By degrees, as they reflected upon the incredible idea that a mistake
could have been made between the two men, the truth percolated through
their minds. It was a voluntary sacrifice.
'He war always preachin' agin killin',' said the old man, 'an' callin'
folks,' his voice fell to a whisper--'Cain!'
It was well for him, perhaps, when he presently fell into mental
decrepitude, and in vacancy was spared the anguish of remorse.
And Pete fearfully noted the fulfilment of the prophecy.
No one could account for the change in Pete Cayce. He patched up old
feuds, and forgave old debts, and forgot his contentious moods, and was
meek and very melancholy. And although the parson preached no more, who
shall say his sermons were ended? As to him, surely his doubts were
solved in knowing all, and perhaps in the exaltations of that
sacrificial moment he found Christ.
The mystery of his fate remained unexplained. The search for him flagged
after a time, and failed. There were many conjectures, all wide of the
truth.
Dorinda believed that, like the prophet of old, he had not been suffered
to taste death, but was caught up into the clouds. And with a chastened
solemnity she cherishes the last of her illusions.