I hurried over to Mary's. She and Mrs. Malmsbury returned with me and attended him, hand and foot, until the minister came in late that afternoon. Mr. Auld was a medical missionary, and he confirmed what I had feared. Jake had had a stroke. The only articulate words Meaghan uttered in his mumblings were, "Rita, Rita, Rita." Again and again he came over the name. At last I promised him I would run over and bring her to him. That seemed to content him, but his eyes still kept roving round restlessly. Mr. Auld injected some morphine through Jake's arm in order to give his brain the rest that it evidently sorely needed. "There is little we can do, George," said the minister. "He may be all right to-morrow, but for his physical helplessness;--and, even that may abate. Between you and me, I pray to God he may not live." "But what can have caused it, Mr. Auld?" "If Jake only could have been able to drink as other men do,--drink, get drunk and leave off,--he never would have come to this. His constitution was never made for such drinking as he has indulged in. No man's constitution is." "Are you going to send him down to the city?" I asked. "Not if you will bear with him here. It would do no good to move him. I would advise his remaining here. He will be happier, poor fellow. I shall run in early to-morrow." I fetched Rita over that night and she remained with the old miner right along. Her cheery presence brightened up the stricken man wonderfully. Next day, he could talk more intelligibly and, with help, he got up and sat on a chair. The Rev. William Auld called and left a jar containing some hideous little leeches in water. He gave me instructions that, if Jake took any sudden attack and the blood pressure in his head appeared great, I was to place two of these blood-sucking creatures on each of his temples, to relieve him. He showed me how to fix them to the flesh. "Once they are on, do not endeavour to pull them off," he explained. "When they have gorged themselves, they will drop off. After that, they will die unless you place them upon a dish of salt, when they will sicken and disgorge the blood they have taken. Then, if you put them back into a jar of fresh water, they will become lively as ever and will soon be ready for further use." "I hope to God I may not have to use them," I exclaimed fervently, shuddering at the gruesome thoughts the sight of the hideous little reptiles conjured up in me. And I was saved from having to participate in the disgusting operation, for, at the end of the week, Jake was seized through the night for the second time. Toward morning, he revived and spoke to Rita and me like the dear old Jake we used to know. "Guess I got to pass in my checks, folks. I ain't been very good neither. But I ain't done nobody no harm as I can mind;--nobody, but maybe Jake Meaghan. "Say, George! You like me,--don't you?"