“I want no vows,” interrupted Ray, speaking quickly. “Your promise is enough.” Howard looked up, an expression of yearning in his face. Scarcely hoping, yet longing to find encouragement in Ray’s words, he exclaimed: “Why, Wendell――Ray――Ray――you mean to say――――” “That you shall have a chance, Howard,” answered Ray firmly. “I will trust you, and pay your debts, and you are to try to make a man of yourself.” Howard uttered a quick, inarticulate cry, and sprang to his feet. “First calm yourself,” said Ray, “and sit down on the sofa there.” Howard passively obeyed him. “Now tell me how much you owe altogether.” “Nearly eight hundred dollars,” answered Howard slowly. “And one hundred must be paid at once?” “Yes――to-night.” “And the payment of these debts will set you on your feet again, and give you a fresh start?” “Yes――all but those town fellows. They know that I cheated.” “The money will quiet them, I think,” answered Ray. “Now, listen to me, Howard. Your case is not so desperate. Your debts need only to be paid to secure your reputation, and then you can face the world honestly. I will pay these――――first of all this hundred dollars. I have somewhat over that amount in the National Bank, and I will give you a check at once. This you can take this evening to those men and shut their mouths. Now as to those other debts――――” Here Ray started toward his desk, recollected himself, turned toward Howard and said as gently as possible: “Howard, kindly tell me where you put my bank book.” Howard turned scarlet as he tremblingly took Ray’s bank book from his pocket. “I don’t know why I took it,” he said in a shame faced manner. “I could never have used it.” Ray received it without a word, opened it, and examined the columns of figures. “There are two hundred and ten dollars to my credit in the bank,” he said, “and I can get more from my father when it is needed. Monday morning you must pay back Professor Fuller first of all. The other debts I will meet as they come due. Now I must give you that check.” Ray drew a chair up to the desk, and opening a small drawer, took out a check book, and settled himself to write. Until now Howard had accepted the situation while hardly able to comprehend it. It seemed to be too good to be true, and yet Ray’s cool and decided manner carried assurance beyond doubt. Such unexpected generosity from one whom he had regarded as an enemy was a revelation to him, and it was beginning to work in him just the change that Ray desired. He sat silent and thoughtful while Ray wrote. I moved forward, and, bending over Ray’s shoulder, said: “If I can help you out, Ray, I have some savings which I should be glad to put in.” Ray looked up a moment, and answered in a tone too low for Howard to hear: “Thanks, Harry, but I think it would be better to do it all up by myself. You know what I mean. He would feel like a beggar if two or three contributed. Better let me finish it.” At this moment Howard looked up.