Fergus Hume

“ He glanced with some embarrassment at Farmer Carwell.
"Shall I question him?" he demanded.
"Surely, brother," answered Carwell, gravely; "the meanest criminal has a right to a hearing. Question our pastor, that we may learn if he is still to teach us, or if he should be cast out of Emmanuel's fold."
"I ask for nothing better than such an examination," cried Johnson. "I stand here as I would at the Judgment Seat, to defend my name and life. Begin, Brother Korah. On what grounds do you accuse me?"
"You loved Bithiah," said Brand, harshly.
"Is that a crime? Is love forbidden by the Gospel? ”

“ Jack also delivered Korah's confession to the police, who promised to forward it to Inspector Chard at Grimleigh. Then they went aboard again, and the Dayspring spread her white wings and lifted to the swell of the open sea. Her nose was pointed south for the Horn.
"And then, Koiau!" whispered Jack to his wife,
"Koiau!" sighed Tera, and burst into wild singing in her native tongue. So they went sailing to a future of joy--to the spicy islands set like jewels in the shining seas of the under world. ”

“ With this dramatic declaration on his lips, Lee swung off down the hill to escape further reproof and entreaty. Johnson, knowing the fierce nature of the wanderer, looked after him with an air of doubt. When Pharaoh's evil passions were roused, he struck at once, swift and true as a wounded snake. It seemed as if Tera's murder were to be followed by another, and Johnson sighed as he thought of all that had happened so suddenly to trouble the hitherto smoothly-flowing current of his life. ”

“ Now you have paid your debts at the cost of Bithiah's life. 'Be sure thy sin will find thee out.' It has found you out--murderer!"
"I am no murderer," cried the minister, vehemently; "as I am a living man, I had no hand in her death. I never saw her after she left my house. I searched, but in vain. Who paid my debts, I do not know. Yesterday I found a pile of receipted bills on this table. Who put them there I know no more than you do."
"You cannot impose upon me by such a story," said Brand, coldly; "debts like yours are not paid by unknown people. ”

“ After the funeral of Tera I am going to London to see my creditors and learn the truth."
Brand smiled. "You are going to London," he repeated; "that is, you intend to seek safety in flight. Well, it is the best thing you can do. I shall not betray your secret."
"I do not intend to fly. I have done nothing wrong."
"Man! man! why will you try to deceive me? I am your friend, and for your sake, for the sake of our Bethesda, I implore you to fly. What will your congregation say if their pastor is hanged for murder?" ”

“ There was a pause, during which Miss Arnott's dramatic instincts were strong enough to appreciate the situation. There she stood, defiant and calm, with the eyes of the amazed congregation fastened on her. Johnson remained in his seat, waiting developments; and Brand, taken by surprise, stared at her dumbfounded. In the old days there would have been a quick curtain on this situation, and probably much applause afterwards; and Miss Arnott, in spite of her conversion and religion, could not but thrill at this intrusion of melodrama into real life. Certainly she made the most of her part. ”

“ Bithiah! Do you mean to say that you strangled Zara?"
"Ioé," said Tera, pettishly. "How often am I to speak?"
Rachel looked at her in horror. She knew that, in spite of her veneer of civilization, this native girl was a savage at heart. Doubtless she thought no more of taking a human life than an ordinary person would of killing a fly; but it was terrible to hear her admit the fact so calmly. In spite of the conviction which was stealing over her that Tera spoke the truth, Rachel tried her best to fight against it. ”

“ But you do not understand, Misi. I am clever. Niga wants Tera to die; so he told me to say I came from Viara. Then Tera loves me and wants me always to be with her. Some day I kill her--you see?"
"Does Niga want you to kill her?"
"Yes, Misi, he does--me or you."
Not the least suspicion had Brand that Tolai was lying to him, still less acting a part to which six eager ears were listening--straining to catch every word, in the adjoining room. He answered freely, without so much as lowering his voice, for he felt secure in speaking the Polynesian tongue. ”

“ THE VANISHING OF TERA
CHAPTER I A KING'S DAUGHTER
"I come from Eden," cried the preacher; "even from the Island of Koiau, which floats as a green leaf upon the untroubled sea. There reigneth eternal summer, but there reigneth not the Eternal God in the hearts of the heathen. Koiau is one of the dark places of the earth. There 'every prospect pleases, and only man is vile.' Yet the Lord hath not forgotten His people. The light of the gospel glimmers amid the gloom, and ours, brethren, must be the task of pouring oil into the lamp, that the flame may illuminate those who walk in darkness. ”

