die while so doing, what nobler death can I desire?"

Mannering regarded the speaker with growing concern. But he still
assumed sanity on the part of the reverend gentleman, and still
felt considerable irritation mix with his solicitude.

"You must consider others a little," he said.

"No, Dr. Mannering; they must consider me. Providence sends me a
message denied to the rest of you, because I am a fit recipient;
you are not. It is Newman's 'Illative Sense'--a conviction arising
from well-springs far deeper and purer than those that account for
human reason. I know because I know. Reasoning, at best, is mere
inference deduced from observation, but I am concerned with an
inspiration--a something akin to the gift of prophecy."

"Then I can only hope that Sir Walter will exercise his rights and
responsibilities and deny you what you wish."

"He has faith, and I am sorry that you lack it."

"No, Mr. May, you must not say that. It is entirely reasonable
that Mannering should ask you to consider others," said Sir Walter.
"To you a sudden and peaceful death might be no ill; but it would
be a very serious ill to the living--a loss to your work on earth,
which is not done, a shock and grief to those who respect you, and
a reflection on all here."

"Let the living minister to the living and put their trust in God."