After years of running after strange gods, the Episcopal service as administered by Allan had prevailed over her seasoned skepticism: through its fascinating leaven of romance--with faint and, as it seemed to her, wholly reverent hints of physical culture--the spirit may be said to have blandished her.

And now this turpitude in a man of God came to disturb the first tender rootlings of her new faith.
The husband of her niece had loyally endeavoured to dissuade her from this too human reaction.
"God has chosen to try me for a purpose, Aunt Bell," he said very simply.

"I ought to be proud of it--eager for any test--and I am.

True, in these last years I had looked upon grandfather's fortune as mine--not only by implied promise, but by all standards of right--even of integrity.

For surely a man could not more nearly forfeit his own rights, in every moral aspect, than poor Bernal has--though I meant always to stand by him.