."

"Why should I not?"

"Most men fear death."

"True."

"And do not you?"

"I would rather live."

"What would you consent to do to save your life?"

"Nothing dishonorable."

"What I am about to propose is by no means dishonorable, but honorable
and fair in every particular."

"Proceed."

"You are charged with the death of Samuel Williams. Whether you be
guilty or not, it is quite clear that Williams is dead. Now it is the
duty of some one to care for the widow. She is young----"

"Hold, Mr. Parris! If you are going to propose that I shall wed Sarah
Williams, spare your words; I will not."

"Charles Stevens, do you seek death?"

[Illustration: "Charles Stevens, do you seek death?"]

"None should wed where the heart is not. That bold, unscrupulous woman
has already won my contempt."

"Have a care!"

"Go tell her that Charles Stevens prefers death on the gibbet to
becoming her husband."

Mr. Parris gazed on the helpless prisoner for several minutes, his thin
lips curled with a sneering smile.

"Charles Stevens," he said in low measured tones, "you are a fool. Do
you know what it is to die? Have you counted the cost of a leap in the
dark?"

"No sane man courts death; yet to the Christian, who hath kept God's
commands, the monster is robbed of half his terrors. God has wisely
constituted us so that we dread death. If we did not, we would not be
willing to endure the misfortunes, disappointments and ills which
afflict us from the cradle to the grave; but the Christian can say
welcome to death in preference to dishonor. I thank my God, Samuel
Parris, that I can, with the prophets of old, say, O, grave, where is
thy victory?"

"Charles Stevens, have you ever thought that, after all, this, too, may
be a delusion? That the Bible may be only the uninspired work of man,
and that there may be no beyond--no God, save in nature?"

"So you have turned atheist?" cried Charles. "Perhaps you have been one
all along?"

"Charles Stevens, one cannot help their doubts."

"One need not be a hypocrite, Mr. Parris. One can even drive doubts
away. The true Christian never doubts and never fears. Pray for faith,
have faith in your prayers, believe and ask God to help your unbelief,
and doubts will disappear."

"Charles, you are too young, too wise to die. Accept Sarah Williams and
live."

"Never! Away, hypocrite! Schemer, begone!"

The pastor, quite humbled, turned and went from the prison. There was a
mal