what good could come of his wreaking vengeance on me, richly as I
deserve it? It would only make his destiny more dark and dreadful, and
defeat the one chance I have of making an atonement. You do not think I
ought to make myself known, do you?"

"I do not. I think with you that an atonement is the most perfect
satisfaction of justice."

"Thank you, thank you, my dear friend. You do not know how glad I am to
have you think I am doing right. You will go to him to-morrow, then, and
you will tell him that some one who has seen him on the streets has
taken compassion on him. You will do this, will you not?"

"Nothing could give me greater pleasure. I half feel as if I had
participated with you in the wrong done to the old man, and that I shall
be blessed with you in trying to make it right."

"That is good in you, Mantel. How much nobility lies buried in every
human heart! It may be that even such men as you and I are capable of
some sort of rescue and redemption. I am going to spend my best strength
in working for this poor old blind beggar whom I have wronged. I mean to
toil for him like a galley slave, and mark me, Mantel, it is going to be
honest toil!"

"Honest, did you say?" asked Mantel, lifting his eyebrows incredulously.

"Yes," David answered, "honest. This hope that has come to me has
wrought a great change in my heart. It has revived old feelings which I
thought long dead. If there is a God in heaven who has decided to give
me one more chance to set myself right, I am going to take it! And