“ Present also was Miss Arnott, a lean demure woman who had been an actress in her youth, but who, stirred by a chance word, had left the booths of Satan for the tabernacle of Zion. She was gazing ardently at a pale man seated on a cane chair near the rostrum, and guided by the intensity of the look, Tera let her eyes stray in the same direction. Yet there was little in the appearance of Mr. Johnson to attract the eye. ”

“ Tera burst into a jeering laugh at her manifest cowardice, then drove on at full speed to Grimleigh. Not until she was safe on board the schooner, with Jack beside her, would she feel secure. The laws in England were scarcely so lax as those in Koiau, and she could not presume on her rank as a chief's daughter in this land of the haolis (whites) . After all, Tera had no reason to jeer at Rachel. In a different way she was just as great a coward. She did not fear death in itself, but she dreaded lest anything should part her from Jack. ”

“ Miss Arnott struck her breast theatrically. Her whole attitude now was reminiscent of her early profession. "It is the love of a woman for a man--the passion which, once in her lifetime, is born in the breast of every mortal woman--ay, and of every man. It is no artificial creation of Christianity."
"You speak wickedly," said the minister, agitated and shocked.
"I speak humanly--as a woman whose life's happiness is at stake. Do not misunderstand me, Mr. Johnson. ”

“ Brand shook his head. "You must not marry that godless sailor."
"I marry Jack!" said Tera, her nostrils dilating; "he is a good man and beautiful. You have no right to speak to me so."
"Let me remind you, child, that I am your guardian."
"Mr. Johnson is my guardian!"
"He was; but your father, Buli, sent me to England to take charge of you. Therefore, I am your guardian now, and I intend to take you with me back to Koiau on the first ship I can get."
"No," said Tera, loudly, "you shall not. I will not go with you. Soon I am to marry Jack in Bethgamul. Mr. Johnson himself will marry us. ”

“ Chard looked hard at the sallow face of the skipper. Apparently he was speaking the truth. His face was set like a mask. Then a new idea struck Mr. Inspector.
"If you can't read it, some one on board your ship can!" he declared.
"Well, I should smile. D'ye think we carry a university on board?"
"But if Finland had not meant this letter to be read he would not have written it. You know this cypher. Don't lie!"
"I'll knock your head off if you give me the lie," retorted Shackel. "Let me see Finland, and I'll ask him myself what the dickens he means by playing low down on the old man." ”

“ The stranger was tall, slender, and as brown as Tera had been. But those keen black eyes and that hawk-like nose could belong only to a Romany. Having seen him before, Johnson had no difficulty in recognizing the man.
"Pharaoh Lee!" said the minister, stopping in his surprise. "I did not know you were here!"
"I'm with my people on the common yonder," replied Pharaoh, gloomily; "we came back the other day, rye--and on no very pleasant errand, either."
"I am sorry to hear that, Pharaoh! What is the matter?"
"A woman is the matter, as usual. D'ye remember Zara Lovell, rye?" ”

“ He approached Farmer Carwell. "Has Rachel not told you, farmer, our news? Where is she?"
Carwell said nothing, but stretching out a huge paw, gripped the man by the shoulder, and drew him towards the table into the bright glare of the lamp. He placed the certificate on the cloth before Mayne's eyes, and silently pointed to it. Mayne started, and gasped. Something seemed to catch in his throat, and he became inarticulate.
"You scoundrel!" said Carwell, between his teeth. "Do you know that paper? Yet you dare to make love to my child, you--you--you murderer!" ”

“ If Slade's theory that Zara had been killed in mistake for Tera were correct, Mayne could not be the guilty party. He could have absolutely no reason to murder the native girl. And if he were innocent, who was guilty? Finland was as much in the dark as ever. He felt he owed Rachel some reparation for Tera's trickery, and if before he left for Koiau he could clear Mayne's character, he would be doing her service more substantial than he was ever likely to accomplish in any other direction. He did not like Mayne--he thought him an out-and-out scoundrel. ”

“ The blood of the innocent cries out for judgment against you."
"Who dares to say such a thing, Brother Korah?"
"I do--unworthy as I am." Brand stretched out his arm. "Brother Johnson, you are a pastor of the Lord's sheep, and He committed a lamb to your charge. That lamb is slain, and it is cried aloud that you are the slayer. In the tents of Israel it is spoken. Your carnal love drove Bithiah of Koiau from your dwelling, and in her footsteps you followed to smite and slay her for the love of gold. ”

