“Of the promises of God,” said Amos solemnly; “and I can only regret, Mr Vivian, that you will not abandon those ways which God cannot bless, and seek your peace and happiness, as you may do, in your Saviour’s service. Why should you not? He has a place in his loving heart for you.”
“Is the sermon over, Mr Parson?” asked the other with a snarl. “Oh, very good; and now, let us come to business again. What about the cheque? Is it ready?”
“I cannot give it,” was Amos’s reply. “I should be wrong to give it. I should only be encouraging evil, and that I dare not do.”
“Be it so,” said the other; “then, remember, you must take the consequences.”
“I am in God’s hands,” replied Amos, “and am prepared to take them.”
“Good again,” said his persecutor. “Once more, then, I come. This night, before sunset, I must have the cheque, or else you must abide the consequences.”
No more was said, and the young man was again left to his solitude. Had he done right? Yes; he had no doubt on the subject. And now he must prepare himself for what might be his lot, for he had no thought of changing his resolution not to sign the cheque. Having fortified himself by spreading out his case before the Lord in prayer, and strengthened himself physically by eating and drinking a small portion of his now nearly exhausted provisions, he once more examined every place through which it might be possible for him to make his escape, but in vain. Last of all he looked up the chimney, but felt that he could not attempt to make his way out in that direction. He must just wait then; and he turned to some of those promises in the Psalms which are specially encouraging to those who wait, and a strange, unearthly peace stole into his heart.
Noon had passed, but not a sound broke the stillness except the drip, drip from the roof, for a thaw had set in. Three o’clock came. What was that sound? Was the end nearer than he expected? Had his brother-in-law, in his impatience, come earlier than he had said? No. There was the welcome tone of a young voice crying out to some one else. Then Amos sprang to the window, and, opening the casement, shouted out. In a few moments Walter’s face met his brother’s. “Here he is! here he is!” he screamed out. “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” Old Harry came round to the barred window, and, lifting up his hands and eyes, exclaimed, “The Lord be praised!” Then followed rapid questionings. But to these Amos replied, “You shall know all by-and-by; but now I must ask you to set me free. I am a prisoner here. The only outside door is locked, and I cannot undo it; and these bars, which I have tried in vain to force, have prevented my escape this way.”—“All right,” said his brother. “Come along, Harry.”
The two went round to the door and shook it, but to no purpose. A heavy log had also been jammed down against it. This, by their united strength, they with difficulty removed. Again they tried to wrench open the door, but without effect, for it was a huge and ponderous structure, and they could make nothing of it. “Harry must ride over to the nearest village and fetch a blacksmith,” said Walter, when he had returned to the window. “Tell him to be quick then, and to bring two or three men with him, for there is danger before us. I cannot tell you more now.”—“I’ll tell him,” replied his brother; and the old servant departed with all speed on his errand. Then Walter came back to the window, and talked long and earnestly with Amos, telling him of the deep concern felt by his aunt and father on account of his prolonged absence. “But,” he added, “I’m not going to tell you now how we found you. We will keep that till we get home, and then shan’t we have a regular pour out?”
Wearied at last with waiting, Walter began to make another assault on the front door. It was now getting a little dusk, and he was hoping for Harry’s return with the men; so, as he said, partly to see what he could do by himself, and partly to keep himself warm, he proceeded to shower upon the stubborn oak a perfect hail of blows and kicks. He was in the very thick of this performance when he was suddenly made aware that a horseman was close to him. He therefore stopped his exciting occupation, and looked round. The horseman was tall, and of a very sinister expression of countenance, with piercing black eyes. He was also rather fantastically but shabbily dressed.