o him harm. Now, you are the logical man to go to
Mr. McGowan, and show him the sense of his leaving Little River. You
seem to be the only one who can influence him in any degree."

"By the Almighty, Jim Fox! If it wa'n't for your darter, I'd swipe up
this floor with your dirty carcass!"

"It will be best if you take this calmly, Josiah, and stop your
foolish raving. Just listen to reason for once in your life. There is a
past in that man's life known to a very select few. I came across it
accidentally. If it became known it would create no end of scandal
and ruin our little church. That man had no good intention in
putting in his request for the Little River pulpit. What is more, he is
not a real minister of the gospel. He is using it merely as a pretext."

The Captain caught his breath. "He ain't a minister? What do you mean by
that?"

"Nothing more than what it conveys to your mind. I cannot tell you more,
just now."

"Jim, you're lying to me!"

"Be careful, Josiah. You are making a very serious charge, and I may
decide to make you prove it in court."

The seaman reached into his coat-pocket for the yellow bit of paper
which Miss Pipkin had given him that morning. But he quickly withdrew
his hand without the paper. The thought flashed through his mind that he
could not prove with certainty the truth of the message written
thereon.

"I've got something here in my pocket that'd interest you a heap, Jim.
But I ain't able to prove it all, so it can wait for a spell. But if it
leads in the direction I think it does, the Lord pity you!"

"I'd advise you to hold your tongue, as it might get you into trouble.
If you will drop all that foolishness about getting even with me for
imaginary wrongs, we shall be able to talk business. Here are the
receipts for the full amount I loaned you, and here are papers waiting
your signature and mine that will put you in command of the best vessel
put out by our company in many years. It all depends now on your
willingness to help me get Mr. McGowan out of our town."

Mr. Fox shoved the papers temptingly across the table, keeping one hand
on the corner of them. The Captain appeared to waver. Of course, he
acknowledged, it did seem easy. But he did not touch the papers. He
rather drew back as though they were deadly poison. He eyed the Elder
narrowly.

"Well, what do you say?"

"Jim Fox,"--began the seaman slowly, his voice lowering with the rise
of his anger,--"you're a whit