“ This is not the time to give up the man I love, when he is in sore distress and in need of a helping hand."
"What will your father say, Rachel?"
"My father, unfortunately, is not consistent in his Christianity," replied the girl, in rather a Pharisaical manner. "He thinks over much of worldly vanities; of what people say of him and his. A woman shall leave father and mother to follow after the husband of her choice. Herbert is my choice, and in spite of my father's anger, I will marry him. We shall not stay here to be mocked and despised. ”

“ This Tera disregarded altogether.
"You do not wish to tell me about Tolai," she said in sharper tones than were usual with her, "but I must know, Misi. It is only fair that I should."
"I cannot tell you now, Bithiah. Later on I may do so."
"Is it a message from my mother?"
"Yes, to me. I am not to inform you until I think fit. The time has not yet come."
"Is the Great Chief dead?"
"Buli? God forbid! No; he is well, and Viara also. Up to the present Niga has not succeeded in destroying our infant church. Tera," he added earnestly, "do not frown on me, my child. ”

“ She, too, knew of the trilithon in the dark forest, where scowled the terrible god, Lomangatini; she also had seen the limestone altar which had streamed so often with human blood. These things, fables to her neighbours, were realities to her; and the hot barbaric blood sang in her veins with quick response to the home picture. After a time the missionary began to describe the island; and Tera's fancy ran before his words to where Koiau lay amid leagues of shining seas, beneath the wider skies of the underworld. The lines of feathery palms; the long rollers crumbling on the ragged reef ”

“ Pharaoh's brow grew black, and he muttered a gipsy oath. "We'll never be husband and wife in this life, rye, whatever we may be in the next," he said bitterly. "Zara fell in love with one of your Gentile mashers here, and has gone back to him."
"Who is he?"
"I wish I knew," cried Lee, fiercely; "I'd knife him!"
"Hush! Hush!" rebuked Johnson, shivering at the thought of another murder. "You must not speak like that. It is dangerous."
"Not always, rye. Why, some Gorgio cove killed a girl here the other day, they tell me, and he has not been caught. I dare say she deceived him." ”

“ Then I shall invite him to confess."
"He is not compelled to do that," observed Rachel, who still held that in the absence of proof the minister was innocent.
"He is compelled so far," responded Brand, "that if he cannot clear his character, we shall depose him from his office. He shall have sorrow and wrath with his sickness."
"If he owns that he killed Tera, shall you have him arrested?" asked Mayne.
"No, no; that will never do," interposed Carwell, with a frown. "We must not bring disgrace on Bethgamul by our own act. If the man is guilty, let him fly hence and repent of his sins." ”

“ Mayne."
"Mayne!" cried Jack, who was listening in bewilderment. "What about Mayne?"
"He is a bad man!"
"A bad man?" echoed Carwell, his ruddy face paling. "How?"
"To-night he asked Rachel to become his wife!"
"Well, there's nothing wrong in that," cried the farmer, impatiently. "I saw long ago that he was in love with the girl."
"He has no right to love her, Mr. Carwell. He is married already."
"Married!--the scoundrel! Who is he married to?"
"To Zara Lovell."
"Zara Lovell!" repeated Finland, incredulously, while Carwell sank back in his armchair. "You must be mistaken, Tera; how do you know?" ”

“ He stopped, and burst into a harsh, contemptuous laugh. "Cur that you are, you are not worth an honest man soiling his hands. Out of my sight with you!" He dashed the man from him violently.
On the floor Herbert lay--a pitiable object, while the farmer stood over him, fighting down a fierce desire to kick him. Jack and Tera looked on in silence. Slowly Herbert gathered himself together, and, staggering to his feet, groped blindly to the far end of the room. ”

“ I went back to my house after my quarrel with Bithiah, and I was indoors all the evening."
"How came that ear-ring to be there, then?"
"Bithiah tore the ear-ring from my ear," explained Miss Arnott, hurriedly; "I can show you the scar. No doubt she took it with her to the field, and dropped it when she was assaulted by the person who killed her. I had no hand in her death. You believe me, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," replied Johnson, promptly. "I cannot think a woman who could act as you have done to-night would murder a defenceless girl." ”