by exerting such a force as is said to be proper
to those afflicted with epilepsy, could postpone the fits which it occasioned
until he was either freed from superintendence, or surrounded by such as held
him more highly on account of these visitations. It was natural to suppose, and
could easily be inferred from the narrative of Mrs. Maclure, that disappointed
ambition, wrecked hopes