ss Anne did not move; only Miss Anne laid her hand upon
his arm, and he felt how much she trembled.

'They're only trying to frighten us,' he said quietly; 'that's only the
wood-stack on fire. They think to frighten us to open the door, by
making believe that the house is on fire. Miss Anne, I'm praying to God
all the while to send Martha in time.'

'So am I,' she answered, sobbing; 'but oh, Stephen, I am frightened.'

'Miss Anne,' he said, in a comforting tone, 'that chapter about faith
you've been teaching me, it says something about quenching fire.'

'"Quenched the violence of fire,"' she murmured; '"out of weakness were
made strong."'

She hid her face for a minute or two in both her hands; and then she was
strong enough to go to the servant's room, where the terrified girl was
still calling for help. The wild shouts and the deafening clamour at the
door rang through the house; but the blaze was gone down again; and when
Stephen threw open the window just over the heads of the group of men in
the yard below, there was not light enough for him to distinguish their
faces.

'I'm here,' he said,--'Stephen Fern. I found out what you are up to, and
Martha's gone to Longville for help. She'll be here afore long, and you
can't force the door open. Put out the fire in the wood-stack, and go
home. Maybe if you're not found here you'll get off; for I've seen none
of you, and I can only guess at who you are. Go home, I say.'

There was a low, deep growl of disappointment, and a hurried
consultation among the men. But whether they would follow Stephen's
counsel, it was not permitted them to choose; for suddenly a strong,
bright flame burst up in a high column, like a beacon, into the midnight
air, and every one gazing upwards saw in a moment that the thatch over
the farthest gable had caught fire. The house itself was now burning,
and the light, blazing full upon their upturned faces, revealed to
Stephen the well-known features of four of his former comrades. The
shout that rang from their lips was one of real alarm now.

'Stephen, lad, open the door!' cried Black Thompson. 'We thought to
smoke the old fox out of his kennel, but it's took fire in earnest.
We'll not hurt him, nor Miss Anne. Lad! the old house will burn like
tinder.'

What a glaring light spread through the landing! The face of Miss Anne
coming from the servant's room shone rosy and bright in it, though she
was pale with fear. Through the open window dri