"Oh, you do expect to fail, then? You still have sense enough for that!" said Mr. Forbes quickly. "Then, why not give up your fad at once and run the business properly?" "Do you mean as we have been running it?" asked Mr. Denton, with a sharp glance at him. "Certainly, with a few modifications, perhaps," was the equally sharp answer. "Never!" Mr. Denton's voice rang out like the blast of a trumpet. "Go back to such infamous practices? Never!" "Very well, then," said Mr. Forbes, with sudden anger in his voice, "I do wish to sell out! What will you give me for my interest?" Mr. Denton wheeled around, and looked at him eagerly. "I had hoped you would see things differently," he said at last. "I thought that perhaps you would appreciate my desire, which is to make myself more worthy of the God that made me." Mr. Forbes shifted uneasily, and finally rose from his chair. He was plainly disturbed over the situation. "I do appreciate your efforts, and I honor them, in a way," he said slowly, "but I have not the courage to make such a sacrifice myself, and I very much doubt if such a sacrifice is demanded. A proper observance of religion is enough; a man need not crucify his worldly ambitions in order to be worthy of heaven." "'Let him take up his cross and follow Me,'" quoted Mr. Denton. "My cross is to do exactly as I am doing. It is not easy to bear, but I am happy in bearing it." "But where will it lead to?" asked Mr. Forbes eagerly. "What proof have you that your reward will come? This may be a delusion that you are following." "I am willing to risk it," said Mr. Denton, solemnly. "It is the best a man can do to follow his conscience." "But there are duties to one's family that must be considered," urged Mr. Forbes. "A man cannot rightfully ignore the fact that he is of the earth, earthy, and that there is something tangible needed before we soar into the mysteries." "He must ignore nothing," said Mr. Denton, gravely, "but, as I said before, he must follow his conscience." "Well, I should like to stay with you, but I cannot do it," said Mr. Forbes, "for, while I sympathize with your feelings in many respects, yet I cannot indorse your unbusiness-like actions. If you think my interest here is worth fifty thousand dollars, you can give me that amount, and I will go--then you will be free to spend your fortune according to any freak of your fancy." "You are more just in your dealings than I expected," said Mr. Denton, flushing a little. "After my experience with Mr. Day, I did not look for any mercy." "Oh, I have a conscience, too," said Mr. Forbes, grimly, "and while I did not know it until lately, it has made me very uncomfortable, I can assure you." There was a genuine ring in his voice as he spoke, and as Mr. Denton detected it, he rose and placed his hand upon his shoulder. "Better stay with me, brother, and let us work together," he said gently. "In the vineyard of the Master there can be no unrewarded labor."