bins," pleaded Burns, in an agony of terror.
"I--I am not fit to die. Besides, I am a young man. I am not yet forty. I
will turn over a new leaf."

"It's high time you did. It is a long time since you earned an honest
living."

"I know it, Mr. Robbins. I have been a bad man, but it is not too late to
reform. If you'll let me go I will leave Oreville to-night, and I will
never trouble you again."

"It isn't me you have troubled. It is the boy. You robbed him, or tried to
do it, at Oak Forks, and now you have turned up here."

"I didn't know he was here."

"You didn't know I was here, or I think you would have given the place a
wide berth."

"I am very sorry for what I did, and if you'll only spare my life, I'll
promise to reform."

"I haven't much faith in your promises, but I'll leave it to the boy.
Ernest, what shall I do with this man?"

Ernest had come forward, and was standing but a few feet from Luke and his
captive.

"If he promises to reform," said Ernest, "you'd better give him another
chance, Luke."

"I am not sure that I ought to, but it is you to whom he has done the most
harm. If you give him over to the miners we shall never be troubled by him
again."

Tom Burns turned pale, for he knew that life and death were in the
balance, and that those two--Luke and the boy--were to decide his fate.

Ernest could not help pitying the trembling wretch. He was naturally
kind-hearted, and at that moment he felt that he could forgive Burns all
that he had done.

"Since you have left it to me, Luke," he said, "let him go."

"It shall be as you say, Ernest."

As he spoke he released his hold, and Tom Burns stood erect. He breathed a
deep sigh of relief.

"May I go?" he asked submissively.

"Yes."

Before leaving he turned to Ernest.

"You are a good-hearted boy," he said, "and I shall not forget that you
have saved my life. If I am ever able to do anything for you, I will do
it. You will find that Tom Burns, bad as he has been, knows how to be
grateful."

"I think you mean what you say," returned Ernest. "I hope you will keep
your promise and will turn over a new leaf. Is it true that you are
penniless?"

"Not quite. This is all I have."

Burns drew from his pocket a handful of small change--less than a dollar
in all--and held it out for inspection.

"Then I will help you along."

Ernest took from his pocket a five-dollar gold piece, and offered it to
the tramp.

"That is more than I wou