. He believes that he is inspired to preach the Word, and who,
indeed, shall say that he is not? I have talked to him frequently of
late, and I am convinced that toward this household he bears no
malice."

"Eva and I will go," Mrs. McElwin replied promptly.

"Nobly said, madam," the minister rejoined, looking upon her with an
eye that had swept over many a field of duty. "I did not believe that
I should appeal to you in vain. We have but a little while here," he
went on, his white head shaking. "The future has seemed far, but the
past is short, and soon the time comes when we must go. They may
dispute our creed and pick flaws in our doctrine, but they acknowledge
the mighty truth of death. There is nothing in life worth living
for--"

"Except love," said the girl standing beside him.

He put his tremulous hand upon her head, a withered leaf upon a flower
in bloom. "Yes, my child, love which is God's spirit come down to
earth."

He bade them good night, and for a long time they sat in silence.

"Sometimes," said the mother, "I feel a sudden strength, and I look up
in surprise and see that it has come from you."

"I believe that I am developing," the daughter replied. "But I shall
be strong if he asks me to go with him."

"What do you mean, my dear?"

"I mean that if he were to ask me, I would be strong enough to go."

"And leave me?"

"Leave the world--everything!"

"Why, my child, how can you talk so? Really, you alarm me. You
scarcely know the man; you have met him but a few times, and then your
talks with him were brief."

"I don't attempt to explain, mother. I simply know."

"But you must wait and see. It may be possible that he has no such
feeling toward you; it may be that he has not permitted himself to
aspire--"

"Oh," she cried, moving impatiently; "it is almost sacrilege to talk
that way. Who am I that he should aspire to me? What have I done? What
can I do? Nothing. I haven't a single talent, hardly an
accomplishment. Oh, I know that I was intoxicated with vanity, but
that has worn off. I am simply a country girl, that's all."

"You are a girl bewitched," said the mother, sadly.

CHAPTER XX.

AFRAID IN THE DARK.

McElwin hastened along the hard and slippery path that ran on a ridge
at the side of the road. Sometimes a low-bending bough raked across
his umbrella, and once he was made to start by a cold slap in his
face, dealt by the broad leaf of a shrub that leaned and swayed ab