"Don't tempt me!" he said.

"The frailest of all human creatures is a clergyman tempted by a subscription." Mercy persisted, and conquered; she made him prove the truth of his own profound observation of clerical human nature by taking a piece of money from the purse.

"If I must take it--I must!" he remarked.

"Thank you for setting the good example! thank you for giving the timely help! What name shall I put down on my list ?" Mercy's eyes looked confusedly away from him.

"No name," she said, in a low voice.