read the gleam of triumph in the tempter's eye, put down the wine untasted, and left the room. Next day he made the speech of the session. The license bill, not the tempted senator, was lost.

The story of the banquet, though not of Denman's share in it, got into the papers, and Isabel read it. "That was n't war," she said to herself. "It was almost murder. Papa could n't have done such a thing as that, and yet-who else would furnish that old brand of Épernay, worth its weight in gold?"

III

AN OFFER AND A PURCHASE

ZOHE "Tocsin" was a recognized and growing power in the State; it had a constantly increasing subscription list, it was well and economically managed, and it was becoming bankrupt. Many business men declared they would have nothing to do with the organ of the cranks who were ruining the town. Others expressed regret that decrease of trade compelled them to cut down advertising expenses. The "Times" and the "Palladium," subsidized by Denman, pushed competition below cost, and the "Tocsin " had to do business at a loss or not at all. The first days of the new year were black Fridays. From the first Craigin had taken half his salary in treasury stock, which no longer had any market value. The other half was six months in arrear, with no prospect of payment. His cash assets had dwindled to six dollars and fifty cents. At this juncture he was offered an assistant editorship on a great city paper.

"Gilbert Riggs," he mused, as he read the letter for the twentieth time, "offers me five hundred dollars

a month! Salary of a famous editorial writer! Queer! What can he know about me? Where have I heard of him? Ah, I remember now! He's Denman's second cousin."

If Denman, without giving up his own will, could have made Isabel happy by sacrificing ten times six thousand a year, he would have done so gladly. Craigin had no idea how much the affectionate old man's heart was set on the acceptance of this offer; but, if his suspicion of its source were correct, he knew that the gulf between him and the Denmans might still be bridged. On the one hand was a ruined paper, an unpaid salary, an empty pocket; on the other an extraordinary opportunity. There was only a bare suspicion that it might come through Denman. Why should n't he accept? Would n't he be a fool to decline? Wouldn't it be sacrificing a future of usefulness? Did n't ministers of Christ almost always see a higher call in a higher salary? When did a minister ever refuse to leave a weak and discordant church for a strong and harmonious one? But the salary and professional advancement, much as he longed for them, were as nothing. Love, pulling at his heartstrings, was stronger a thousandfold, and love said, "Go!" He remembered his promise of victory, the solemn compact, "By God's help, we ten will hold the pass with you till the king and his army come," his oath, "I'll live and die doing what I believe is right, cost what it will, so help me God," and his mind was fixed. "No matter how this offer comes," he said, "I'll stay."

"You must go," said Harnett, when he saw the

letter. "It's a chance of a lifetime, and we can't run much longer anyway."

"I've declined it."

"Declined it!"

"We must hold the pass together till the king and his army come."

One morning, a fortnight after declining the offer of Gilbert Riggs, Craigin called at Harnett's house before daylight.

"It's annual meeting this afternoon," he said, "and last night I lay awake wondering why the small stockholders had n't dropped into the office to talk things over. They always have before. Not counting Abel Gay's, we've got only ninety-nine shares we can depend on; if Denman 's got the other hundred and

one-"

"It's the end of the 'Tocsin'!" exclaimed Harnett. "Let's go right over to Abbottsford and see Gay," said Craigin.

Denman had had a little business with his lawyer the day before. "Woods," he had said, "when you go over to Abbottsford this afternoon to make Gay's will, I want you to buy his three shares of stock in the Tocsin Company. I've picked up ninety-eight, and left his to the last because he 's so strong on the other side, but he 's such an innocent old man he won't suspect anything."

"How much shall I pay him?"

"All you can without exciting his suspicion-the more the better. His widow 'll need more 'n she 'll have. He's the kind of man that 'll want to leave cash on hand for funeral expenses. He'll talk it all

over with you, and tell you what he's got, and ask you what he 'd better sell. There won't be any trouble if you work it right."

As Denman predicted, the sick man was talkative and unsuspecting.

"Wall, I vum!" exclaimed Gay, "if ye hain't an honest lawyer! I'd no idee the stock was wu'th a quarter so much. Hain't never paid nothin'. Must been layin' up money fer presses 'nd things, I guess. It's at the Apsleigh Bank. I'll give ye an order for 't now."

The offer was embarrassing, as Harnett was president of the bank.

"I won't trouble you to do that," said Woods, "because, you see, it would have to be sent down here for you to sign. If you sign one of these blank proxies it 'll do for now, and you can make over the stock any time in a few days."

The proxy was signed, and Woods began counting out the money.

"I won't take a cent," said Gay, "till I give ye the stock; that 's business. What 's yer rush? I wish ye 'd stay longer."

But the lawyer saw the doctor coming, and hurried away with the proxy in his pocket.

"Wall, naow, I do vum!" exclaimed Gay, when Harnett and Craigin had opened his eyes. "Nd so they want to bu'st the paper? 'Nd ye say them three shares 'll do it? Gold would n't have bought 'em if I'd known it, 'nd they sha'n't have 'em naow if I can help it; but I've signed somethin'. Mother, won't ye see if there hain't some more like it?"