"I? God knows I have been too great a sinner myself for that. Where is Lew? I can just remember how he used to whittle boats for me when I was a little boy. I remember the morning he ran off, and how after that you always wanted to move West. Poor Lew! Where has he gone?" His mother opened the door of the little bed-room and led out the brother. "What! Burchard?" cried Morton. "What does this mean? Are you Lewis Goodwin?" [Illustration: THE BROTHERS.] "I am!" "That's why you gave me back my horse and gun when you found out who I was. That's how you saved me that day at Brewer's Hole. And that's why you warned me at Salt Fork and sent me that other warning. Well, Lewis, I would be glad to see you anyhow, but I ought to be not only glad as a brother, but glad that I can thank you for saving my life." "But I've been a worse man than you think, Mort." "What of that? God forgives, and I am sure that it is not for such a sinner as I am to condemn you. If you knew what desperate thoughts have tempted me in the last week you would know how much I am your brother." Just here Brady knocked at the door and pushed it open, with a "Howdy, Misses Goodwin? Howdy, Mr. Goodwin? and, Moirton, howdy do?" "This is my brother Lewis, Mr. Brady. We thought he was dead." "Heigh-ho! The prodigal's come back agin, eh? Mrs. Goodwin, I congratilate ye." And then Mrs. Brady was introduced to Lewis. Patty, who stood behind, came forward, and Morton said: "Miss Lumsden, my brother Lewis." "You needn't introduce her," said Lewis. "She knows me already. If it hadn't been for her I might have been dead, and in perdition, I suppose. "Why, how's that?" asked Morton, bewildered. "She nursed me in sickness, and read the parable of the Prodigal Son, and told me that it was my mother's favorite chapter." "So it is," said Mrs. Goodwin; "I've read it every day for years. But how did you know that, Patty?" "Why," said Lewis, "she said that one woman knew how another woman felt. But you don't know how good Miss Lumsden is. She did not know me as Lewis Goodwin or Burchard, but in quite a different character. I suppose I'd as well make a clean breast of it, Mort, at once. Then there'll be no surprises afterward. And if you hate me when you know it all, I can't help it." With that he stepped into the bedroom and came forth with long beard and wolf-skin cap. "What! Pinkey?" said Morton, with horror. "The Pinkey that you told that big preacher to knock down, and then hunted all over the country to find." Seeing Morton's pained expression at this discovery of his brother's bad character, Patty added adroitly: "The Pinkey that saved your life, Morton." Morton got up and stood before his brother. "Give me your hand again, Lewis. I am so glad you came home at last. God bless you."