had
blighted. I grappled with my own love--I knew it would kill me if I let
it gain power over me. I knew I never could be anything to John--I was
not the sort of woman, Ralph, who could love the sinner--forgetting the
sin. I could forgive--I thought I could--but I remembered all the more
sharply.

"Philip had always loved me. I saw my way. I would ignore the stigma on
the family, I would marry Philip and carry what joy I could to him and
his mother. My father tried to restrain me. He called me martyr,
sacrifice, and all the rest, but I married--and I know I took comfort
into poor Mrs. Dale's life, and--I never doubted what I did for Philip.
But--" Ruth whispered the horrible secret--"John Dale _took_ the money
for--Philip! He never wanted it for himself. He never used one dollar of
it. It was Philip who ran the family honour, and his own, into
danger--he made it seem to John that to tide him over the critical hour
would be to save them all and bring no harm. But he was wrong. The
crash came. John never cringed under the blow. To his simple nature the
mere act was enough. He did not try to shield himself by one word of
explanation--he went away!"

Drew's throat and eyes burned. He seemed to know all this like an
oft-told tale that still had power to awe and control him.

"Then the years of agonized consecration began for Philip. I never knew
until a week before his death, but the memory scorches into my soul day
by day now.

"You see I thought it was love for his brother, and the shame, that had
changed Philip--and _that_ endeared him to me. All the lightness and
carelessness of manner departed. A great, strong, tenderness took their
place. But you know, it was so that he came into your life. He had a
wide sympathy and charity, for all--oh! how it drew people to him. But
think of his suffering--alone and through all those years!

"The money that was John's ruin was the force that brought success to
Philip. You see--he could not explain--at least he thought he could not,
he was too cowardly--and the knowledge spurred him on. Wealth flowed in
and in. He paid, and with interest, all that had been taken. How the
world praised him--and how he suffered as they applauded him! He gave
great sums to charity--mostly to those charities that mitigate the
misery of--the outcasts. Men and women who come under the law. Can you
understand?"

"Yes! yes!" Drew's head was buried in his thin hands. His voice was full
of anguish.