The doctor called them into the front room and whispered to Gordon:

"He's got to die, and I'm going to tell him. I'm glad you are here."

He took the man by the hand.

"Well, John, I'm sorry to say so to you, but you must know it. You
can't live beyond the day."

The man drew himself upon his elbow, looked at the doctor in a
dazed sort of way and then at his wife holding his crying baby in
her arms, the other little ones clinging to her dress, and gasped:

"Did you say die? Here--now--to-day--die? And if I do, I leave my
helpless ones to starve."

He paused, fingering the covering nervously, shut his jaws firmly
and looked at the doctor.

"Almighty God! I can't die!" he growled through his teeth. "I will
not die!"

"No, no, you sha'n't die, John. We'll help you to live!" his wife
cried.

"Very well; if you keep on feeling that way you may live," said
the doctor cheerfully. "We will hope for the best."

Kate's eyelids drooped as she stood watching this scene as in a