The Man Who Rose Again

or laughed that man to scorn. Yet he contemplated doing it at that moment. Perhaps if Sprague or Purvis had been in the room at that moment, they would not have been sure w

at to win the woman who stood before him. And yet in his sacrifi

he said. "I did not think it worth while. Besides, I did not mind what

re is no need, and I do not

have th

t ri

e words. Forgive me if I seem to boast. I am no dandy who has made love a dozen times, and to whom a refusal means nothing but what a bottle of wine

id not lack in admiration. No woman respects a man

bout me. I am an atheist, I am a drunkard, I am a cynic, and I la

ere with your mode of life," s

ips," he interrupted. "In this case it is for m

asked, almo

r professed to believe in what is called truth and honour, never willingly deceived any man, either by word or by deed. Yes, let me do myself justice. I, who have laughed at Mrs. Grundy a

elf, she gave him a quick, searching glance. There was something noble in his face, th

lege, and now, having told you, I must tell you something else. You may refuse

in her eyes, and he saw the look

ountebank, but even my worst enemies have never accused me of being a boaster, and I repeat it; no guardian angel which your story-books tell about could do for

my wife, I can

and alone. If a man's future, his character, his career, are dependent on a

an nature is always laughing at you. If God is, He'

y love, and love cannot be given for the asking. It can only b

me? Answer me honestly

er's advantage. Her eyes dropped,

ud for joy; he could not r

mastered herself by a

d never love a man-that is as you would be loved-if I did not respect

esitated, and loo

I mean

ver taste a drop of alcohol of any sort again. I give you my word for that. Ne

eagerly, and he though

at, I can conquer anything. Well, I will do this; say yes, and

ght it because it is wrong. If a habit has mastered you, you should f

and be without a sufficient motive. Take y

in your ow

eart I despise. I become a member of the British Parliament; many who have not the brains of a rabbit, nor the i

eaking, the saving power of his life. The destiny of this strong man was in her hands. What might he not do and be if he were inspired by great hopes and lofty ambitions? His name could be a household word in the land. Millions of struggling, starving people would have cause to bless his name. And she

loves; she would rather be mastered by a strong man, than be master of a weak man. At that moment she forgot

not the sneering, unbelieving man who first came to her father's house a few weeks before, who took a pleasure in laughing at all that was best and truest. No one could accuse him of lack of earnestness to-day. He had almost frightened her by the intensity of his appeal, the passion of his words. And did she love h

ally love him? It was difficult to say. Leicester had been spoken of in her hearing as one who sneered at all things which to her were sacred, and it was out of harmony with her whole life-t

own part. Moreover, Leicester, by a kind of intuition, divined what was in her mind. For these two natures were closely akin, although their training, outlook, and conceptions of life were entirely different. If he were

pen book, with what eagerness we need scarcely say. What had begun in grim and almost repellin

at I have not spoken as I ought: that is because I have spoken as I was compelled. I know how unworthy I am-yes, I am in deadly earnest.

ly, "I cannot tell y

ould not have admitted it-so strange a thing is a woman's heart. Leicester fe

ink," she went on. "I m

as if to grasp her ha

u would come to me in this way, and-it is

d almost trembling. He never could have believed that he coul

e would accept him, and yet the fear that

"but I think I would like

taking his hat and gloves. "

write him her decision? But she said nothing. A servant came in answer to her ring, and Leicester w

all a carr

l walk to t

nd he had not been refused. He found he had twenty minutes to wait for a train back to London, but that did not trouble him. Nothing mattered now. A new element had come into his life; everything had changed. He was no longer a ship

ne thought filled his mind, one hope filled his heart. Presently, when h

s power. Doubts began to arise, fears came into his heart. He was no longer sure of himself or of her. As the excitement passed a

ely while you may. You will be breaking no promise." He stret

d to meet her again if I did. I'll

ng he opened the window and poured the contents into the street. Never in his whole life had a night seemed so long. Again and again did he switch on the electric light and try to read, only to throw one book after another from him in anger and wear

drive the craving from me as such an accursed thing should be dr

men, was now admitting that his whole future depended on the single word of one of the despised sex. What would his acquaintances say? This reminded him of Pu

k between him and the woman he loved. He spent the morning in answering letters which had come from his constituency, and then, after lunch, he went to a livery stable and hired a horse. When he return

ix Radford Leicester w

servant, as he took his hat and coat; "he will be

on the hearth. He recalled the words of the servant, "Mr. Castlemaine is expecting you, sir." Did that mean that Olive had deputed her father to speak for her? If so

and then stood still. He

n her name as he uttered it. It was a question, it w

she r

d to tell her of his heart's joy; he longed to kiss her lips, and tell her that he would give

re is, I do not know of it. If the old, old story that sin came upon the race by a woman is true, it is more true that good women are God's greatest means of purifying the world of its sin. Radford Leicester had not been a good man. If he had not fallen as low as some, it was because of innate pride, and because his nature abhorred

then went on speaking again. "I want to tell you this," he said. "Although I am unworthy of you, I will try and make mys

cynic in his voice; it was even as he felt. God had used t

ubt, no fear, O

"not one. I believe you,

ou lov

" she

t I mean?" He spoke quietly and

There was a sob in her voice as she spo

nk G

d express the great joy of his heart. Never, until then, had he known what happiness mea

fought the battle of religious liberty, and who had been ready to sacrifice their goods, even their lives, for principle. He was a Puritan of the best order. He retained all their old strong characteristics, he stood for their noblest ideals, without adhering to much that was sunless and repugnant. He was a happy, genial man, kind almost to indulgence as far as his daughter went, but he was strong in his hatred of the so-called morals of that class to which Leicest

aid the older man. "I can

are neither of us children, and I need her,

e living in this great house without Olive. It will become like

"I will build a house close by here if it is your will

astlemaine. The thought of having his

sent," he replied, "and in that case yo

when at length her natural reserve had been broken, and the strangeness of the situation had been dispelled. And he had laughed at the joy of lovers, he had scorned a woman's promises! But all that had gone now. At least he thought so. He did not realise that the past cou

ke a child, and when at length the grey November da