“What will you do with money if I give you some?”

“I don’t want your money,” replied the man.

“I thought you did a little while ago.”

“It was the mill-owner’s money I wanted.  You’re the preacher, ain’t you up at Calvary Church?”

“Yes.  How did you know?”

“I’ve seen you.  Heard you preach once.  I never thought I should come to this—­holding up a preacher down here!” And the man laughed a hard, short laugh.

“Then you’re not——­” Philip hardly knew how to say it.  He wanted to say that the man was not connected in any way with the saloon element; “you’re driven to this desperate course on your own account?  The reason I ask is because I have been threatened by the whiskey men, and at first I supposed you were one of their men.”

“No, sir,” was the answer, almost in disgust.  “I may be pretty bad, but I’ve not got so low as that.”

“Then your only motive was hunger?”

“That was all.  Enough, ain’t it?”

“We can’t discuss the matter here,” said Philip.  He hesitated, rose, and stood there looking at the man who sat now with his head resting on his arms, which were folded across his knees.  Two or three persons came out of a street near by and walked past.  Philip knew them and said good-evening.  They thought he was helping some drunken man, a thing he had often done, and they went along without stopping.  Again the street was deserted.

“What will you do now?  Where will you go?”

“God knows.  I am an outcast on His earth!”

“Have you no home?”

“Home!  Yes; the gutter, the street, the bottom of the river.”

“My brother!” Philip laid his hand on the man’s shoulder, “come home with me, have something to eat, and stay with me for a while.”

The man looked up and stared at Philip through the semi-darkness.

“What, go home with you!  That would be a good one after trying to hold you up!  I’ll tell you what you ought to do.  Take me to the police station and have me arrested for attempt at highway robbery.  Then I’d get lodgings and victuals for nothing.”

Philip smiled slightly.  “That would not help matters any.  And if you know me at all, you know I would never do any such thing.  Come home with me.  No one, except you and myself and my wife need ever know what has happened to-night.  I have food at my home, and you are hungry.  We both belong to the same Father-God.  Why should I not help you if I want to?”

It was all said so calmly, so lovingly, so honestly, that the man softened under it.  A tear rolled over his cheek.  He brushed his hand over his eyes.  It had been a long time since any one had called him “brother.”

“Come!” Philip reached out his hand and helped him to rise.  The man staggered, and might have fallen if Philip had not supported him.  “I am faint and dizzy,” he said.

“Courage, man!  My home is not far off; we shall soon be there.”  His companion was silent.  As they came up to the door Philip said:  “I haven’t asked your name, but it might save a little awkwardness if I knew it.”