ave, alas! been hidden from
us by death's eclipse would be shedding light and warmth upon many
hearts now sorrowful and desolate. Three human lives, and a fourth just
going out. There is responsibility, and neither you nor I can escape
it, Mr. Birtwell, if through indifference or design we permit ourselves
to become the instruments of such dire calamities."

Mr. Birtwell had partly risen from his chair in making the weak defence
to which this was a reply, but now sunk back with an expression that
was half bewilderment and half terror on his countenance.

"In Heaven's name, Mr. Elliott, what does all this mean?" he cried.
"Three lives and a fourth going out, and the responsibility laid at my
door!"

"It is much easier to let loose an evil power than to stay its
progress," said Mr. Elliott. "The near and more apparent effects we may
see, rarely the remote and secondary. But we know that the action of
all forces, good or evil, is like that of expanding wave-circles, and
reaches far beyond, our sight. It has done so in this case. Yes, Mr.
Birtwell, three lives, and a fourth now flickering like an expiring
candle.

"I would spare you all this if I dared, if I could be
conscience-clear," continued Mr. Elliott. "But I would be faithless to
my duty if I kept silent. You know the sad case of Mrs. Carlton?"

"You don't mean to lay that, too, at my door!" exclaimed Mr. Birtwell.

"Not directly; it was one of the secondary effects. I had a long
conversation with Dr. Hillhouse to-day. His health has failed rapidly
for some months past, and he is now much broken down. You know that he
performed the operation which cost Mrs. Carlton her life? Well, the
doctor has never got over the shock of that catastrophe. It has preyed
upon his mind ever since, and is one of the causes of his impaired
health."

"I should call that a weakness," returned Mr. Birtwell. "He did his
best. No one is safe from accidents or malign influences. I never heard
that Mr. Carlton blamed him."

"Ah, these malign influences!" said the clergyman. "They meet us
everywhere and hurt us at every turn, and yet not one of them could
reach and affect our lives if some human hand did not set them free and
send them forth among men to, hurt and to destroy. And now let me tell
you of the interview I had with Dr. Hillhouse to-day. He has given his
consent, but with this injunction: we cannot speak of it to others."

"I will faithfully respect his wishes," said Mr. B