"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."
"He will not fly, although I have urged him," groaned Korah.
"In that case it would seem he is innocent," said Rachel. "But here he comes, poor man; how ill he looks!"
"'He cometh in with vanity,'" quoted Brand, "'and his name shall be covered with darkness.'"
"That has yet to be proved," said Herbert. His defence of the minister drew an approving smile from Rachel.
Johnson did indeed look ill. As he stood on the rostrum under the yellow glare of the oil lamp, he gazed down on the stern faces of his people. Every countenance was set like a flint; even those of the women were harder and more unsympathetic than usual, and he felt that in their hearts they already condemned him. But the sight of his old mother weeping quietly in the corner brought him comfort. If no one else believed in his innocence, she did.
"Brother Johnson," said Brand, rising as the minister opened the Bible, "before you speak from the sacred volume, we would know if you are worthy to do so. Are your lips undefiled? Is your heart clean within you?"
"Yes," replied the minister, calmly. "I am conscious of no sin."