“Mr. Hammond, it seems incredible that you can plead for him.  Oh, do not tempt me!  Do not make me believe that I could restore his purity of faith and life.  Do not tell me that it would be right to give my hand to a blasphemous murderer?  Oh! my own heart is weak enough already!  I know that I am right in my estimate of his unscrupulous character, and I am neither so vain nor so blind as to imagine that my feeble efforts could accomplish for him what all your noble magnanimity and patient endeavors have entirely failed to effect.  If he can obstinately resist the influence of your life, he would laugh mine to scorn.  It is hard enough for me to leave him, when I feel that duty demands it.  Oh, my dear Mr. Hammond! do not attempt to take from me the only staff which can carry me firmly away—­do not make my trial even more severe.  I must not see his face; for I will not be his wife.  Instead of weakening my resolution by holding out flattering hopes of reforming him, pray for me! oh! pray for me! that I may be strengthened to flee from a great temptation!  I will marry no man who is not an earnest, humble believer in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Rather than become the wife of a sacrilegious scoffer, such as I know Mr. Murray to be, I will, so help me God! live and work alone, and go down to my grave, Edna Earl!”

The minister sighed heavily.

“Bear one thing in mind.  It has been said, that in disavowing guardianship, we sometimes slaughter Abel.  You can not understand my interest in St. Elmo.  Remember that if his wretched soul is lost at last, it will be required at the hands of my son, in that dread day--Dies Irae!  Dies Illa!—­when we shall stand at the final judgment!  Do you wonder that I struggle in prayer, and in all possible human endeavor to rescue him from ruin; so that when I am called from earth, I can meet the spirit of my only boy with the blessed tidings that the soul he jeopardized, and well-nigh wrecked, has been redeemed! is safe! anchored once more in the faith of Christ?  But I will say no more.  Your own heart and conscience must guide you in this matter.  It would pour a flood of glorious sunshine upon my sad and anxious heart, as I go down to my grave, if I could know that you, whose life and character I have in great degree moulded, were instrumental in saving one whom I have loved so long, so well, and under such afflicting circumstances, as my poor St. Elmo.”

“To the mercy of his Maker, and the intercession of his Saviour, I commit him.”

  ‘As for me, I go my way, onward, upward.’”

A short silence ensued, and at last Edna rose to say good-bye.

“Do you still intend to leave at four o’clock in the morning?  I fear you will have bad weather for your journey.”

“Yes, sir, I shall certainly start to-morrow.  And now, I must leave you.  Oh, my best friend! how can I tell you good-bye!”

The minister folded her in his trembling arms, and his silver locks mingled with her black hair, while he solemnly blessed her.  She sobbed as he pressed his lips to her forehead, and gently put her from him; and turning, she hurried away, anxious to escape the sight of Gertrude’s accusing face; for she supposed that Mrs. Powell had repeated to her daughter Mr. Murray’s taunting words.