in his hands, and thus he remained till the evil tale was
finished. Now he lifted his head and spoke, but not to Hokosa.

"O God," he said, "I thank Thee that at the cost of my poor life Thou
hast been pleased to lead this sinner towards the Gate of Righteousness,
and to save alive those whom Thou hast sent me to gather to Thy Fold."

Then he looked at Hokosa and said:--

"Unhappy man, is not your cup full enough of crime, and have you not
sufficiently tempted the mercy of Heaven, that you would add to all your
evil deeds that of self-murder?"

"It is better to die to-day by my own hand," answered Hokosa, "than
to-morrow among the mockery of the people to fall a victim to your
vengeance, Messenger."

"Vengeance! Did I speak to you of vengeance? Who am I that I should take
vengeance upon one who has repented? Hokosa, freely do I forgive you
all, even as in some few days I hope to be forgiven. Freely and fully
from my heart do I forgive you, nor shall my lips tell one word of the
sin that you have worked against me."

Now, when Hokosa heard those words, for a moment he stared stupefied;
then he fell upon his knees before Owen, and bowing his head till it
touched the teacher's feet, he burst into bitter weeping.

"Rise and hearken," said Owen gently. "Weep not because I have shown
kindness to you, for that is my duty and no more, but for your sins in
your own heart weep now and ever. Yet for your comfort I tell you that
if you do this, of a surety they shall be forgiven to you. _Hokosa, you
have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must follow
after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error you have
found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck righteousness.
Ay, that Cross which you deemed accursed shall lift you up on high, for
by it you shall be saved._"

Hokosa heard and shivered.

"Who set those words between your lips, Messenger?" he whispered.

"Who set them, Hokosa? Nay, I know not--or rather, I know well. He set
them Who teaches us to speak all things that are good."

"It must be so, indeed," replied Hokosa. "Yet I have heard them before;
I have heard them from the lips of the dead, and with them went this
command: that when they fell upon my ears again I should 'take them for
a sign, and let my heart be turned.'"

"Tell me that tale," said Owen.

So he told him, and this time it was the white man who trembled.

"Horrible has been your witchcraft, O Son of