d to Grenville, and in brief but distinct language
offered him the seat of the man he had just killed, together with all
its emoluments.

"Nay, my son," said he, as our friend was about to speak, "take time to
think before you give your answer. I much wish to save you alive, but
our laws are as the laws of the Medes and Persians, and by them the Holy
Three, who have power of life and death, are obliged to condemn you, and
you are too young to die. In the one way indicated we can save you.
Live, then, and become the prop of our Holy State."

"Sir," replied Grenville, moved by the kindly manner of the patriarch as
no threats would ever have moved him, "I appreciate your kind wishes,
and God forbid I should insult the beard of a man old enough to be my
grandsire, but I regard your faith and your own exalted office here with
utter abhorrence and loathing. I have a most healthy contempt for your
laws and your nation, and having the courage of my opinions I prefer to
die for them."

The old prophet eyed him sadly for a moment; then his face grew stem,
and drawing himself up proudly, "'Tis well," he said, "ere long, foolish
headstrong youth, thou wilt regret thine impetuosity. At sundown, three
days hence, you die by the rifle--farewell." Then touching a small
gong, "Guards, remove the prisoner;" and as he noted the looks of the
officer directed at Warden's corpse lying in a pool of blood, "Brother
Harper, remove this body, and see that the Saints are notified of the
decease of a member of the Holy Trinity, and the necessity of choosing
out one of the elect to supply his place."

The officer merely bowed, and the guard then removed Grenville; but as
soon as they got outside the officer turned to his prisoner, asking
eagerly, "Did you kill yonder fiend?"

"I did," replied our hero coolly, "and I'm sure I never killed a greater
scoundrel in all my life."

In reply the officer seized Grenville's hand and shook it heartily.
"You are a plucky fellow," he said; "if you _have_ killed about half our
people, you've prevented that scoundrel from making away with the other
half. Tell me, did you shoot Radford Custance?"

"I did," was the stern reply; "the coward struck a man who had his hands
tied."

"Well," rejoined the other, "taken all through we owe you a debt of
gratitude. It's a shame to shoot you; but what must be--must be, you
know."

"Quite so," responded Grenville, cheerfully, "don't let us fall out over
that