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made such a fuss about a sin or two； that a man went and did worse
out of pure despair！
But if he had never murdered anybody！ In that case he could almost
consent there should be a God！ he could almost even thank him！For
what！ That he was not to be damned for the thing he had not donea
thing he had had the misfortune to dream he had doneGod never
interfering to protect him from the horrible fancy？ What was the
good of a God that would not do that much for youthat left his
creatures to make fools of themselves； and only laughed at
them！Bah！ There was life in the old dog yet！ If only he knew the
thing for a fancy！
The music ceased； and the silence was a shock to him。 Again he began
to stare about him。 He looked up。 Before him in the air hovered the
pale face of the girl he hador had not murdered！ It was one of his
visionsbut not therefore more unreal than any other appearance：
she came from the world of his imaginationso real to him that in
expectant moods it was the world into which he was to step the
moment he left the body。 She looked sweetly at him！ She was come to
forgive his sins！ Was it then true？ Was there no sin of murder on
his soul？ Was she there to assure him that he might yet hope for the
world to come？ He stretched out his arms to her。 She turned away。 He
thought she had vanished。 The next moment she was in the chapel； but
he did not hear her； and stood gazing up。 She threw her arms around
him。 The contact of the material startled him with such a revulsion；
that he uttered a cry； staggered back； and stood looking at her in
worse perplexity still。 He had done the awful thing； yet had not
done it！ He stood as one bound to know the thing that could not be。
〃Don't be frightened； uncle；〃 said Arctura。 〃I am not dead。 The
sepulchre is the only resurrection…house！ Uncle； uncle！ thank God
with me。〃
The earl stood motionless。 Strange thoughts passed through him at
their will。 Had her presence dispelled darkness and death； and
restored the lost chapel to the light of day？ Had she haunted it
ever since； dead yet alive； watching for his return to pardon him？
Would his wife so receive him at the last with forgiveness and
endearment？ His eyes were fixed upon her。 His lips moved tremulously
once or twice； but no word came。 He turned from her； glanced round
the place； and said；
〃It is a great improvement！〃
I wonder how it would be with souls if they waked up and found all
their sins but hideous dreams！ How many would loathe the sin？ How
many would remain capable of doing all again？ But few； perhaps no
burdened souls can have any idea of the power that lies in God's
forgiveness to relieve their consciousness of defilement。 Those who
say； 〃Even God cannot destroy the fact！〃 care more about their own
cursed shame than their Father's blessed truth！ Such will rather
excuse than confess。 When a man heartily confesses； leaving excuse
to God； the truth makes him free； he knows that the evil has gone
from him； as a man knows that he is cured of his plague。
〃I did the thing；〃 he says； 〃but I could not do it now。 I am the
same； yet not the same。 I confess； I would not hide it； but I loathe
itten times the more that the evil thing was mine。〃
Had the earl been able to say thus； he would have felt his soul a
cleansed chapel； new…opened to the light and air；nay； bettera
fresh…watered garden； in which the fruits of the spirit had begun to
grow！ God's forgiveness is as the burst of a spring morning into the
heart of winter。 His autumn is the paying of the uttermost farthing。
To let us go without that would be the pardon of a demon； not the
forgiveness of the eternally loving God。 ButNot yet； alas； not
yet！ has to be said over so many souls！
Arctura was struck dumb。 She turned and walked out upon the great
stair； her uncle following her。 All the way up to the second floor
she felt as if he were about to stab her in the back； but she would
not look behind her。 She went straight to her room； and heard her
uncle go on to his。 She rang her bell； sent for Donal； and told him
what had passed。
〃I will go to him；〃 said Donal。
Arctura said nothing more； thus leaving the matter entirely in his
hands。
Donal found him lying on the couch。
〃My lord；〃 he said； 〃you must be aware of the reasons why you should
not present yourself here！〃
The earl started up in one of his ready rages：they were real
enough！ With epithets of contemptuous hatred； he ordered Donal from
the room and the house。 Donal answered nothing till the rush of his
wrath had abated。
〃My lord；〃 he said； 〃there is nothing I would not do to serve your
lordship。 But I have no choice but tell you that if you do not walk
out； you shall be expelled！〃
〃Expelled； you dog！〃
〃Expelled； my lord。 The would…be murderer of his hostess must at
least be put out of the house。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 cried the earl； changing his tone with an attempted
laugh； 〃has the poor； hysterical girl succeeded in persuading a man
of your sense to believe her childish fancies？〃
〃I believe every word my lady says； my lord。 I know that you had
nearly murdered her。〃
The earl caught up the poker and struck at his head。 Donal avoided
the blow。 It fell on the marble chimney…piece。 While his arm was yet
jarred by the impact； Donal wrenched the poker from him。
〃My lord；〃 he said； 〃with my own hands I drew the staple of the
chain that fastened her to the bed on which you left her to die！ You
were yet in the house when I did so。〃
〃You damned rascal； you stole the key。 If it had not been for that I
should have gone to her again。 I only wanted to bring her to
reason！〃
〃But as you had lost the key； rather than expose your cruelty； you
went away； and left her to perish！ You wanted her to die unless you
could compel her to marry your son； that the title and property
might go together； and that when with my own ears I heard your
lordship tell that son that he had no right to any title！〃
〃What a man may say in a rage goes for nothing；〃 answered the earl；
sulkily rather than fiercely。
〃But not what a woman writes in sorrow！〃 rejoined Donal。 〃I know the
truth from the testimony of her you called your wife； as well as
from your own mouth！〃
〃The testimony of the dead； and at second hand； will hardly be
received in court！〃 returned the earl。
〃If after your lordship's death； the man now called lord Forgue
dares assume the title of Morven； I will publish what I know。 In
view of that； your lordship had better furnish him with the vouchers
of his mother's marriage。 My lord； I again beg you to leave the
house。〃
The earl cast his eyes round the walls as if looking for a weapon。
Donal took him by the arm。
〃There is no farther room for ceremony；〃 he said。 〃I am sorry to be
rough with your lordship； but you compel me。 Please remember I am
the younger and the stronger man。〃
As he spoke he let the earl feel the ploughman's grasp： it was
useless to struggle。 His lordship threw himself on the couch。
〃I will not leave the house。 I am come home to die；〃 he yelled。 〃I'm
dying now； I tell you。 I cannot leave the house！ I have no money。
Forgue has taken all。〃
〃You owe a large sum to the estate！〃 s