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stood before him in a mute yet beseeching attitude, while a warm love for her sprang spontaneously within him.

"Come, Sally dear," he pleaded; "sit down by me again, and let us talk it out."

She obeyed mechanically, her frame convulsed with weeping.

"I can never talk again about a platonic union," he said feelingly. "I know that Annie would sanction our marriage now if she could speak to us; and I believe with all my heart that she knows of our proposed relations, and that she will, under the peculiar circumstances, also approve."

Ah, John Ranger! Materialist as you used always to proclaim yourself, you cannot, in the deepest recesses of your soul, rebel against the faith that is "the evidence of things not seen." What have you done with your agnosticism?

"Captain," said Sally, in a subdued tone, "I have seen the day when I would have followed Sam O'Dowd to the ends of the earth if he had commanded. I could and would have lived on the acorns of the forest rather than have failed to be his wife. Do not ask me to love you now. I cannot be your wife."

"Are we not engaged?" he asked, astonished.

"Yes; conditionally. But I cannot think about it now. If I can ever bring myself to think it right for me to be your wife, I will not hesitate to tell you so. But not now, Captain; not now."

She arose abruptly, and was gone.