place, even at the sacrifice of
love."

"Honey, you don't know what you are saying!" he cried passionately.
"Dearest, you cannot forbid me to love you! It is an unalterable fact. I
cannot change it, even at your bidding."

"I know--it is quite true of love, for it is a sacred thing and belongs
to the heart. But it can be locked away--put out of sight--_buried_,"
she returned, her voice breaking. "The higher duty is--the _saving of a
soul_. Dare we withhold our forgiveness from a repentant sinner? Your
wife is truly a very miserable woman. She is on her knees to you. Can
you afford to refuse her?--or will you rather say, 'Go and sin no more'?
Which of us is without sin? If you repulse her now, it might lead to her
ruin, body and soul?"

"You are asking more of me than I can do. I can never again look upon
her as a wife. Feeling as I do, it would be a violation of the best
instincts of my nature."

"I am not asking that of you."

"What, then, is it I must do? for you know that I would give all I
possess to please you."

Honor's tears fell fast, unheeded. "_Only be kind to her._ Let her feel
that she has something to live for. At present she has nothing."

"I tell you, she is false. She has played upon your sympathies and led
you to believe in her."

"I believe in her only because it is impossible to doubt her
wretchedness, or her repentance."

"She lied to you!"

"She told me the truth concerning herself. She did not spare herself.
Hers is, indeed, a 'broken and a contrite heart' which even God does not
despise," said Honor reverently.

"You wish me to be kind to her?--Tell me how, when we live under the
same roof and I can never regard her as my wife?"

His eyes gazed upon the girl's face with wistful yearning. She was his
soul's mate,--she of the pure eyes and tender mouth! He could be kind to
_her_ all the days of his life. He could love and cherish _her_, in
sickness and in health. Would to God she could belong to him!

But she was talking of his duty to another whom he despised!

Honor pleaded long with all her gentle tact, that he would try to
practice tolerance and kindness. The future would take care of itself.

"Kindness from you is all she craves, and a chance to prove her
sincerity."

"In what way can I be kind?" he repeated.

"By being thoughtful of her needs, considerate, and forbearing. Speak
gently, and do not grudge her your smiles when there is need to show
appreciation."

"And if