!"

"No, certainly not," said Mark. "I have been asked to offer you liberal
conditions if you would agree to a compromise. I said they had come to
quite the wrong person. No, no, don't think I told them. They have fresh
evidence that there was a will, and they believe they know that
important papers were brought to you by Dr. Larrone when your mother
died."

"And you came to frighten me with this?" There was a touch of reproach
in her tone.

"No, I came, hoping you would give me the paper, as you have done,
without knowing this."

Evidently this news impressed Molly deeply, but she did not want to
discuss it. Presently she said:

"I am glad you came in time before I was frightened. How you have wanted
to make me save my soul! You have helped me very much, but I cannot save
my soul."

"But God can," said Mark.

"You see," she went on, "I never know what I am going to do--going to
be--next. Imagine my being a thief! It seems now almost incredible. And
I don't know what may come next."

For a second she looked at him with wild terror in her eyes.

"Think how many years I have before me. How can I hope that I----?"

"You will do great, great good," said Mark, with emotion.

She shook her head.

"David committed a worse sin than yours."

Molly smiled, a little, incredulous, grey smile, for a moment.

"I may be good to-day. I may be full of peace and joy even to-night--but
to-morrow? You told me once that I should only know true joy if I had
been humbled in the dust. I am low enough now, but the comfort has not
come yet, and, even if God comforts me, it won't last. I shall still be
I, and life is so long."

"You must trust Him--you must indeed. He will find a solution. You are
exhausted now with the victory you have gained. Rest now, and then do
the good things you have done before. Trust in the higher side of your
character; God gave it to you. Believe me, He has called you to great
things."

As he spoke she covered her face with her hands, and a deep blush of
shame rose from her neck to her forehead, visible through the thin,
white fingers.

"I suppose He will find a way out. As I can't understand how you have
cared so much to save my soul, I suppose I can understand His love still
less. Must you go? You will pray for me, I know."

She held out her hand with a look of generous appeal to his forgiveness.

"God bless you!" he said, with complete sympathy, and then he went away
to seek an interview wi