with Brother Higgs who 'as a shop full o' cunning wrought vanities in
silver and gold.'"

"But suppose," said the jeweller, finding his voice by a great effort,
"suppose victory is not given unto you."

"It won't make any difference," replied his visitor. "Brother Clark
promised that it shouldn't. 'If you fall, Brother,' he says, 'we'll help
you up again. When you are tired of sin come back to us--there's always
a welcome.'"

"But--" began the dismayed jeweller.

"We can only do our best," said Brother Burge, "the rest we must leave.
I 'ave girded my loins for the fray, and taken much spiritual sustenance
on the way down from this little hymn-book."

Mr. Higgs paid no heed. He sat marvelling over the fatuousness of
Brother Clark and trying to think of ways and means out of the dilemma
into which that gentleman's perverted enthusiasm had placed him. He
wondered whether it would be possible to induce Brother Burge to sleep
elsewhere by offering to bear his hotel expenses, and at last, after some
hesitation, broached the subject.

"What!" exclaimed the other, pushing his plate from him and regarding him
with great severity. "Go and sleep at a hotel? After Brother Clark has
been and took all this trouble? Why, I wouldn't think of doing such a
thing."

"Brother Clark has no right to expose you to such a trial," said Mr.