had so long rested upon my shoulders was scarcely lifted.

"Wilfred," I said at length, "why you speak thus I do not know. For my
own part I have ceased to believe in that old story which has been
handed down from generation to generation. Or if I believe it, I
believe that it is as applicable to the rest of the world as to me. If
we sin we suffer, if we hate we live in hell. I have sinned, and I
have suffered, I have hated and I have been in hell. But I trust it is
over now. I have repented of my sin, and I believe God has forgiven
me. I do not believe a curse can rest upon those whose hearts are full
of love."

"But that does not free you, for you hate--you hate me."

"No, Wilfred, no, I love you."

"Love me! You do not know. I have always schemed to ruin you. All my
life I have hated you; all my life I have sought to thwart your every
purpose. All the misery you have had has been through me, your years
of homeless wandering have been due to me. It was I who sought to take
away the love of the woman to whom you had given your heart, and since
you left the last time, and she believed that you did not intend to
kill me, I have been to her and told her that you used the basest means
to kill me, and that I only escaped by a miracle. I tell you I have
blackened your life at every possible opportunity, I have robbed you of
the best part of your manhood, through me you will die lonely,
forsaken, despairing; do you hate me now?"

"And does Ruth believe you?" I said.

"Yes," he shrieked, "and she shudders at the mention of your name. You
are the terror of her life, and I have made you so."

Again I had to struggle or I should have hated him again. Ay, I began
to hate him in spite of my trouble, and then I prayed as I had prayed
away in Smyrna, "Lord, help me to love," and even as I prayed all my
bitter feelings passed away, as they had passed away then.

"Brother Wilfred, I love you still," I said.

He seemed staggered at my words, and he turned to his mother as though
in astonishment.

"Are you going to be a fool?" cried she, "are you going to yield to his
folly? Surely, if he is a fool you need not be one. He believes that
Trewinion's curse is an old wives' fable--let him believe it. But you
are the younger brother, and according to it you have the power to
curse him. Curse him, then; let all the darkness that can befall a
Trewinion fall on him. If he be married, let curses fall on him and
hi