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 sods are laid
over and patted into place； the old minister takes farewell in a
few words of gentle sympathy； the brother and sister； with
lingering looks at the two graves side by side； the old and the
new； step into the farmer's carriage； and drive away； the sexton
locks the gate and goes home； and we are left outside alone。
Then we went back and stood by Nelson's grave。
After a long silence Graeme spoke。
'Connor； he did not grudge his life to meand I think'and here
the words came slowly'I understand now what that means； 〃Who
loved me and gave Himself for me。〃'
Then taking off his hat； he said reverently； 'By God's help
Nelson's life shall not end； but shall go on。 Yes； old man！'
looking down upon the grave； 'I'm with you'； and lifting up his
face to the calm sky； 'God help me to be true。'
Then he turned and walked briskly away； as one might who had
pressing business； or as soldiers march from a comrade's grave to a
merry tune； not that they have forgotten； but they have still to
fight。
And this was the way old man Nelson came home。
CHAPTERS XIV。
GRAEME'S NEW BIRTH
There was more left in that grave than old man Nelson's dead body。
It seemed to me that Graeme left part； at least； of his old self
there； with his dead friend and comrade； in the quiet country
churchyard。 I waited long for the old careless； reckless spirit
to appear； but he was never the same again。 The change was
unmistakable； but hard to define。 He seemed to have resolved his
life into a definite purpose。 He was hardly so comfortable a
fellow to be with； he made me feel even more lazy and useless than
was my wont； but I respected him more； and liked him none the less。
As a lion he was not a success。 He would not roar。 This was
disappointing to me； and to his friends and mine； who had been
waiting his return with eager expectation of tales of thrilling and
bloodthirsty adventure。
His first days were spent in making right； or as nearly right as he
could； the break that drove him to the west。 His old firm （and I
have had more respect for the humanity of lawyers ever since）
behaved really well。 They proved the restoration of their
confidence in his integrity and ability by offering him a place in
the firm； which； however； he would not accept。 Then； when he felt
clean； as he said； he posted off home； taking me with him。 During
the railway journey of four hours he hardly spoke； but when we had
left the town behind； and had fairly got upon the country road that
led toward the home ten miles away； his speech came to him in a
great flow。 His spirits ran over。 He was like a boy returning
from his first college term。 His very face wore the boy's open；
innocent； earnest look that used to attract men to him in his first
college year。 His delight in the fields and woods； in the sweet
country air and the sunlight； was without bound。 How often had we
driven this road together in the old days！
Every turn was familiar。 The swamp where the tamaracks stood
straight and slim out of their beds of moss； the brule； as we used
to call it； where the pine…stumps； huge and blackened； were half…
hidden by the new growth of poplars and soft maples； the big hill；
where we used to get out and walk when the roads were bad； the
orchards； where the harvest apples were best and most accessible
all had their memories。
It was one of those perfect afternoons that so often come in the
early Canadian summer； before Nature grows weary with the heat。
The white gravel road was trimmed on either side with turf of
living green； close cropped by the sheep that wandered in flocks
along its whole length。 Beyond the picturesque snake…fences
stretched the fields of springing grain； of varying shades of
green； with here and there a dark brown patch； marking a turnip
field or summer fallow； and far back were the woods of maple and
beech and elm； with here and there the tufted top of a mighty pine；
the lonely representative of a vanished race； standing clear above
the humbler trees。
As we drove through the big swamp； where the yawning； haunted gully
plunges down to its gloomy depths； Graeme reminded me of that night
when our horse saw something in that same gully； and refused to go
past； and I felt again； though it was broad daylight； something of
the grue that shivered down my back； as I saw in the moonlight the
gleam of a white thing far through the pine trunks。
As we came nearer home the houses became familiar。 Every house had
its tale： we had eaten or slept in most of them； we had sampled
apples； and cherries； and plums from their orchards； openly as
guests； or secretly as marauders； under cover of nightthe more
delightful way； I fear。 Ah！ happy days； with these innocent crimes
and fleeting remorses； how bravely we faced them； and how gaily we
lived them； and how yearningly we look back at them now！ The sun
was just dipping into the tree…tops of the distant woods behind as
we came to the top of the last hill that overlooked the valley； in
which lay the village of Riverdale。 Wooded hills stood about it on
three sides； and； where the hills faded out； there lay the mill…
pond sleeping and smiling in the sun。 Through the village ran the
white road； up past the old frame church； and on to the white manse
standing among the trees。 That was Graeme's home； and mine too；
for I had never known another worthy of the name。 We held up our
team to look down over the valley； with its rampart of wooded
hills； its shining pond； and its nestling village； and on past to
the church and the white manse； hiding among the trees。 The
beauty； the peace； the warm； loving homeliness of the scene came
about our hearts； but； being men； we could find no words。
'Let's go；' cried Graeme； and down the hill we tore and rocked and
swayed to the amazement of the steady team； whose education from
the earliest years had impressed upon their minds the criminality
of attempting to do anything but walk carefully down a hill； at
least for two…thirds of the way。 Through the village； in a cloud
of dust； we