e was my only friend in life,
and another mon so fine I'll never know. I often come here."

The priest shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and then he
sat down on a grave near Dannie. "For a year I have been waiting to
talk with you," he said.

Dannie wiped his face, and lifting his hat, ran his fingers through his
hair, as if to arouse himself. His eyes were dull and listless. "I am
afraid I am no fit to talk sensibly," he said. "I am much troubled.
Some other time----"

"Could you tell me your trouble?" asked Father Michael.

Dannie shook his head.

"I have known Mary Malone all her life," said the priest softly, "and
been her confessor. I have known Jimmy Malone all his life, and heard
his dying confession. I know what it was he was trying to tell you when
he died. Think again!"

Dannie Macnoun stood up. He looked at the priest intently. "Did ye come
here purposely to find me?"

"Yes."

"What do ye want?"

"To clear your mind of all trouble, and fill your heart with love, and
great peace, and rest. Our Heavenly Father knows that you need peace of
heart, and rest, Dannie."

"To fill my heart wi' peace, ye will have to prove to me that I'm no
responsible fra the death of Jimmy Malone; and to give it rest, ye will
have to prove to me that I'm free to marry his wife. Ye can do neither
of those things."

"I can do both," said the priest calmly. "My son, that is what I came
to do."

Dannie's face grew whiter and whiter, as the blood receded, and his big
hands gripped at his sides.

"Aye, but ye canna!" he cried desperately. "Ye canna!"

"I can," said the priest. "Listen to me! Did Jimmy get anything at all
said to you?"

"He said, 'Mary,' then he choked on the next word, then he gasped out
'yours,' and it was over."

"Have you any idea what he was trying to tell you?"

"Na!" answered Dannie. "He was mortal sick, and half delirious, and I
paid little heed. If he lived, he would tell me when he was better. If
he died, nothing mattered, fra I was responsible, and better friend mon
never had. There was nothing on earth Jimmy would na have done for me.
He was so big hearted, so generous! My God, how I have missed him! How
I have missed him!"

"Your faith in Jimmy is strong," ventured the bewildered priest, for he
did not see his way.

Dannie lifted his head. The sunshine was warming him, and his thoughts
were beginning to clear.

"My faith in Jimmy Malone is so strong," he said, "that if