ace seemed to brighten up and
glow, while his eye flashed again, as when Mr Raydon finished speaking
he leaned forward and grasped his hand.

"God bless you for those words," he said; "you have made light shine
into a darkened heart. I will do this thing. Heaven helping me, I will
never seek for a grain of gold again."

"I shall register your oath, Gunson," said Mr Raydon, smiling.

"Do. It will be kept. Yes: I will fetch them over; and, Mrs John, it
will be one of the delights of my new life, to introduce two ladies most
dear to me to one whom they will venerate and love. Mayne, you have
never told them all I said to you?"

"No," I said; "it would have been a breach of confidence."

I looked up as I spoke, and saw that Mr Raydon's eyes were fixed upon
me searchingly, and his voice sounded harsh again as he said--

"It was a breach of confidence, Mayne Gordon, to tell Mr Gunson here of
the existence of gold in the little valley. Do you remember your
promise to me?"

"Yes, sir," I said, boldly, for I felt that at last the truth must come
out, and I should be cleared; for I would speak now if Mr Gunson did
not. "I remember well."

"Mayne," said Gunson; and my heart seemed to leap--"Mayne tell me about
the gold up yonder? No, no; it was not he."

"What!" cried Mr Raydon, excitedly. "It was not Mayne Gordon who told
you?"

"No; it was that little Chinaman confided to me that he had made a big
find. The little fellow always had confidence in me. He brought me
quite a hundred pounds' worth to take care of for him when I was here
last, and proposed to put himself under my protection and to work for me
if I allowed him a tenth."

"Then it was not Mayne?" cried Mrs John, excitedly.

"No, madam. I knew friend Raydon would be angry, but I was obliged to
accept the offer, for I felt that some time or other the people would
come, and I argued that the sooner it was all cleared out the better for
Raydon's peace of mind. You knew it must be discovered."

"Yes; I always knew that; but I wanted to keep away those who came as
long as possible."

"They are going already, and you will soon have your vales in peace
again."

"Yes, yes, yes," muttered Mr Raydon, beginning to walk up and down the
room, while I felt in such a whirl of excitement, as I saw Mrs John's
beautiful, motherly eyes fixed lovingly on mine, and felt Mr John
snatch my hand and press it, and then give vent to his delight at the
clearing up