e must search for
truth."

Dr. Howe was too much excited to notice the reproof in John's words.
"Well, it will teach her to think; it will push her into positive
unbelief. Agnosticism!--that's what this 'search for truth' ends in
nowadays! Come, now, be reasonable, Ward; for Heaven's sake, don't be
a--a--don't be so unwise. I advise this really in your own interests.
Why, my dear fellow, you'll convert her in half the time if she is with
you. What? And don't you see that your present attitude will only drive
her further away? You are really going against your own interests."

"Do not play the part of the Tempter," John said gently; "it ill becomes
Christ's minister to do that. Would you have me pray for guidance, and
then refuse to follow it when it comes? God will give me the strength and
courage to make her suffer that she may be saved."

Dr. Howe stared at him for a moment. Then he said, "I--I do not need you
to teach me my duty as Christ's minister, sir; it would be more fitting
that you should concern yourself with your duty as a husband." The vein
in his forehead was swollen with wrath. "The way in which you pride
yourself upon devising the most exquisite pain for your wife is
inhuman,--it is devilish! And you drag her family into the scandal of
it, too."

John was silent.

Again Dr. Howe realized that he must control himself; if he got into a
passion, there would be an end of bringing about a reconciliation.

"You made me forget myself," he said. "I didn't mean to speak of my own
feelings. It is Helen I want to talk about." Perhaps some flash of memory
brought her face before his eyes. "Sit down," he added brusquely,--"you
look tired;" and indeed the pallor of John's face was deadly.

The rector, in his impatience, sat on the edge of his chair, one plump
fist resting on the table, and the other hand clenched on the head of
his cane. His arguments and entreaties were equally divided, but he
resolutely checked the denunciations which trembled upon his lips. John
answered him almost tenderly; his own grief was not so absorbing that
he could be indifferent to the danger of a man who set the opinion of the
world before the solemn obligations of his profession. Carefully, and
fully, and very quietly, he explained his position in regard to his
parish; but when Dr. Howe urged that Helen might observe all proper
forms, and yet keep silence on what was, after all, a most immaterial
difference, John roused to sudden