"Never!" replied Ray, emphatically. "And perhaps, father, this is God's way of bringing you to himself. I have prayed for you, night and day, ever since I gave myself to him. I couldn't bear that you should be sent to prison; for I thought it would so harden you, that you would never come to Jesus. But God's ways are not as our ways; and it may be God's hand is leading you where you will think more of him, and learn to love him." The old man bowed his head on his hands and wept like a child, and said: "Don't think, Ray, that I haven't been pleased with the change you and George and the girls have made in your lives. I've been proud of you all, and down in my heart I've longed for the same thing. But I thought there was no hope for an old sinner like me." "'Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them,'" repeated Ray, softly. "Perhaps there is hope for me, after all," murmured the repentant man. Mr. Bacon ventured now to suggest his plan to Mr. Branford, and assured him that the directors of the mill would willingly allow him to take the witness stand against his companions in crime. "I shall tell the whole truth," replied he, slowly, "but I ask no favors on that account. I am willing to take the punishment I deserve. I am more afraid of myself and my appetite for rum, than all other things beside. Please allow me to go to prison," he begged, piteously; "for then there may be some hopes for me." Hyde was the only one of the four criminals who actually stood trial. He was convicted through the united testimony of Mr. Branford, Ray, and the detective who had caused his arrest. Blake, Smith, and Mr. Branford, all pleaded guilty. As in Hyde's trial it had been shown that he and Blake were the instigators and leaders in the work of burning the mills, each of them received a sentence of five years. Smith and Mr. Branford were given three and two years respectively. Mr. Branford, sober, neatly dressed, and cleanly shaved, received his sentence almost with joy on his face. "You might have made it longer, judge," he said, with a bow. "Perhaps it will be the making of me. I feel that it will." George and Ray had stood by him to the last, and accompanied him to the prison gates. There they bade him good-bye, promising to write often, and to come occasionally to see him. "We shall, every evening, at nine o'clock, wherever we are, pray for you," Ray said, in parting; "and here is my Bible, father, with many passages I have found precious marked in it. Promise me you will read it, and that you will try and pray for yourself."