"I’ve got Mother Sheppard’s bag of coin here also," he said, "and the three and ninepence that was for the missionaries, though I’m sorry the box is gone. It would be mighty kind of you if you would let me hand it all over to you, so that you might give it back to them as rightly owns it. I’ve got the promise of two nice fowls for you, which I’ll just run over and fetch before you leave, if you won’t mind taking them instead of the other birds that I pinched." "It is very brave of you, Ben, and of course right to tell me this," remarked Madelaine, "for I had no suspicion of it." "It’s no use saying a fellow wants to be a Christian if he don’t act like one," replied Ben. "If Christ is my Master, I must see to it that I don’t do the Devil’s bidding. It’s the least I can do to give back what isn’t mine, even if it lands me in the lock-up, where I ought of rights to be, if I got my deserts." "Who am I that I should accuse him?" said Madelaine to herself as she listened to his confession. "Surely I of all others should deal mercifully with those who have gone astray, and who desire to return, remembering all my Gerald has gone through." With gentle words she assured Ben of her forgiveness, and told him she would answer also for Mrs. Sheppard and Robin. "You have begun well," she said at length, "for this has been a hard thing to do. May God help you to persevere." "Would you mind me asking you one thing before I go?" said Ben. "There was some writing inside the watch, saying as it belonged to a Gerald Barker. I came across someone of that name out west about ten years ago, but he disappeared rather sudden, and the report got about that he was drowned. When you cried out just now, saying it was your husband’s watch, I wondered could he have been the same Barker I’d known then. If so be as it was, I suppose you’ve married again, seeing you’re Mrs. Power now." Madelaine wished she had bitten her tongue out before she uttered the exclamation with which she greeted the sight of the watch. "I have never married again," she faltered. "It was owing to a legacy that I was obliged to change my name." Ben looked at her narrowly, surprised at the sudden alteration in her voice.