I have sent for you
now, sir, because--I am dying.'
"The sick man sank back upon his pillows and rested a moment; then,
fixing his large eyes on the minister's face, he went on:
"'Mr. Sutherland, one afternoon many years ago you were entrusted with
a large sum of money to take to the foreman of a certain mill. In a wild
and lonely spot, you slipped from your saddle and knelt down by some
bushes and asked God to protect you. Do you remember it?'
"'As if it had been yesterday,' said the minister. 'But, my good
friend-what do you know about it?'
"'Far more than you do,' said the sick man sadly. _I heard that prayer_.
I was crouching among the bushes nearby, with my rifle pointed at your
heart. I had planned to kill you, take the money, and ride away on your
pony. But while you were praying something passed between us; I did not
know what it was, but I believed that God had sent it to protect you. I
sat in those bushes, too weak to pull the trigger, and watched you ride
away--perfectly helpless to do any harm to you. But it has haunted me
ever since--the thought of what I wanted to do, and what I should have
done if God had not answered your prayer.
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