For a moment he had an impulse to turn back. After all, he was only a boy; and who was he, to set himself up against the wise and great? But then like a stab, came again the thought which drove him always--the thought of the people, suffering and starving! Truly it was better to die than to live in a world in which there was so much misery and oppression! That was the truth, he would rather die than let these things go on unopposed. And so there could be no turning back-there was nothing for him save to do what he could. Where should he begin? He thought of Mr. Hickman--a most unpromising person to work with. Samuel had been afraid of him from the first time he had seen him. Then he thought of Mr. Wygant; should he begin with him? This brought to his mind something which had been driven away by the rush of events. Miss Gladys! How would she take these things? And what would she think when she learned about her father's wickedness? A new idea came to Samuel. Why should he not take Miss Gladys into his confidence? She would be the one to help him. She had helped him with Sophie; and she had promised to help with Master Albert. And surely it was her right to know about matters which concerned her family so nearly. She would know what was best, so far as concerned her own father; he would take her advice as to how to approach him. He went to the house and asked for Sophie. “Tell Miss Gladys that I want to see her,” he said; “and that it's something very, very important.” So Sophie went away, and returning, took him upstairs. “Samuel,” said his divinity, “it isn't safe for you to come to see me in the afternoons.” “Yes, Miss Gladys,” said he. “But this is something very serious. It's got nothing to do with myself.” “What is it?” she asked. “It's your father, Miss Gladys.” “My father?” “Yes, Miss Gladys. It's a long story. I shall have to begin at the beginning.” So he told the story of his coming to the church, and of the fervor which had seized upon him, and how he had set to work to bring converts into the fold; and how he had met a wicked man who had resisted his faith, and of all the dreadful things which this man had said. When he came to what Charlie Swift had told about her own father, Samuel was disposed to expurgate the story; but Miss Gladys would have it all, and seemed even to be disappointed that he had not more details to give her. “And Hickman!” she exclaimed gleefully. “I always knew he was an old scamp! I'll wager you haven't found out the hundredth part about him, Samuel!” Samuel went on to tell about the revelation at Callahan's. “And you took that to Dr. Vince!” she cried amazed. “Yes,” said he. “And what did he say?” “He wouldn't have anything to do with it. And so it's all left to me.” “And what are you going to do now?” “I don't know, Miss Gladys. For one thing, I think I shall have to see your father.” “See my father!” gasped the girl. “Yes, Miss Gladys.” “But what for?”