earnestly to Slade, whose back was toward me. I saw that he
recognized me, although I had not passed a word with him on the
occasion of my former visit, and there was a lighting up of his
countenance as if about to speak--but I withdrew my eyes from his
face to avoid the unwelcome greeting. When I looked at him again,
I saw that he was regarding me with a sinister glance, which was
instantly withdrawn. In what broad, black characters was the word
TEMPTER written on his face! How was it possible for anyone to
look thereon, and not read the warning inscription!

Soon after, he withdrew into the bar-room and the landlord came
and took a seat near me on the porch.

"How is the 'Sickle and Sheaf' coming on?" I inquired.

"First rate," was the answer--"First rate."

"As well as you expected?"

"Better."

"Satisfied with your experiment?"

"Perfectly. Couldn't get me back to the rumbling old mill again,
if you were to make me a present of it."

"What of the mill?" I asked. "How does the new owner come on?"

"About as I thought it would be."