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 time is not enough to atone for my sins, and I could not blame you if—oh no, I cannot think of that. Do trust me, Mary.

Never since that day have I had such a strong thirst; you overpowered it. My destiny is in your hands,—you will not cast me off. I do not doubt it Mary, only I want it from your own lips that you love me still, and will now become my wife. That has been a blessed thought to me, and my greatest support. If I could keep steady by thinking of you how much more can I do it by being with you. Perhaps you will think I should have done it before, but you do not know how hard it is to resist, when everybody around me was urging me just to drink a little, and then I loved it so and wanted more. I did it without thinking what the end would be. Oh! the cursed viper! how it has maddened and tortured me.

Now you will let me come and see you, won't you? Walter is at home and will take this letter to you. God bless him for what he has done for me. He will bring me word what you say, but I know what you will say. I know you will keep your word, only it seems almost too good to be true that I shall soon see you, and hear you say with your own sweet lips that you still love me

It was a grave responsibility resting on Walter, to be in any way concerned in the future destiny of, this young couple. He had kept up a correspondence with James, and written occasionally to Mr. Brewster whom he had partially acquainted with the circumstances, in order to know better how he kept his promises. The answers he received were very satisfactory.

After he had called on James and taken charge of this letter for Mary, it was a subject of grave discussion between himself and his mother, Ernest and