lpless boy, into
disgrace and misery. I know your shameless life: for twenty years it was
mine, and worse, until, by the grace of God, I reformed, as you shall.
I have stopped you in a disgraceful act. Your mother--God forgive
me!--left HER house, for MY arms, as wickedly, as wantonly, as
shamelessly--

Oakhurst. Stop, old man! Stop! Another word (seizing him), and I may
forget your years.

Morton. But not your blood. No, Alexander Morton, I have come thousands
of miles for one sacred purpose,--to save you; and I shall, with God's
will, do it now. Be it so, on one condition. You shall have this girl;
but lawfully, openly, with the sanction of Heaven and your parents.

Oakhurst (aside). I see a ray of hope. This is Sandy's father; the cold,
insensate brute, who drove him into exile, the one bitter memory of
his life. Sandy disappeared, irreclaimable, or living alone, hating
irrevocably the author of his misery; why should not I--

Morton (continuing). On one condition. Hear me, Alexander Morton. If
within a year, you, abandoning your evil practices, your wayward life,
seek to reform beneath my roof, I will make this proud Spanish Don glad
to accept you as the more than equal of his daughter.

Oakhurst (aside). It would be an easy deception. Sandy has given me
the details of his early life. At least, before the imposition was
discovered I shall be-- (Aloud.) I--I-- (Aside.) Perdition! SHE is
coming! There is a light moving in the upper chamber. Don Jose is
awakened. (Aloud.) I--I--accept.

Morton. It is well. Take these keys, open yonder gate, and fly! (As
OAKHURST hesitates.) Obey me. I will meet your sweetheart, and
explain all. You will come here at daylight in the morning, and claim
admittance, not as a vagabond, a housebreaker, but as my son. You
hesitate. Alexander Morton, I, your father, command you. Go!

OAKHURST goes to the gate, opens it, as the sound of DIEGO'S voice,
singing in the fog, comes faintly in.

O yer's your Sandy Morton,
Drink him down!
O yer's your Sandy Morton,
Drink him down!
O yer's your Sandy Morton,
For he's drunk, and goin' a-courtin'.
O yer's your Sandy Morton,
Drink him down!

OAKHURST recoils against gate, MORTON hesitates, as window in corridor
opens, and DON JOSE calls from upper corridor.

Don Jose. Concho! (Pause.) 'Tis that vagabond Diego, lost his way in the
fog. Strange that Concho should ha