e silent for a while, watching the sick man, whose sleep,
or stupor, was not as tranquil as usual. Two or three times his eyes
opened, and he muttered audibly.

"I never saw him so restless afore," commented Captain Eri anxiously.

"He was so last night."

"Did Elsie see him?"

"No, I was alone here, and she was asleep in the next room. I got up and
shut the door."

The Captain glanced keenly at the housekeeper, but her face was placid
and inscrutable. He shifted uneasily and then said, "Elsie's late
to-night, ain't she? I wonder what's keepin' her."

"School work, I s'pose. She's workin' harder 'n she ought to, I think."

"FIRE!"

The word was shouted, and the room rang with it. John Baxter, whose
weakness had hitherto been so great that he could not turn himself in
bed, was leaning on his elbow and pointing with outstretched finger to
the open stove door.

"Fire!" he shouted again. "It's blazin'! It's burnin'! It's wipin' the
plague spot from the earth. I hear you, Lord! I'm old, but I hear you,
and your servant's ready. Where will it be to-morrer? Gone! burnt up!
and the ways of the wicked shan't prevail."

They forced him back on the pillow, but he fought them fiercely for a
moment or two. After they thought they had quieted him, he broke out
again, talking rapidly and clearly.

"I hear the call, Lord," he said. "I thank thee for showin' it to me in
your Book. 'And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all
their goodly castles, with fire.' With fire! With fire!"

"Ssh-h! There, there, John! Don't talk so," entreated the Captain.

"Where's the kerosene?" continued the old man. "And the matches? Now
softly, softly. The shavin's. It's dark. Here, in the corner. Ah, ha!
ah, ha! 'And all their goodly castles with fire!' Now, Web Saunders, you
wicked man! Now! Burn! I've done it, Lord! I've done it!"

"Hush!" almost shouted the agonized Captain Eri. "Hush, John! Be still!"

"There, there, Cap'n Baxter," said Mrs. Snow soothingly, laying her hand
on the sick man's forehead. Somehow, the touch seemed to quiet him; his
eyes lost their fire, and he muttered absently that he was tired. Then
the eyes closed and he lay still, breathing heavily.

"Land of love!" exclaimed the Captain. "That was awful! Hadn't I better
go for the doctor?"

"I don't think so, unless he gits worse. He had jest such a turn, as I
told you, last night."

"Did he talk like he did jest now?"

"Jest the same."

"'Bou