side of Luke's
boat, leaving the oar free. His weight nearly overbalanced the craft,
but with considerable difficulty the boys succeeded in reaching the
other boat, and, though considerably exhausted, its late occupant
managed to get in.

As he took his place in the boat he presented a sorry spectacle, for
his clothes were wet through and dripping.

"You will take your death of cold unless you go on shore at once,"
said Luke.

"It wouldn't matter much if I did," said the young man, gloomily.

"We will row to shore also," said Luke to John Hagan. "He may make
another attempt to drown himself. I will see what I can do to reason
him out of it."

They were soon at the pier, and the three landed.

"Where do you live?" asked Luke, taking his position beside the young
man.

The latter named a number on Vine Street. It was at a considerable
distance, and time was precious, for the young man was trembling from
the effects of his immersion.

"There is no time to lose. We must take a carriage," said Luke.

He summoned one, which fortunately had just returned from the pier, to
which it had conveyed a passenger, and the two jumped in.

Luke helped him up to his room, a small one on the third floor, and
remained until he had changed his clothes and was reclining on the
bed.

"You ought to have some hot drink," he said. "Can any be got in the
house?"

"Yes; Mrs. Woods, the landlady, will have some hot water."

Luke went downstairs and succeeded in enlisting the sympathetic
assistance of the kind-hearted woman by representing that her lodger
had been upset in the lake and was in danger of a severe cold.

When the patient had taken down a cup of hot drink, he turned to Luke
and said: "How can I thank you?"

"There is no need to thank me. I am glad I was at hand when you needed
me."

"What is your name?"

"Luke Walton."

"Mine is Ambrose Kean. You must think I am a fool,"

"I think," said Luke, gently, "that you have some cause of
unhappiness."

"You are right there. I have been unfortunate, but I am also an
offender against the law, and it was the fear of exposure and arrest
that made me take the step I did. I thought I was ready to die, but
when I found myself in the water life seemed dearer than it had
before, and I tried to escape. Thanks to you, I am alive, but now I
almost wish that I had succeeded. I don't know how to face what is
before me."

"Would you mind telling me what it is?"

"No; I need s