ir run, and Ebenezer Brown, Gerard, and
Garnett will be sorry they invested their money in a hopeless cause. You
shall buy me out, Dad."

The day before Denis Quirk's departure he found Kathleen alone in the
dining room.

"Miss O'Connor," he said, speaking less confidently than was his custom.
"I am not an idealist. As a general rule I class men and women as bad or
indifferent, but I have a great respect for you, and I want you to
believe in me."

"I do," cried Kathleen eagerly.

"Men have been tried and convicted on false evidence," he went on. "The
world judges us by results, but I want you to disregard the past and
take my word that I am innocent."

"I have always believed it," she said.

"Thank you," he said, and was turning away when Kathleen said:

"You are going to Melbourne, Mr. Quirk. I place Desmond in your hands.
Bring him back to the Faith."

"I shall do my best, but no man can constrain another. Desmond must work
out his own salvation," he answered.

When his business was completed, Denis Quirk departed from Grey Town.
But Ebenezer Brown and his satellites discovered that his absence made
things even more uncomfortable for them than had been the case during
his presence in the town. "The Mercury" rose buoyantly to resume its old
power; and in a month's time it had crippled its rival beyond recovery.
Samuel Quirk took his son's place on the Council, and there asserted
himself so triumphantly that Councillor Garnett recognised that it was
time for him to retire. Grey Town awoke to sudden municipal vigour, and
the town put on a modern, up-to-date appearance, in keeping with a new
commercial activity. Those who had flourished under the old system
retired to their holes, impotently cursing the new regime. Their triumph
over Denis Quirk had proved a veritable disaster to Ebenezer Brown and
his companions in evil.

CHAPTER XVII.

FATHER HEALY'S MISSION.

It was a warm night, and Father Healy was entertaining his friends in
the garden of the Presbytery. They sat together on the green lawn that
faces the town and the distant ocean. In a quiet and secluded place,
just within earshot of their conversation, Molly Healy sat on the lawn,
her back supported by a big pine tree. Near her a kitten was playing
with Mollie's collie dog. Father Healy had returned from Goldenvale, and
his cronies had gathered together to greet him, and hear from his lips
the account of his travels. Dr. Marsh asked, abrupt