ever _will_ let him take the water of life freely.' 'Him that
cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.'"

"Isn't it--too--late?" The hollow eyes gazed despairingly into the
doctor's face.

"'Whosoever will': you may come if you will; so long as death has not
fixed your eternal state."

"I will! Lord, help--save me! me a poor--lost--vile--helpless--sinner!"
he cried, lifting his eyes and clasped hands to heaven, while great
tears coursed down his sunken cheeks. "I cast myself--at--thy feet; oh
pardon, save me or--I am--lost--lost forever."

The eyes closed, the hands dropped, and for a moment they thought he had
passed away with that agonized cry for mercy and forgiveness; but a deep
sigh heaved his breast, his lips moved, and his mother bent over him to
catch the words.

"Leland; send--for--him."

With streaming eyes she turned to Elsie and repeated the words, adding,
"Do you think he would come?"

"I am quite sure of it. I will go for him at once."

The white lips were moving again.

The mother explained, amid her choking sobs. "He says the wife too,
and--and your husband and father. Oh, will they come? Tell them my boy
is dying and would go at peace with all the world."

"I will; and they will come," Elsie answered, weeping, and hurried away.

She drove directly to Fairview and was so fortunate as to find her
husband and father there conversing with Mr. and Mrs. Leland.

Her sad story was quickly told, and listened to by all with deep
commiseration for the impoverished and afflicted family.

"You will not refuse the poor dying man's request, papa? Edward?" she
said in conclusion.

"Certainly not!" they answered, speaking both together, "we will set out
immediately. And you, Leland?"

"Will gladly accompany you. I bear the poor man no malice, and would
rejoice to do him any good in my power. What do you say, Mary?"

She looked at him a little anxiously, "Is it quite safe for you?"

"Quite, I think," he replied, appealing to the other gentlemen for their
opinion.

They agreed with him, Mr. Dinsmore adding, "I have no doubt the man is
sincere; and I have still more confidence in his mother, whom I have
long looked upon as a truly Christian woman."

"Besides," remarked Mr. Travilla, "the Ku Klux would hardly dare
venture an outrage now. The most desperate have fled the country, and
the rest stand in wholesome awe of the troops."

"I am quite, quite sure there is no risk in going," said Elsie
ea