"Aye, but ye canna!" he cried desperately. "Ye canna!" "I can," said the priest. "Listen to me! Did Jimmy get anything at all said to you?" "He said, 'Mary,' then he choked on the next word, then he gasped out 'yours,' and it was over." "Have you any idea what he was trying to tell you?" "Na!" answered Dannie. "He was mortal sick, and half delirious, and I paid little heed. If he lived, he would tell me when he was better. If he died, nothing mattered, fra I was responsible, and better friend mon never had. There was nothing on earth Jimmy would na have done for me. He was so big hearted, so generous! My God, how I have missed him! How I have missed him!" "Your faith in Jimmy is strong," ventured the bewildered priest, for he did not see his way. Dannie lifted his head. The sunshine was warming him, and his thoughts were beginning to clear. "My faith in Jimmy Malone is so strong," he said, "that if I lost it, I never should trust another living mon. He had his faults to others, I admit that, but he never had ony to me. He was my friend, and above my life I loved him. I wad gladly have died to save him." "And yet you say you are responsible for his death!" "Let me tell ye!" cried Dannie eagerly, and began on the story the priest wanted to hear from him. As he finished Father Michael's face lighted. "What folly!" he said, "that a man of your intelligence should torture yourself with the thought of responsibility in a case like that. Any one would have claimed the fish in those circumstances. Priest that I am, I would have had it, even if I fought for it. Any man would! And as for what followed, it was bound to come! He was a tortured man, and a broken one. If he had not lain out that night, he would a few nights later. It was not in your power to save him. No man can be saved from himself, Dannie. Did what he said make no impression on you?" "Enough that I would have killed him with my naked hands if he had na taken it back. Of course he had to retract! If I believed that of Jimmy, after the life we lived together, I would curse God and mon, and break fra the woods, and live and dee there alone." "Then what was he trying to tell you when he died?" asked the bewildered priest. "To take care of Mary, I judge." "Not to marry her; and take her for your own?" Dannie began to tremble. "Remember, I talked with him first," said Father Michael, "and what he confessed to me, he knew was final. He died before he could talk to you, but I think it is time to tell you what he wanted to say. He--he--was trying--trying to tell you, that there was nothing but love in his heart for you. That he did not in any way blame you. That--that Mary was yours. That you were free to take her. That----" "What!" cried Dannie wildly. "Are ye sure? Oh, my God!" "Perfectly sure!" answered Father Michael. "Jimmy knew how long and faithfully you had loved Mary, and she had loved you----" "Mary had loved me? Carefu', mon! Are ye sure?"