which had astounded all
from the first had now become the ghastly mask of a soul whose only token
of life glimmered through the orbits of his fast glazing eyes. He
breathed, but in great pants. Georgian became alarmed.

"What is it?" she cried, forgetting her own fears and threats in the
horror which his appearance excited. "This is something more than
exhaustion from the pounding of that murderous eddy. What have you done?
Tell me, Alfred, tell me."

For the first time since his entrance into the room a suggestion of
sweetness crept into his tone.

"Simply forestalled the verdict of the Chief," said he. "I was under oath
to leave the country to-day on no ordinary errand. I failed to keep my
word, believing that the interests of the Cause could be better served by
what I have here undertaken than by the fulfilment of my primal duty. But
we are not allowed the free exercise of our own judgment, else what man
could be depended on? With us, neglect means death, no matter what the
excuse or the Cause's benefit. I knew this when I made my choice last
night. I have been dying ever since, but only actually since I came into
this room. When the doctors decided that I had received no mortal hurt in
the eddy, I--"

"Alfred!" The sister-heart spoke at last. "Not--not poison!"

"That is what you may call it here," said he, with a return to his old
imperious manner, "but later and to the world it will be kindness on your
part to name it exhaustion--the effect of my battle with the water. The
doctors will reconsider their diagnosis and blame my poor heart. You will
have no trouble about it. It _is_ my heart--I feel it failing--failing--"

He was sinking, but suddenly his whole nature flared up. Bounding to his
feet, he stood before them, with eyes aflame and a passionate strength in
his attitude which held them spellbound.

"What can law, what can selfish greed, what can self-aggrandizement and
the most pitiless ambition effect against men who own to such discipline
as this? Nothing. The world will go on, you will try your little ways,
your petty reforms, your slow-moving legislation and promise of justice
to the weak, but the invincible is the ready; ready to act; ready to
suffer, ready to die so that God is justified of his children and man
lifted into brotherhood and equality. You cannot strive against the
unseen and the fearless. The Cause will triumph though all else fails.
Georgian, I am sorry--" He was tottering now, b