hich God has given us to write upon our hearts, 'Do unto
others as ye would that others should do unto you.'"

"Humph!"

Guly stood in silence, looking up into the hard, pale face beside him.

"I have been thinking of you to-day, Gulian, something for your
advancement. You have served me faithfully, and I wish to do something
for you."

"You have already done for me much, very much."

"And you have never presumed upon it. I would do more. Do you think you
could love me?"

"Love you, Mr. Delancey?"

"Even so; I am loveless and childless in my old age; be to me a son, I
will strive to be to you a father."

The merchant opened his arms, and Guly for the first time felt himself
held to that proud heart with a cordial grasp of affection.

"Be to me a son," continued Mr. Delancey, "and all my wealth, all that I
possess, shall be yours. I am old, and want some one to love me; some
one to miss me when I am gone. Do you consent?"

Guly thought of Blanche, and his heart bounded; but the next moment his
own noble self came back, and he answered promptly: "I will gladly be to
you, Mr. Delancey, the son you desire. I will love you, cherish you; do
as a child should do toward a parent. But your wealth I cannot take.
Let me see that distributed between those children who were disinherited
by your wounded pride, and I shall be happy and contented in performing
those duties which belong to you, from which you so cruelly cut yourself
off."

"Children? _my_ children? I have none."

"Where is Clinton's wife and his little son? Have they no claim upon
your kindness?"

"It may be, it may be."

"And Clinton himself, he has been pardoned out, and is wasting his young
life to gather a pittance which you could so easily bestow."

"Has he not disgraced and shamed me?"

"Pardon me, my friend; but was not the primal fault your own? Was he not
driven to his desperate course by a father's pride and unkindness?"

"It may be, oh, it may be."

"Write their names upon that scroll from whence they have been crossed,
and restore them once more to their rights and happiness."

"And leave you poor?"

"I am better accustomed to poverty, and can fight my way while I have
strength and God's help."

Mr. Delancey drew some papers from his desk and spread them before him.

"Since you so desire, my will shall be altered; I had hoped to make you
happy in the possession of my wealth; if it will make you happier to see
it in the possession