ther solemnly, "if you ain't spoke to her, you've
neglected your duty; and if you don't give her poor soul a chance of
salvation by bringing her to the Session, you are neglectin' your duty
still more. Your church, sir, and the everlastin' happiness of her soul
demand that this disease of unbelief should be rooted out. Yes, Brother
Ward, if the Jonah in a church was our nearest and dearest--and it don't
make no odds--the ship should be saved!"

They both rose; a terrible look was dawning in John Ward's face, and,
seeing it, the elder's voice sunk to a hurried whisper as he spoke the
last words.

"Who is this woman?" the preacher said hoarsely.

"Sir--sir"--the elder cried, backing towards the door and raising his
hands in front of him, "don't look so,--don't look so, sir!"

"Who?" demanded the other.

"I spoke fer the sake of Alfaretta's soul, and fer the sake of them
that's heard her say them things about Tom Davis, provin' there wasn't
any punishment for sinners. Don't look so, preacher!"

"Tell me her name!"

"Her name--her name? Oh, you know it, sir, you know it--it's--your wife,
preacher."

John Ward sprang at the cowering figure of the big elder, and clinched
his trembling hands on the man's shoulders, with an inarticulate cry.

"My wife!" he said, between his teeth. "How dare you speak her name!" He
stopped, struggling for breath.

"My duty!" gasped the elder, trying to loosen the trembling fingers--"to
her--an' you--an' the church you've starved and neglected, Brother Ward!"

John blenched. Mr. Dean saw his advantage. "You know your vows when you
were ordained here six years ago: do you keep them? Do you feed your
people with spiritual food, or will you neglect them for your wife's
sake, and let her example send the souls in your care to endless ruin?"

John had loosened his hold on the elder, and was leaning against the
wall, his head bowed upon his breast and his hands knotted together. A
passion of horrified grief swept across his face; he seemed unconscious
of the elder's presence. Mr. Dean looked at him, not certain what to do
or say; he had quite forgotten Alfaretta's "notice." At last the preacher
raised his head.

"You have said enough," he said, in a low voice; "now go," and he pointed
with a shaking finger to the door. "Go!" he repeated.

The elder hesitated, then slowly put on his hat and stumbled from the
room. John did not notice his outstretched hand, but followed him blindly
to th