As he turned from her, Adele rose and left the room.  As the door was closing behind her she turned and looked back.  Before the crucifix, on their knees, were her aged father and mother, while towering above them, with hands outstretched toward the cross, was the white-haired priest, invoking blessings on those bowed at his feet.  She knew it was her duty to be by their side.  Stifling the choking tears, she was about to re-enter the room, when the haunting refrain of a song that she had heard Doctor Chalmers sing, rang in her ears: 

    “To prevail in the cause that is dearer than life,
    Or be crushed in its ruins to die.”

The words seemed sacrilegious to her, when compared with the supplicating tone of the priest’s voice.  With all her might she strove to banish them.  Twice she stretched out her hand to turn the handle of the door, but the sound of the voice that had sung the words seemed to grow more distinct instead of vanishing, and her hand fell to her side.  At last, with a stifled cry of despair, she fled from the house into the little garden, shocked at the wickedness of her heart.

For a long time she sat with closed eyes, her little ivory prayer-beads in her hands.  She pleaded for pardon for not being able to fix her attention on holy things, and asked grace to cease thinking of him who had taken from her the love for the life of seclusion to which she had been taught to look forward.

At last she heard the clang of the garden gate, and knew the priest had gone.  She did not return to the house, but continued battling with her sins.  Suddenly her supplications ceased; she sprang to her feet and looked along the road.  She had not been mistaken; away in the distance was a light buggy, rapidly approaching.  Doctor Chalmers had said he might be down that day!  Her heart seemed to stop beating; she would have run into the house had not her strength failed.  Had the evil one been approaching, she could not have begun to pray more earnestly for aid.

When the vehicle, covered with dust, reached farmer Frechette’s house, the rattle of wheels ceased.

    “To prevail in the cause that is dearer than life.”

She heard him whistling his favorite refrain as he swung up the gravel walk.  He had seen her white dress, and was walking straight toward her.  She heard him coming, and her treacherous heart began to beat joyously.  With an exclamation of despair, she sank to her knees by the side of the garden seat, deeming herself the very chief of sinners.

For a few moments he stood and looked down at her in utter amazement, then stooped quickly and raised her.  When he saw how white her face was, he was sure she was seriously ill, and held out his arm to support her to the house.

With averted face, Adele told him that she was only a little nervous and unstrung, but she would be herself again.  Her pathetic face and helplessness appealed strongly to him, and his heart went out to her, as a man’s will to the woman he loves, and whose sufferings are his.  As he sat down by her side, he could scarcely refrain from gathering her in his arms and comforting her.