d when I told him
the truth, he said to me, 'Set thy house in order, Tulloch, for it is
likely this sickness will be thy last.' So come in and out as often as
thou can, Margaret, and thou tell the minister the road I am
traveling, for I shall look to him and thee to keep me company on it
as far as we may tread it together."

It did not enter Margaret's mind to say little commonplaces of
negation. Her large, clear eyes, solemn and tender, admitted the fact
at once, and she answered the lonely man's petition by laying her hand
upon his, and saying, "At this time thou lean on me like a daughter. I
will serve thee until the last hour."

"When thou hast heard all concerning Jan from the minister, come and
tell me too; for it will be a great pleasure to me to know how Jan
Vedder turned his trouble into good fortune."

Probably Dr. Balloch had received a letter from Jan also, for he
looked singularly and inquisitively at Margaret as she entered his
room. She went directly to his side, and laid Jan's letter before him.
He read it slowly through, then raised his face and said, "Well,
Margaret?"

"It is not so well. Thou knew all this time that Jan was alive."

"Yes, I knew it. It is likely to be so, for I--I mean, I was sent to
save his life."

"Wilt thou tell me how?"

"Yes, I will tell thee now. Little thou thought in those days of Jan
Vedder, but I will show thee how God loved him! One of his holy
messengers, one of his consecrated servants, one of this world's
nobles, were set to work together for Jan's salvation." Then he told
her all that had happened, and he read her Jan's letters, and as he
spoke of his great heart, and his kind heart, the old man's eyes
kindled, and he began to walk about the room in his enthusiasm.

Such a tale Margaret had never heard before. Tears of pity and tears
of pride washed clean and clear-seeing the eyes that had too often
wept only for herself. "Oh, Margaret! Margaret!" he said, "learn
this--when it is God's pleasure to save a man, the devil can not
hinder, nor a cruel wife, nor false friends, nor total shipwreck, nor
the murderer's knife--all things must work together for it."

"If God gives Jan back to me, I will love and honor him with all my
heart and soul. I promise thee I will that."

"See thou do. It will be thy privilege and thy duty."

"Oh, why did thou not tell me all this before? It would have been good
for me."

"No, it would have been bad for thee. Thou has not s