The confusion by the door of the courtroom increased. A word was passed from lip to lip. Faces grew pale. The word went out over the waiting spectators, and reached the bar and the county attorney.

The attorney rose, and, lifting his arm, he solemnly said, while the confusion suddenly ceased: "Your honor, Burke Williams's case has been called up to a higher court. He has committed suicide!"

Judge Vernon grasped the desk in front of him, and for a moment the courtroom swam before him in confusion. He recovered himself, but the excitement was so great and the tension on his emotions so strong that he was compelled to adjourn the court for the day. As he passed out of the room, the lawyers and spectators quietly made way for him. His recent experiences had given him an added dignity that all men respected.

The prisoner had hung himself to one of the bars of his cell. He had left no confession. The mystery of Claude Vernon's death remained a mystery so far as any actual proof was obtained, and the prisoner himself had gone to meet the Judge of all the earth, to be judged for the deeds done in the body. What that judgment is, only the last great day can disclose.

The news of the suicide stirred the people of Merton deeply.

The whole affair, together with Howard Douglass's plan and its reception by so many prominent people, called attention to Freetown as it had never been called during the history of the city. For several days it was the absorbing topic of conversation. People all over the city discussed the situation. One of the most interesting discussions was held by the Christian Endeavor society of the Emmanuel Church a week after the suicide.

It was a regular business session, and after the reports had been received, the president rose and said he wanted to present the case of Freetown to the society.

"Mr. Douglass will be here before we finish, but it seemed to me it would be a good thing if we could let him know something definite that we can pledge to do to help the work. Some of us have been talking over the work for several weeks, and I think we are ready to submit a line of suggestions which the society can follow out if it thinks best."

"I make a motion," said one of the members who was a college student and always wanted business to proceed in accordance with Cushing's "Manual of Parliamentary Practice," "that we pledge ourselves as a society to help in the work at Freetown in every way we can. We can discuss plans in detail before passing the motion."

The motion was seconded by half a dozen eager voices.

"Now for suggestions," said the president.

The chairman of the Christian-citizenship committee rose.

"Our committee has held several meetings within the past month, and we have agreed that we might do some good work in the settlement house by having meetings to instruct the voters in Freetown along the line of municipal politics. We could have classes in the history of political movements, take up the city government, discuss the best plans for electing the best men, etc. This plan has already been tried in several social settlements with great success. Our committee pledges itself to help in this way."

He sat down, and some one started a little applause. It swept through the room, and ceased only when the chairman of the good-literature committee rose.

"Our committee is ready to fit up the new reading-room in the social settlement with magazines, papers, and books. Besides that, we believe we can carry good papers to the different houses in Freetown, and direct the reading by means of reading-circles, especially in the winter. Our main object, however, will be to help make the new reading-room attractive, and to serve as librarians or attendants different evenings during the week, if Mr. Douglass says that is the best way to serve."

"Any other suggestions?" asked the president, as no one spoke for a moment.

The chairman of the lookout committee rose slowly. He was one of the oldest members of the society and a good worker, but talking was hard work for him.

"Several members of our committee think the cooking-classes in Freetown are going to be very necessary. Referred to the other members of the committee; the rest of them are girls."

He sat down amid applause. There were cries for one or two of the other members of the committee.

"It's true!" said a tall, energetic-looking girl, as she rose and spoke very decidedly. "It makes a great difference with the morals of people what they eat. And some of us girls think the best thing we could do to help in the social settlement will be to volunteer our services as cooks in the housekeeping department, and teach the colored girls over there the best ways, and help fit them for service. You needn't laugh, because some of us can cook. Our mothers have taught us how. And we are ready to do our share."

She sat down amid a generous clapping of hands, and in the midst of it Mr. Douglass walked in.

"I think we are ready to hear from the pastor now," said the president, as Mr. Douglass sat down near him.

"No; go on, and let me know what you have been doing," said the minister. He looked tired, but his face brightened as he looked over the room and saw the faces of the young people. There was inspiration in the life there.

The president gave an outline of the work suggested by the committees. "It is only a beginning of what we can do, I'm sure," the president said in conclusion; "but we want to be of use, and we are ready to learn."

"Thank God!" cried Howard Douglass to himself softly, while his eyes filled with tears. "'For Christ and the church.' Why, we can turn the world out of the hand of evil into the arms of good if we only have enough volunteer service like this."

He stayed a long time, talking over plans with the society; and, when he finally walked home, he carried in his heart a great encouragement that in the coming fight for souls in Freetown he had for helpers the united, enthusiastic, whole-hearted service of his society.

The next few weeks saw the history of the new movement made very fast.

One of the daily papers of Merton volunteered to receive money for an endowment fund, and even agreed to publish a series of articles on social settlements, in order to awaken interest in the movement and show that they were of practical value in the solution of great human problems. This series was actually printed and eagerly read by the subscribers. It was so popular that the editor followed it up with another series on the proposed plan to redeem Freetown, accompanied by sketches of the building, a description of its general plan, and a detailed account of the premium list for the best houses and gardens in the district.

The whole city became profoundly interested as the time drew near for the completion of the settlement house and its occupation by the volunteer residents. Perhaps no one event had ever stirred social circles as this one. Mrs. Carlton's influence had been very large. So far, her example in the way of financial help for the settlement had not been imitated by any other society people. The winter had been a very gay one. Even Claude Vernon's tragic death and Inez Carlton's sad experience had not made any lasting impression on the pleasure-seekers of Merton. Does an address at a funeral ever convert any one? It is a question whether, out of all the social acquaintances that Inez had, another girl was ready to give up her regular life of amusement to do or to be anything different for the sake of helping suffering humanity. They all wondered at Inez. She moved among them, quiet, reserved, the dignity of a great sorrow suddenly acquired adding to the sweetness of her character; but she was not like the Inez her once intimate friends had known. Nothing develops deep character like sorrow, if the hand of God is allowed to soothe and elevate it. And nothing is so selfish as sorrow when God is shut out of a wounded heart.

There was, nevertheless, all through society a great feeling of real curiosity to know how the Carltons, Judge Vernon, Mr. Brooks, and the minister's family would manage the affairs of the social settlement, and what the effects of their actual living there would be on the people of Freetown.

In addition to this, the probable action of the United Clubs of the women of Merton was still undecided. Would Mrs. Lewis be able to secure the help of a majority of the clubs in assisting the financial side of the work? It was a question. No one could answer it yet. Howard Douglass, with a faith in future gifts for the work, went on with the building. He had secured from various sources, notably from the churches of Merton, enough money to warrant the care of the settlement work for a year. What it needed, however, was a permanent endowment. If Mrs. Lewis succeeded in enlisting the co-operation of all the clubs, that endowment was practically assured. But when the building was finally completed and ready for its residents, the United Clubs had not yet decided their course.

Merton will never forget that day of the dedication of Freetown social settlement. Freetown was stirred as by the hand of God. Howard Douglass and his wife, Judge Vernon, the Carltons, Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Lewis, the newspaper editors, the representative business men, the ministers of the other churches, the leaders in social circles even, crowded into the beautiful hall of the settlement that day.

Howard Douglass arose to offer the dedicatory prayer after the preliminary exercises had passed. He prayed that the place where the building now stood might be redeemed, brought back, saved for God. Would his prayer be answered? Could Freetown be redeemed? The great audience was swayed by one feeling, and through the room, as the prayer went on, a breath of the divine Spirit swept, and all hearts present felt its beneficent benediction.