nature of the man. One less
enthusiastic than Baltic would have been discouraged, but, braced by
fanaticism, the man was resolved to conquer this adversary of Christ and
win back an erring soul from the ranks of Satan's evil host. With his
well-worn Bible on his knee, he expounded text after text, amplified
the message of redemption and pardon, and, with all the eloquence
religion had taught his tongue, urged Mosk to plead for mercy from the
God he had so deeply offended. But all in vain.

'Wot's th' use of livin' bad all these years, and then turnin' good for
five minutes?' growled Mosk, contemptuously. 'There ain't no sense in
it.'

'Think of the penitent thief, my brother. He was in the same position as
you now are, yet he was promised paradise by God's own Son!'

Mosk shrugged his shoulders. 'It's easy enough promisin', I daresay; but
'ow do I know, or do you know as the promise 'ull be kept?'

'Believe and you shall be saved.'

'I can't believe what you say.'

'Not what I say, poor sinner, but what Christ says.'

There was no possible answer to this last remark, so Mosk launched out
on another topic. 'I like yer cheek, I do,' he growled; 'it's you that
have got me into this mess, and now you wants me to take up with your
preaching.'

'I want to save your soul, man!'

'You'd much better have saved my life. If you'd left me alone I wouldn't
have bin caught.'

'Then you would have gone on living in a state of sin. So long as you
were safe from the punishment of man you would not have turned to God.
Now you must. He is your only friend.'

'It's more nor you are. I don't call it friendship to bring a man to the
gallows!'

'I do--when he has committed a crime,' said Baltic, gravely. 'You must
suffer and repent, or God will not forgive you. You are Cain, for you
have slain your brother.'

'You've got to prove that,' growled Mosk, cunningly; 'look, Mr Baltic,
jus' drop religion for a bit, and tell me 'ow you know as I killed that
cove.'

Baltic closed his Bible, and looked mildly at the prisoner. 'The
evidence against you is perfectly clear, Mosk,' said he, deliberately.
'I traced the notes stolen from the dead man to your possession. You
paid your rent to Sir Harry Brace with the fruits of your sin.' 'Yes, I
did!' said Mosk, sullenly. 'I know it ain't no good sayin' as I didn't
kill Jentham, for you're one too many for me. But wot business had he to
go talkin' of hundreds of pounds to a poor chap like