Charlotte rose and laughed good-naturedly: "You have your virtues, no doubt, Pliny. So have I. I always thought we were well mated. Shall we continue one? You may have to fall back upon my blackmailing devices, after all. I forgot to tell you that there was an inquiry last week into the disposition of the funds entrusted to you for the Home for Friendless Children, and that they were reported _nil_." For the first time in his life Van Ness blenched. The story of the marriage could be smothered. But this was total ruin. "The sooner you go the better," said the hunter, tapping him on the shoulder. "Ef I understand right, you're not the kind of man as ought to pizen these mountings long." Van Ness moved heavily to the door. But he turned on the threshold with a sickly smile: "I forgive you your rudeness, my friend. It is not my nature to bear malice.--Farewell, Mr. Neckart. You have mistaken my motives in this matter. But I shall think of you kindly.--I shall bear you all to the throne of grace in my prayers." He shook his hand as if scattering blessings, and went out with a lofty step and head erect. Charlotte lingered and went up to Neckart. "You are going to cling to that poor wretch?" he said. "Well, he's down now, you see. There's nobody but me to stay by him. And I can always draw on him when I'm out of funds." "You will remember what I told you of the school in Indiana? You could live in respectability and comfort; bring your boy home too." "My boy? Home?" Her eyes filled with tears. "These are very tempting words, Mr. Neckart. But oh-h! Respectability is such a bore! I must go my own gait to the end;" and with a merry laugh and shrug she followed Van Ness. When they were out of sight down the gorge, Neckart rose and went slowly out to the cleft in the rock where the girl sat alone. "Jane," he said, "the way is open between us at last. Will you come to me?" * * * * * I cannot write Finis to the story of any of these people. They are all alive to-day, and the current of each life goes on with very little change. You may still see Van Ness on the platform at all large religious or benevolent meetings in the great cities. There was much talk of the missing funds, but he quieted it satisfactorily. Cynical reporters throw out hints of ugly shadows in his life, but his disciples gather more solidly about him, trust their souls to his direction and their money to his pockets. Simple followers of Jesus fear to condemn a light which shines so splendidly in the market-place, and men who are not His followers accept it as Christianity, and damn the religion as spurious and a fraud.