In that room he had seen his dearest doctrines cremated.

Out of that room he had come bearing the ashes of his hopes in his hands.

Now he must go back once more to try to fill, with science, a gap of which science could never take cognizance.
He lingered another instant with his hand on the door; then he cast it wide bravely enough and stepped in.

Joe Cumberland was sitting up on the edge of his couch.

There was colour in the old man's face.