A little thing turned the scale , as it so often does in these mysterious hearts of ours , and a touch of sympathy helped Dan decide the course which would bless or ban his life . In the dark hour before the dawn , as he lay wakeful on his bed , a ray of light shone through the bars , the bolts turned softly , and a man came in . It was the good chaplain , led by the same instinct that brings a mother to her sick child 's pillow ; for long experience as nurse of souls had taught him to see the signs of hope in the hard faces about him , and to know when the moment came for a helpful word and the cordial of sincere prayer that brings such comfort and healing to tried and troubled hearts . He had been to Dan before at unexpected hours , but always found him sullen , indifferent , or rebellious , and had gone away to patiently bide his time . Now it had come ; a look of relief was in the prisoner 's face as the light shone on it , and the sound of a human voice was strangely comfortable after listening to the whispers of the passions , doubts , and fears which had haunted the cell for hours , dismaying Dan by their power , and showing him how much he needed help to fight the good fight , since he had no armour of his own . ` Kent , poor Mason has gone . He left a message for you , and I felt impelled to come and give it now , because I think you were touched by what we heard today , and in need of the help Mason tried to give you , ' said the chaplain , taking the one seat and fixing his kind eyes on the grim figure in the bed . ` Thank you , sir , I 'd like to hear it , ' was all Dan 's answer ; but he forgot himself in pity for the poor fellow dead in prison , with no last look at wife or child . He went suddenly , but remembered you , and begged me to say these words : `` Tell him not to do it , but to hold on , do his best , and when his time is out go right to Mary , and she 'll make him welcome for my sake . He 's got no friends in these parts and will feel lonesome , but a woman 's always safe and comfortable when a fellow 's down on his luck . Give him my love and good-bye for he was kind to me , and God will bless him for it . '' Then he died quietly , and tomorrow will go home with God 's pardon , since man 's came too late . ' Dan said nothing , but laid his arm across his face and lay quite still . Seeing that the pathetic little message had done its work even better than he hoped , the chaplain went on , unconscious how soothing his paternal voice was to the poor prisoner who longed to ` go home ' , but felt he had forfeited the right . ' I hope you wo n't disappoint this humble friend whose last thought was for you . I know that there is trouble brewing , and fear that you may be tempted to lend a hand on the wrong side . Do n't do it , for the plot will not succeed -- it never does -- and it would be a pity to spoil your record which is fair so far . Keep up your courage , my son , and go out at the year 's end better , not worse , for this hard experience . Remember a grateful woman waits to welcome and thank you if you have no friends of your own ; if you have , do your best for their sake , and let us ask God to help you as He only can . ' Then waiting for no answer the good man prayed heartily , and Dan listened as he never had before ; for the lonely hour , the dying message , the sudden uprising of his better self , made it seem as if some kind angel had come to save and comfort him .
After that night there was a change in XXXXX , though no one knew it but the chaplain ; for to all the rest he was the same silent , stern , unsocial fellow as before , and turning his back on the bad and the good alike , found his only pleasure in the books his friend brought him .
Dan Mary Mason bars experience good-bye hours left love right