to rise rapidly into the consciousness of good as all-in-all. But the
strain which had been constantly upon him had prevented the full
recognition of all that Carmen saw, and each rise was followed by a
fall that left him for long periods immersed in despair.

Following the return of Carmen and the ripple of excitement which her
abduction had spread over the wonted calm of Simiti, the old town
settled back again into its accustomed lethargy, and Jose and the girl
resumed their interrupted work. From Ana it was learned that Diego had
not voiced the command of Wenceslas in demanding the girl; and when
this became known the people rose in a body to her support. Don Mario,
though he threatened loudly, knew in his heart he was beaten. He knew,
likewise, that any further hostile move on his part would result in a
demand by the people for his removal from office. He therefore retired
sulking to the seclusion of his _patio_, where he sat down patiently
to await the turn of events.

Rosendo, his great heart softened toward his erring daughter, again
rejoiced in the reunion of his broken family circle. But his soul
burned within him as, day after day, he saw Ana move silently about
like a sorrow incarnate. At times, when perchance he would come upon
her huddled in a corner and weeping quietly, he would turn away,
cursing deeply and swearing fulsome vengeance upon the lecherous beast
who had wrought her ruin.

"Padre," he one day said to Jose, "I shall kill him--I know it. The
girl's suffering is breaking my heart. He is like an evil cloud
hanging always over my family. I hate him! I hate him, as the devil
hates the light! And I shall kill him. Be prepared." And Jose offered
no remonstrance, for the case lay not in his hands.

Carmen again entered upon her interrupted studies with ardent
enthusiasm. And her first demand was that she be allowed to plunge
into a searching study of the Bible. "Padre," she exclaimed, "it is a
wonderful book! Why--do the people in the world know what a book this
is? For if they did, they would never be sick or unhappy again!"

He knew not how to answer her. And there was no need that he should.

"Padre!" Her eyes were aflame with holy light. "See! Here it is--the
whole thing! 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his _thoughts_.' But--don't the people know what that means?"

"Well, _chiquita_, and what does it mean?" he asked indulgently.

"Why--the unrighteous man is the man