"I was looking for her. Bithiah often walked near that field, and I thought it likely that I should find her there. Kill her! I swear to you, Brand, that I would as soon have killed myself as her. I loved her dearly; why then should I commit a crime contrary to my earthly love, to my religious principles?" "I do not accuse you--the public voice does that," replied Brand, still cold and unsympathetic; "you are known to be in debt----" "I am not in debt now," interrupted Johnson, hurriedly; "all my debts are paid." "Paid! Your debts paid!" Brand was thunderstruck, for this was the last thing he expected to hear. "How did you pay them?" he demanded with sudden suspicion. "I did not pay them. Brand." "Then who did?" "I don't know," was Johnson's extraordinary reply. Brand looked at him sternly and droned out a proverb: "'Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices,'" he quoted. "What do you mean, brother?" "Brother!" repeated Korah, rising with indignation. "I am not a brother to you, man of sin as you are. Your debts are paid! Yes, I believe that. You do not know who paid them. Liar! You paid them yourself with the wages of your sin." "My sin!" gasped Johnson, aghast. "Do not add deceit to your iniquity, man. You killed that girl; you stole her pearls; when you went to London it was to sell them. Now you have paid your debts at the cost of Bithiah's life. 'Be sure thy sin will find thee out.' It has found you out--murderer!" "I am no murderer," cried the minister, vehemently; "as I am a living man, I had no hand in her death. I never saw her after she left my house. I searched, but in vain. Who paid my debts, I do not know. Yesterday I found a pile of receipted bills on this table. Who put them there I know no more than you do." "You cannot impose upon me by such a story," said Brand, coldly; "debts like yours are not paid by unknown people. If such were the case, all you have to do is to see your creditors and ask who paid them." "I intend to, but as yet I have not had the time. After the funeral of Tera I am going to London to see my creditors and learn the truth." Brand smiled. "You are going to London," he repeated; "that is, you intend to seek safety in flight. Well, it is the best thing you can do. I shall not betray your secret." "I do not intend to fly. I have done nothing wrong." "Man! man! why will you try to deceive me? I am your friend, and for your sake, for the sake of our Bethesda, I implore you to fly. What will your congregation say if their pastor is hanged for murder?" Johnson drew back with a shudder. "Hanged! No, they dare not. I am innocent." "You have yet to prove that." "Brand," cried the wretched man, imploringly, "you do not believe that I killed Tera?"