Before he came to Raveloe, Silas had belonged to a small religious brotherhood that met at Lantern Yard, in a northern town. He had been trusted there, and he had a close friend named William Dane, and he was engaged to a young servant named Sarah. One night, while Silas sat alone with a dying deacon, the old man's money bag was stolen. The bag was found in Silas's room, and his pocket-knife was found beside the bureau where the money had been. The brethren drew lots to learn the truth, and the lots declared him guilty. Silas knew that William had done it. There is no just God, he cried, who governs the earth righteously. Sarah married William a month later. Silas left the town, and he never prayed again.