Then, fearing that his time was come, and that he would never speak again, I grew more than ever terrified; and at last, in the fulness of my fear and self-pity, I sank upon my knees by his side.

Holding his cold hand, I prayed aloud to God that he might live; that I should not be left wholly desolate and forlorn.

'Spare him, O God!' I prayed. 'Of all living things, he is the sole creature that remains to me, and if he goeth, where shall I look for the light of a human face, the touch of a human hand? He has shared my shelter, eaten my substance, and his sorrow has been harder to bear than mine. Spare him, O God! Leave me not utterly alone.'

Now, even as I prayed, his strength revived again, like the rising of a weak oceanwave; and as I knelt with head bowed, I heard the faint sound of his voice.

'Christian Christianson!'

I started and looked up wildly at the sound of my name. His chill hand fluttered like a leaf in mine, as he murmured: 'I have your promise?'

I pressed his hand for answer, for I could not speak.

'And you will bear the news to my dear father? Tell him I died blessing him, and remembering how much he loved me. Tell him, moreover, that I died in the hope of the blessed resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

As he spake, he drew his hand softly from mine, and putting both hands feebly together on his breast, murmured the first words of the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father which art in Heaven... hallowed be Thy name... Thy kingdom

come.'

Then he paused suddenly, for, still

keeping on my knees, I was sobbing. audibly, choked and stifled with tears which would not flow.

me.

He reached out his hand, and touched

'Shake hands,' he said.

I took his hand in both of mine, and touched it with my trembling lips.

Pray for me again,' he whispered. 'Pray for me, and I shall know that we part in peace.'

God help me, I knew no prayer but that which he had just begun; but this I well remembered, having been taught by my mother to say it night and morn; so straightway I said 'Our Father' in as clear a voice as I could command, and gazing reverently upwards; and as I prayed my force was broken, and my warm tears flowed as from the living rock, bedewing the hand I clasped within mine own. I had

no shame now; it had left me for ever, with my bitter hate; and as I knelt there, it seemed as if the heavens were opened above me, and I could hear the singing of angels from some heavenly clime.

When the prayer was ended, and I still knelt weeping, he turned his face to me and said:

'Before I die, there is yet another thing upon my mind that I must speak.'

'Speak, then,' I whispered.

He turned his eyes full on mine, like

one sadly seeking forgiveness.

"Twas I that fired the ship!'

189

CHAPTER XV.

THE LAST LOOK.

Now, although I had known this thing from the first, having never in mine own mind doubted that his hand had done that deed of darkness, though he had so constantly denied it, I shrank from him in horror, and would have dropt his hand.

But his cold fingers held me, while his wild eyes read my face.

'God help me, I knew not what I did, for I was mad! I saw her heart was yours, and I thought to stifle you where you were chained. But God has punished me, as you see.'

I was silent, with a cold chill and