Arden looked as if he would rend him, but by a great effort he controlled himself, and in a low, meaning voice said: "If you have lied to me this afternoon, woe be unto you," and he turned on his heel and walked straight to Edith, where she stood at work among her grapevines, breaking off some of the too thickly budding branches. He was beside her before she heard him, and the moment she looked into his white, stern face, she saw that something had happened. "Miss Allen," he said, abruptly, "I heard a report about you this afternoon. I did not believe it; I could not; but it came so direct, that I give you a chance to refute it. Your word will be sufficient for me. It would be against all the world. Is there anything between you and Simon Crowl?" Her confusion was painful, and for a moment she could not speak, but stood trembling before him. In his passion, he seized her roughly by the arm and said, hoarsely, "In a word, yes or no?" His manner offended her proud spirit, and she looked him angrily in the face and said, haughtily; "Yes." He recoiled from her as if he had been stung. Her anger died away in a moment, and she leaned against the grape-trellis for support. "Do you love him?" he faltered, his bronzed cheek blanching. "No," she gasped. The blood rushed furiously into his face, and he took an angry stride toward her. She cowered before him, but almost wished that he would strike her dead. In a voice hoarse with rage, he said: "This, then, is the end of our friendship. This is the best that your religion has taught you. If not your pitiful faith, then has not your woman's nature told you that neither priest nor book can marry you to that coarse lump of earth?" and he turned on his heel and strode away. His mother was frightened as she saw his face. "What has happened?" she said, starting up. He stared at her almost stupidly for a moment. Then he said, in a stony voice: "The worst that ever can happen to me in this or any world. If the lightning had burned me to a cinder, I could not be more utterly bereft of all that tends to make a good man. Edith Allen has sold herself to old Crowl. Some priest is going through a farce they will call a marriage, and all the good people will say, 'How well she has done!' What a miserable delusion this religious business is! You had better give it up, mother, as I do, here and now." "Hush, my son," said Mrs. Lacey, solemnly. "You have only seen Edith Allen. I have seen _Jesus Christ._ "There is some mystery about this," she added, after a moment's painful thought. "I will go and see her at once." He seized her hand, saying: "Have I not been a good son to you?" "Yes, Arden." "Then by all I have ever been to you, and as you wish my love to continue, go not near her again." "But, Arden--" "Promise me," he said, sternly. "Well," said the poor woman, with a deep sigh, "not without your permission." From that time forth, Arden seemed as if made of stone.