went with him to the sick-room and Elsie
lingered, anxious to hear his opinion of the case.

But Annie came hurrying in with her tear-swollen face. "Dear Mrs.
Travilla, won't you come too?" she sobbed. "Mamma will be so glad;
and--and Wilkins begs you will come."

Elsie rose and put her arm about the waist of the weeping girl. "I will
gladly do all I can for him, your mamma or any of you," she whispered.

There was no want of comfort or luxury in the sick-room. Mother and
sisters had sacrificed every such thing to this idol of their hearts,
this only son and brother. He lay propped up with pillows, his face pale
as that of a corpse, and breathing with great difficulty.

Dr. Barton sat at the bedside with his finger on the patient's pulse
while he asked a few brief questions, then relapsed into a thoughtful
silence.

All eyes were turned upon him with intense anxiety, waiting in almost
breathless suspense for his verdict; but his countenance betrayed
nothing.

"O doctor!" sighed the mother at length, "have you no word of hope to
speak?"

"Let us have none of false hope, doctor," gasped the sufferer, "I would
know--the--worst."

"My poor lad," said the kind-hearted old physician, in tender, fatherly
tones, "I will not deceive you. Whatever preparation you have to make
for your last long journey, let it be made at once."

With a burst of uncontrollable anguish the mother and sisters fell upon
their knees at the bedside.

"How--long--doctor?" faltered the sick man.

"You will hardly see the rising of another sun."

The low, gently-spoken words pierced more than one heart as with a
dagger's point.

"Was--this--wound--mortal in the--first place?" asked Wilkins.

"I think not if it had had prompt and proper attention. But that is a
question of little importance now: you are beyond human skill. Is there
anything in which I can assist you?"

"Yes--yes--pray for--my guilty soul."

It was no new thing for Dr. Barton to do: an earnest Christian, he
ministered to the souls as well as the bodies of his patients. He knelt
and offered up a fervent prayer for the dying one, that repentance and
remission of sins might be given him, that he might have a saving faith
in the Lord Jesus, and trusting only in His imputed righteousness, be
granted an abundant entrance into His kingdom and glory.

"Thanks--doctor," gasped Wilkins, "I--I've been a bad man; a--very bad,
wicked--man; can there be any hope for--me?"

"'Whoso