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out the bright and paints in the dark。 And this trick he served me
when； one June night； after long and anxious waiting for some word
from the west； my door suddenly opened and Graeme walked in upon me
like a spectre； grey and voiceless。 My shout of welcome was choked
back by the look in his face； and I could only gaze at him and wait
for his word。 He gripped my hand； tried to speak； but failed to
make words come。
'Sit down； old man；' I said； pushing； him into my chair； 'and take
your time。'
He obeyed； looking up at me with burning； sleepless eyes。 My heart
was sore for his misery； and I said： 'Don't mind； old chap； it
can't be so awfully bad。 You're here safe and sound at any rate；'
and so I went on to give him time。 But he shuddered and looked
round and groaned。
'Now look here； Graeme； let's have it。 When did you land here？
Where is Nelson？ Why didn't you bring him up？'
'He is at the station in his coffin；' he answered slowly。
'In his coffin？' I echoed； my beautiful pictures all vanishing。
'How was it？'
'Through my cursed folly；' he groaned bitterly。
'What happened？' I asked。 But ignoring my question； he said： 'I
must see his children。 I have not slept for four nights。 I hardly
know what I am doing； but I can't rest till I see his children。 I
promised him。 Get them for me。'
'To…morrow will do。 Go to sleep now； and we shall arrange
everything to…morrow；' I urged。
'No！' he said fiercely； 'to…nightnow！'
In half an hour they were listening； pale and grief…stricken； to
the story of their father's death。
Poor Graeme was relentless in his self…condemnation as he told how；
through his 'cursed folly；' old Nelson was killed。 The three；
Craig； Graeme； and Nelson； had come as far as Victoria together。
There they left Craig； and came on to San Francisco。 In an evil
hour Graeme met a companion of other and evil days； and it was not
long till the old fever came upon him。
In vain Nelson warned and pleaded。 The reaction from the monotony
and poverty of camp life to the excitement and luxury of the San
Francisco gaming palaces swung Graeme quite off his feet； and all
that Nelson could do was to follow from place to place and keep
watch。
'And there he would sit；' said Graeme in a hard； bitter voice；
'waiting and watching often till the grey morning light； while my
madness held me fast to the table。 One night；' here he paused a
moment； put his face in his hands and shuddered； but quickly he was
master of himself again； and went on in the same hard voice'One
night my partner and I were playing two men who had done us up
before。 I knew they were cheating； but could not detect them。
Game after game they won； till I was furious at my stupidity in not
being able to catch them。 Happening to glance at Nelson in the
corner； I caught a meaning look； and looking again； he threw me a
signal。 I knew at once what the fraud was； and next game charged
the fellow with it。 He gave me the lie； I struck his mouth； but
before I could draw my gun； his partner had me by the arms。 What
followed I hardly know。 While I was struggling to get free； I saw
him reach for his weapon； but； as he drew it； Nelson sprang across
the table； and bore him down。 When the row was ever； three men lay
on the floor。 One was Nelson； he took the shot meant for me。'
Again the story paused。
'And the man that shot him？'
I started at the intense fierceness in the voice； and； looking upon
the girl； saw her eyes blazing with a terrible light。
'He is dead；' answered Graeme indifferently。
'You killed him？' she asked eagerly。
Graeme looked at her curiously； and answered slowly
'I did not mean to。 He came at me。 I struck him harder than I
knew。 He never moved。'
She drew a sigh of satisfaction； and waited。
'I got him to a private ward； had the best doctor in the city； and
sent for Craig to Victoria。 For three days we thought he would
livehe was keen to get home； but by the time Craig came we had
given up hope。 Oh； but I was thankful to see Craig come in； and
the joy in the old man's eyes was beautiful to see。 There was no
pain at last； and no fear。 He would not allow me to reproach
myself； saying over and over； 〃You would have done the same for
me〃as I would； fast enough〃and it is better me than you。 I am
old and done； you will do much good yet for the boys。〃 And he kept
looking at me till I could only promise to do my best。
'But I am glad I told him how much good he had done me during the
last year； for he seemed to think that too good to be true。 And
when Craig told him how he had helped the boys in the camp； and how
Sandy and Baptiste and the Campbells would always be better men for
his life among them； the old man's face actually shone； as if light
were coming through。 And with surprise and joy he kept on saying；
〃Do you think so？ Do you think so？ Perhaps so； perhaps so。〃 At
the last he talked of Christmas night at the camp。 You were there；
you remember。 Craig had been holding a service； and something
happened； I don't know what； but they both knew。'
'I know；' I said； and I saw again the picture of the old man under
the pine； upon his knees in the snow； with his face turned up to
the stars。
'Whatever it was； it was in his mind at the very last； and I can
never forget his face as he turned it to Craig。 One hears of such
things： I had often； but had never put much faith in them； but joy；
rapture； triumph； these are what were in his face； as he said； his
breath coming short； 〃You saidHe wouldn'tfail meyou were
rightnot oncenot onceHe stuck to meI'm glad he told me
thank Godfor youyou showedmeI'll see Himandtell Him'
And Craig； kneeling beside him so steadyI was behaving like a
foolsmiled down through his streaming tears into the dim eyes so
brightly； till they could see no more。 Thank him for that！ He
helped the old man through； and he helped me too； that night； thank
God！' And Graeme's voice； hard till now； broke in a sob。
He had forgotten us； and was back beside his passing friend； and
all his self…control could not keep back the flowing tears。
'It was his life for mine；' he said huskily。
The brother and sister were quietly weeping； but spoke no word；
though I knew Graeme was waiting for them。
I took up the word； and told of what I had known of Nelson； and his
influence upon the men of Black Rock。 They listened eagerly
enough； but still without speaking。 There seemed nothing to say；
till I suggested to Graeme that he must get some rest。 Then the
girl turned to him； and； impulsively putting out her hand； said
'Oh； it is all so sad； but how can we ever thank you？'
'Thank me！' gasped Graeme。 'Can you forgive me？ I brought him to
his death。'
'No； no！ You must not say so；' she answered hurriedly。 'You would
have done the same for him。'
'God knows I would；' said Graeme earnestly； 'and God bless you for
your words！' And I was thankful to see the tears start in his dry；
burning eyes。
We carried him to the old home in the country； that he might lie by
the side of the wife he had loved and wronged。 A few friends met
us at the wayside station； and followed in sad procession along the
country road； that wound past farms and through woods； and at last
up to the ascent where the quaint； old wooden church； black with
the rains and snows of many years； stood among its silent graves。
The little graveyard sloped gently towards the setting sun； and
from it one could see； far on every side； the fields of grain and
meadowland that wandered off over softly undulating hills to meet
the maple woods at the horizon； dark； green； and cool。 Here and
there white farmhouses； with great barns standing near； looked out
from clustering orchards。
Up the grass…grown walk； and through the crowding mounds； over
which waves； uncut； the long； tangling grass； we bear our friend；
and let him gently down into the kindly bosom of mother earth；
dark； moist； and warm。 The sound of a distant cowbell mingles with
the voice of the last prayer； the clods drop heavily with heart…
startling echo； the mound is heaped and shaped by kindly friends；
sharing with one another the task； the long rough