e
hour of darkness the girl stood by him, and he would also stand firm.
She would believe in him, and his sacrifice would be as nothing. He had
undertaken to avert the sorrow of dishonor from her, from her brother,
from her parents, and he would continue to the end. He would tell no
one on earth but his mother the full truth; she must know. Then with the
faith of the two women he loved, still his, he could brave the judgment
of all others. Perhaps not willingly in the first place would he have
taken upon himself the brand of Barrabas, but out of good motive he had
incurred it.

Mortimer heard the brother say, "I think you had better not," then the
girl's voice, clear and decisive, answering, "I will, I must."

In anger Alan left his sister's side, and she, stepping up to the
wicket, said, "Will you please come out for a minute, Mr. Mortimer, I
want to speak with you."

He passed around to her side. Crane and the cashier were still closeted
in the latter's office.

"Let us go out into the sunshine," Allis said. "Can you--will it make
any difference?"

"I don't think it matters much," he answered, despondently; "things are
as bad as they can be, I suppose."

He took it for granted that she knew everything; but he was possessed of
no shame, no diffidence, no reserve; he was innocent, and her eyes had
assured him that she knew it. As they passed through the door it
creaked again on its dry hinges. Before she had laughed at the weird
complaining; now it sounded like a moan of misery. Outside the village
street was deserted; there was no one to listen.

"What is this dreadful thing all about?" and she laid her hand on his
arm in a gesture of amity, of association. Her touch thrilled him; she
had never gone that length in friendly demonstration before. He marveled
at her generous faith. All but dishonored, the small, strong hand lifted
him to a pedestal-her eyes deified him.

"A thousand dollars was stolen from the bank, and I am accused of taking
it," he answered, bitterly.

"You didn't, did you? I know you didn't, but I want to hear you say so."

He looked full into the girl's eye, and answered with deliberate
earnestness, "I did not steal the money."

"Some one took it?"

"Yes."

"And you know who it was?"

"I do not."

"But you suspect some one?"

He did not answer.

"Did you put the money back?"

He nodded his head.

"To protect somebody's good name?"

"Because it had been in my charge. I can'