t bear it, John. Promise me."

"Oh, Helen," he said, with tender reproach, "would you have me conceal my
deepest life from you? It would seem like living apart, if there were one
subject on which we dared not touch. Just let me show you the truth and
justice of all this; let me tell you how the scheme of salvation makes
the mystery of sin and punishment clear and right."

"No," she said, the flush of pain dying out of her face, but her eyes
still shining with unshed tears,--"no, I cannot talk of it. I should be
wicked if I could believe it; it would make me wicked. Don't ever speak
to me of it, John."

She came and put her arms around him, and kissed his forehead gently; and
then she left him to struggle with his conscience, and to ask himself
whether his delay had caused this feeling of abhorrence, or whether the
waiting had been wise and should be prolonged.

But Helen's words to Mrs. Davis were repeated, and ran from mouth to
mouth, with the strangest additions and alterations. Mrs. Ward had said
that there was no hell, and no heaven, and no God. What wonder, then,
with such a leaven of wickedness at work in the church, Elder Dean grew
alarmed, and in the bosom of his own family expressed his opinion of Mrs.
Ward, and at prayer-meeting prayed fervently for unbelievers, even though
she was not there to profit by it. Once, while saying that the preacher's
wife was sowing tares among the wheat, he met with an astonishing rebuff.
Alfaretta dared tell her father that he ought to be ashamed of himself to
talk that way about a saint and an angel, if ever there was one.

Mr. Dean was staggered; a female, a young female, and his daughter, to
dare to say such a thing to him! He opened his mouth several times before
he was able to speak.

Alfaretta was at home for her evening out, and her young man was with
her, anxious for the clock to point to nine, that he might "see her
home." They had intended to leave the elder's early, and wander off for
a walk by the river, but prayers were delayed a little, and after that
Alfaretta had to listen to the good advice given every week; so Thaddeus
lost all hope of the river-walk, and only watched for nine o'clock,
when he knew she must start. But in this, too, he was doomed to
disappointment, for the outburst which so stunned the elder detained
Alfaretta until after ten, thereby causing Helen no little anxiety
about her prompt and pretty maid.

The elder had closed his admonitions b