_their_ love, when put in defiance to _His_, could do? Being utterly deserted of human love, had it been better for him than this misguided, unsanctified, distorted love had been to these two young men? Aye; for they had kept the parents' place--assumed the responsibilities, and yet ignored the most solemn of them all. Moved by a powerful, all-controlling emotion, Theodore sank on his knees beside the silent form, and cried out in an agony of prayer--"Oh, _my_ Father, thou hast taken this soul away beyond the reach of prayer or entreaty--bind up the broken hearts that this thy judgment has caused. Thou doest all things well. But oh, I pray thee, spare that other--save _his_ life yet a little--give him time. Oh, be _thou_ his Father, and lead him even as thou hast led me. Hear this cry, I beseech thee, for the sake of thy Son!" Then he went softly and reverently from the room and the house of mourning. There stood two others beside that still head when it was pillowed in the coffin--the stricken father and mother. They stood and dropped tears of utter agony on the face of their first-born and only son. Did a vision come to them of the time when they had leaned lovingly over the sleeping baby in the great rocking-chair, standing empty there in the corner? Did they remember how merrily they had laughed, as they assured each other that they had no fear of "Baby Ben" becoming a drunkard? Oh, if they _had_ feared, and prayed, "Lead him not into temptation," and made earnest effort to answer their own prayers, would the end have been as it was? [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIV. A DOUBLE CRISIS. Theodore was at his post in the private office deep in business when his next hasty summons came. Pliny was raving and repeating his name incessantly, and Dr. Arnold had said that he must come immediately or the consequences would be fatal. "I shall remain all night if I am permitted to do so," Theodore explained to Mr. Stephens while he was putting bills and notes under lock and key. "And in the morning--" "In the morning get rest if you can," interrupted Mr. Stephens. "At all events, do not worry about the store. Remain with the poor boy just as much as you can while he lives. I will see that all goes right here. McPherson is coming in to help me; he has his new clerk under splendid training."