spot,
with its wild grandeur of cliff wall on one side, the other gently
sloping and broadening down to where the white-crested billows leaped in
among the weed-draped rocks, was beyond all question the most
picturesque bit of coast scenery he had ever seen. And now it seemed
endowed with a newer charm. Here he was, hidden away from all the wide
world and almost from himself, with Nature at her grandest and the
limitless ocean voicing eternity at his feet. For a little time he
watched the white-crested billows tossing the rockweed and brown kelpie
aloft as they swept into the gorge with a solemn roar. Somehow, just
then, it seemed to him as if he and Mona were alone with God, and the
world was young, and life all before him. And at this moment he forgot
all his troubles, and the price of Rockhaven stock seemed of less
account than the ferns he sat upon.

"This spot makes a better man of me, Mona," he said at last, "and
to-day it lifts me into the frame of mind that the church bells always
do at eventide. I am not a believer such as you people here are who join
the church. I am only of the world, worldly, embittered somewhat by
experience and therefore rather distrustful. And yet here it all
disappears, and only God seems good to me." Then he paused, looking out
on the wide ocean once more while Mona watched him with wistful eyes,
wondering what odd speech would fall from his lips next.

"I asked you to come here to-day, little girl," he said at last, "to
tell you the story of my life and what has made me as I am. You have
been kind and tender and patient with my whims, your mother has opened
her door to me, your uncle has trusted me and been my friend, your
minister and many others have been kind to me also, and in all ways a
welcome to me and my errand here has been extended. And now I will tell
my story." And tell it all he did, not even omitting Ethel Sherman. All
the years he had been a menial in Weston & Hill's office, his associates
the while and their influence, and then this new departure in life with
all its hopes and ambitions, to end in a fog of doubt and suspense. When
the recital was ended he felt better; how Mona felt her words can best
indicate.

"I am glad you trust me so much," she said, "and I wish I could say a
word that would help you. Uncle Jess's advice must be for the best." And
then an intuition that all this meant Winn's leaving the island soon
brought a shadow over her face. For a little ti