CHAPTER XIV.

FIRST DAY OF POWER.

For the first time for many years-more even than he could remember-Israel had a sleepless night, following the day that revolutionised his fortunes.

He thought of David-his rebellious, and yet timid boy, and as he thought, somehow the lad's instincts as regarded the mine appeared less unmanly and more deserving of attention than before; and he went so far as to speculate as to the possibilities, before many years were gone, of raising him to be at once a gentleman and a mineowner-as his partner. Israel Mort and Son,' he thought would sound well some day.

He thought also of his wife; but that kind of thinking was too much out of his way for him to dwell long on it. She was asleep, but he woke her, to ask

'Do you think old Simon would take twenty pounds a year for that house and garden?'

'Yes. But nobody seems inclined to make him an offer.'

'As soon as you have had your breakfast, go to him, and say if he will, I think I can find him a tenant.'

'Very well.'

Again, silence. The wife rose and began to dress. And, again, Israel spake after a little while

'Barrett has left the neighbourhood and gone far away into Scotland. He has let his house, but hasn't managed to dispose of his furniture, which would cost too much to remove. Set somebody-not yourself, mind, for Barrett hates me set somebody, I say, to find out the lowest he will take, and buy it.'

'Buy it, Israel!' echoed Mrs. Mort in wonder, almost alarm.

For us!' said Israel. Pray attend. Get the house

as cheap as you can. Buy the furniture for the price asked. Remove from here as quick as possible. Putting both lots together, the new house should be decently well filled; but I authorise you to lay out, to the extent of twenty pounds more, to bring all things to a kind of level; also I authorise you to lay out ten pounds for yourself in clothes, ten pounds for ine in linen and things-the tailor I'll see to; and as to David, we'll look to him afterwards.'

‘Oh, Israel, Israel, Israel, has all this come honestly about?'

'Woman, dare you suspect otherwise? But there, I ought not to be surprised. You'll find all right. Do you believe me?' he demanded, looking her sternly, yet openly in the face.

'Yes, yes; I do now! I do.'

As soon as she had gone downstairs, Israel rose. His first care, when dressed, was to go to a little table, where he was often accustomed to sit and write, and go over business matters connected with the mine, when the one living-room below was occupied with the preparations for the meal. Taking his memorandum-book from his pocket, he wrote in it as follows, in a bold large handwriting :

'June 1, 18-. This day, at the age of 49, after forty-three years of hard labour, and wages beginning at 58. a week, and ending at 30s. a week, I begin life afresh, manager at 300l. a year; with no debts, and cash in hand (commission) 750l., and Mine-Owner to the extent of a third share, valued at 7,500l. I write this down, in order that when I look back, say after ten or a dozen years, I may see whether I have made as good use of the advantages of this position, as I have made of the disadvantages of my old one.

'I say certainly I ought. I am strong, hardly ever ill. I time now my pulse beating seventy beats a minute, each one full, with not a bit of hurry or jumping-just the

pulse to let a man go anywhere and do anything that's in his nature to do. Thanks be to God.

'ISRAEL MORT.'

He read this after writing it, then paused with a strange look of dissatisfaction, yet also of something higher, better, softening, and improving his features that was impossible to define. Then he took his pen, and was about to strike out the last four words he had written, and, in fact, he did cross with a line of erasure half the word 'Thanks,' before he stopped to reflect.

He seemed puzzled that he had written thus-puzzled to remember that the words had dropped unconsciously from him; for he knew well how little he had been accustomed to ascribe anything to a higher power, and believed that people all about him, who did this sort of thing, did it either from motives of hypocrisy, or from the intellectual weakness that makes the bulk of us accept as implicitly true whatever we are told.

But, on reflection, Israel could not discover that he had ever precisely determined either that God did not exist, or, that existing, His relations with men might not from time to time be calculated to call forth a grateful acknowledgment from them. In fact, Israel began to suspect he had only looked at God, through the weaknesses, follies, and selfishnesses of his fellow-men; and, in looking, had found the latter so engross him that his vision had failed of their final solemn quest, and so he had remained spiritually dark

as ever.

He must look to this by-and-by. Meantime he would let the sentence stand.

A voice at this moment ascended from below, calling him. He went down and found the night-deputy there, Rees Thomas.

The deputy looked sad, yet resolute, as if conscious he had come upon an unhappy errand.

'Israel Mort, I must deal fairly with thee, so I tell thee I went last night to ask Mr. Griffith Williams to

interpose between thee and me in this matter of saying prayers before beginning work at the mine.'

6

'Ay, as usual, going wrong in one thing leads pretty quick to going wrong in another,' replied Israel sharply, yet as if not quite forgetting his own recent movement against Mr. Barrett. And what did he say?'

That he had ceased to be owner, and that I had better go to Mrs. Jehoshaphat Williams, to whom it now belongs.'

'Not entirely, Rees Thomas. I have a little share in the job.'

You! A share! You! partner!'

6 Ay, does the idea seem ridiculous?'

'On the contrary, I know no man better fitted for nor more deserving of such good fortune except in the one thing needful, which lacking, all else is worthless.'

6 Now, this is my first day of power, and I have neither time nor thoughts to spare except for useful things. Do you apologise for disobedience to orders?'

'No,' responded the deputy firmly, yet closing his eyes as in pain.

"Think well. You know not what I intend.'

The deputy gazed eagerly in Israel's face, as if new light had broken upon him.

'Do you mean that if I apologise-and my Father in Heaven knows how heartily I could do that if only I can see my way honestly; but I will honestly, Israel, try-if that be all, I will try-Do you mean that then you will yourself sanction

Something in this speech jarred upon the hearer; he relapsed into his old imperiousness of command, and whatever his thoughts or purposes, he simply said, and with his ordinary harshness of voice

'Rees Thomas, if you come here to question me the sooner you go again the better. Apologise, and take the situation of Overman, which I will make one unusually profitable for you-or take notice to leave this day month.'

'And may I the while do what I am called to?' "No!' thundered Israel, his patience utterly exhausted.

Farewell, then! I wish you no evil; on the contrary, I wish you every true good. Israel Mort, I have felt strangely inclined towards thee many, many times. I have thought about thee-I have prayed for thee-I have asked God if He would not do what I could not, make thee a chosen vessel for His glory. Thou hast gifts that might make thee a leader among men, but thou pervertest them; and I now tell thee, that until thou changest, heart and soul, and listenest to the words that have been spoken to us all, but specially to thee and such as thee, I say, unless thou bendest thy stiffened neck, and causest the hardness of thy heart to melt, thou never wilt, never shalt, enter into the kingdom of heaven that thou dost not seek, or into the kingdom of earth that thou dost seek. Farewell! I go not again into the mine, but will seek my bread where else it may be found. James Lusty and John Lewis can do all between them that is needed till thou findest a Deputy to suit thee. They have promised that. Farewell!'

Israel made no response, but gazed sternly and bitterly at the retreating figure, which paused at the threshold and looked back, as if still hoping for some change, but seeing none, went out, and closed the door very softly after him.

CHAPTER XV.

ISRAEL IN THE ARENA; GRIFFITH LOOKING ON.

EXACT to his word Israel presented himself next day at the Farm to demand his commission money.

But he had scarcely entered within the exterior gate, when he heard Griffith Williams call out loudly from the terrace above