. Finn of the absurdity
of his request, I must ask you to do so for me."

"Young man," cried Silas, quivering with passion, "do not speak to
God's appointed in your vanity and your arrogance. You--you--of all
human beings--"

Both Jane and Barney Bill closed round him. Jane clutched his arm.
"Come away. Do come away."

"Steady now, Silas," implored Barney Bill. "You see it's no use. I told
you so. Come along."

"Leave me alone," shouted Finn, casting them off. "What have I to do
with you? It is that young man there who defies God and me."

"Mr. Finn," said Paul, very erect, "if I have hurt your feelings I am
sorry. But I fight this election. That's final. The choice no longer
rests with me. I'm the instrument of my party. I desire to be courteous
in every way, but you must see that it would be useless to prolong this
discussion." And he moved to the door.

"Come away now, for Heaven's sake. Can't you realize it's no good?"
said Jane, white to the lips.

Silas Finn again cast her off and railed and raved at her. "I will not
go away," he cried in wild passion. "I will not allow my own son to
raise an impious hand against the Almighty."

"Lor' lumme!" gasped Barney Bill, dropping his hat. "He's done it."

There was a silence. Silas Finn stood shaking in the middle of the
room, the sweat streaming down his forehead.

Paul turned at the door and walked slowly up to him. "Your son? What do
you mean?"

Jane, with wringing hands and tense, uplifted face, said in a queer
cracked voice: "He promised us not to speak. He has broken his promise."

"You broke your sacred word," said Barney Bill.

The man's face grew haggard. His passion left him as suddenly as it had
seized him. He collapsed, a piteous wreck, looked wide of the three,
and threw out his hands helplessly. "I broke my promise. May God
forgive me!"

"That's neither here nor there," said Paul, standing over him. "You
must answer my question. What do you mean?"

Barney Bill limped a step or two toward him and cleared his throat.
"He's quite correct, sonny. Silas Kegworthy's your father right enough."

"Kegworthy?"

"Yes. Changed his name for business--and other reasons."

"He?" said Paul, half dazed for the moment and pointing at Silas Finn.
"His name is Kegworthy and he is my father?"

"Yes, sonny. 'Tain't my fault, or Jane's. He took his Bible oath he
wouldn't tell yer. We was afraid, so we come with him."

"Then?" queried Paul, jerking a thumb