e came home for the
sake of taking what was left."

He paused exhausted, but Doctor Fleming said nothing in reply, and he
went on.

"It would be better and easier for her to be left in her ain house. And
even though my days were shortened by the journey, what is a week or two
more or less of life to me? You'll just need to let me go."

In a little he spoke again, saying a few words at a time.

"No, my day is done--but she may have a long life before her. Yes, she
has forgiven me--and so I can believe--that God will also forgive. And
I am not so very sorry--that my end is near,--because, though I would
have tried, I might have failed to make her happy. But no one can ever
love her as I have done. Or maybe it was myself I loved--and my own
will and pleasure."

There was a long pause, and then he went on speaking rather to himself
than to him who sat silent beside him.

"Oh! if a man could but have a second chance! If my mother had but
lived--I might have been different. But it's too late now--too late!
too late! I am done out. I'll try to sleep."

He closed his eyes and turned away his face. Greatly moved, Doctor
Fleming sat thinking about it all. He had spoken no word of all he
meant to say, and he would never speak now. No word of his was needed.
He sat rebuked in this man's presence--this man whom, within the hour,
he had called boaster and braggart, liar and coward.

"Truly," he mused, "there _is_ such a thing as getting `a new heart.'
Truly, there _is_ a God who is `mighty to save!' I will neither make
nor meddle in this matter. No, I cannot encourage this woman to forsake
him now--at the last--if the end is drawing near--as I cannot but
believe. He may live for years, but even so, I dare not say she would
be right to leave him. God guide and strengthen her for what may be
before her. It will be a sore thing for her to go home and find only
graves."

"Doctor," said Brownrig suddenly, "you'll no' set yourself against it
longer--for the sake of Allison Bain!"

"My friend," said the doctor, bending forward and taking his hand, "I
see what your thought is, and I honour you for it. Wait a day or two
more before you make your plans to go, and then, if it is possible for
you to have your wish, you shall have it, and all shall be made as easy
and safe for you as it can possibly be made. You are right in thinking
that you will never--be a strong man again. And after all, it can only
be a litt