The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-02

Vasseur was easy to manage. One
other knew all; but that one could
always be bought to silence with
money. Burns alone was unmanage-
able; because he alone was sincere
and incorruptible.
When for years q man has been alb
solute master of himself and over all
who have come within the circle of
his life, it is hard for him to realize
suddenly that his influence is about
to fail. To Mr.. Vernon this threat.
ened failure meant much more than
mere loss of power in the direction Of
any ordinary ambition. He had lived
so long and so happily on the crust Of
q volcano, that, until Burns had come,
he had forgotten what fire lay under
it. The worst of 1t was that man
like Mr.. Vernon could but feel help
less and hopeless when dealing with
one like Burns.
As they stood thus for q moment at
arms'-length, with their faces thrust
almost together, the two men felt for
the first time clearly how much they
were in each others way. Burns was
aware now that Mr.. Vernon would
stand between him and his one re.
naming desire. He had conferred
with Vasseur, and from him had
shrewdly drawn enough to confirm
himself thoroughly in this thought.
Mr.. Vernon's grip on Burns's arms
drew them inward with such force
that the old mans chest was almost
folded together and his bresthing be-
came difficult.
"You, q minister of the gospel,
priest of the God of Heaven. come to
tell me that you are going to assassin
ate" Mr.. Vernon stopped short
and drew in a deep, shivering breath
as If the words had almost choked
him. "Shall I turn you over to Jack.
son to be dealt with?"
"Shall I turn you over to him?"
calmly responded Burns.
There was something desperately
reckless, beyond anything that Mr..
Vernon had ever dreamed of, in the
suggested significance of the words.
He involuntarily loosed his hold and
let fall his hands as if just released
from a galvanio shock.
"True, true" he murmured, in a
strangely changed voice; 81 am not
one to lead others to Justice"
"You are better, far better than
most men, even with your sins all
counted" said Burns. II owe every.
thing to you and yours"
"Everything?"
eyes, everything. But the evil
part is not"
eyes, yes, the evil and all is from
me-"
"I was hungry and you fed me. I
was dying and you nursed me back
to life."
"And now I ask you for more than
lifer' exclaimed Mr.. Vernon in q
hoarse whisper.
II know, I know" faltered Burns.
"No, you do not. You know
enough, but not ALL"
eyes, Thomas cCollough--"
Mr.. Vernon flew at his throat and
shut off his words.
"Speak that name again, and"
He did not complete the sentence; he
was ashamed Of himself instantly.
"Forgive me; I am not myself" he
went on, letting go his hold His voice
softened. "And you-you are all
wrong, Mr.. Burns, you are permit.
ting your passion to drag you along
with it; let me beg of you to stop and
give your conscience its freedom once
more"
"I am sure" said Burns, with dry
emphasis, ':Inat you have shown less
self.control than have I. I haven't
tried to choke you"
"Forgive me, T repeat it, forgive
mel" Mr.. Vernon supplicated.
"There is nothing to forgive; I
mentioned it only to remind you that
it is not so easy to hold oneself in"
"But you are a good man, Mr..
Burns, and I am not. Your life has
been pure and clean and self-sacri-
ficing. You have served God and
kept His commandments. It is terri
BILE for you to close up your long and
noble career where mine began, in
crime and violence. Think q moment,
and"
"No, no; when I think, it maddens
me. T dare not thinkl Don't ask me
to. All my years of humble service
in my calling have led up to this. It
is fate. I have but one thing to live
for, and that I will accomplish before
I die"
"Have you thrown off your obliga-
tion to God and your priestly sanctity,
as one throws off top-coat?"
call these have been torn from me
by the wayside thorns. I wore them
till they fell in shreds at my feet.
They were not the true"
"There, tai You do violence to
yourself and to your sacred profess
sion."
(To BE coNT1NUED.)
Seeds That Need Fire.