strument of my salvation. the 4th company of the line.'

J. L., fusileer of regiment of the From the condition of the little volume, it was plain that the young soldier had made use of the missing leaves to light his pipe, as he had boasted he should. But, as he related to his mother, this work of destruction was stopped on the evening before a battle, in which his regiment was to occupy the perilous post of the advanced guard. He stated that at this juncture serious thoughts came into his mind in a very strange manner; and all on a sudden the words of the man whom he had tricked out of the book came to his recollection like a thunderclap-It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!' ‘And if I should fall into | his hands!' This thought haunted him, he said, | without intermission, the whole of the night; and, in consequence, as soon as it became light in the morning, he took from his knapsack the book which appeared to have become his accuser. The verses which he had read in the

dim grey light of that morning had been brought home to his heart by the Holy Spirit. In the battle which ensued he was severely wounded. Old things had passed away, and he now realized the truth of the faithful saying, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.'

After removal from one hospital to another, he was brought back to his home about six weeks before the visit of the colporteur. The mutilated Testament was scarcely ever out of his hand during his waking moments. It was the only one he ever possessed-perhaps the only one in his native village. His mouth was full of tender entreaties that his dear mother and friends might embrace Christ and His salvation. To his very last breath he ceased not to exhort them all to accept God's offered mercy in Jesus, and not to run the risk of falling, in an unconverted state, into the hands of the living God.'

A

CHAPTER II.

RTHUR was taken away from school, and a very sore trial it was to him. Mrs Ferrington sold her own watch and that of her late husband, and these, with some other trinkets, brought her money enough to satisfy the most pressing of her creditors. The landlady, who regarded her lodgers with genuine kind feeling, agreed to wait until May should get more employment, before her claims were settled. Nothing more was heard of the picture, and although May obtained the address of Mr Bardley's landlord, and wrote him a pathetic letter, no answer was received.

Mr Archdale walked on for some minutes in silence.

'Arthur,' said his friend at length, 'It's a great pity that your studies should be stopped; you'd like to go on with them, wouldn't you? 'Oh yes, sir, very much.'

Well, I've thought of a plan by which we could help each other. It is this: I devote most of my spare time to writing for periodicals, and I should be very glad of some one to copy out my manuscripts, and make them legible for the printer.

You write very well, better than most boys of your age, and if you will undertake this work for me, I, in return, will give you lessons regularly every evening. What do you say to this?'

'Oh, sir, I should be so thankful, and so would mamma and May!'

'If you like, I will call upon your mother and explain the matter,' said Mr Archdale.

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'Well, Arthur, my little man, you look rather gloomy,' said a kind cheery voice, and looking up the boy saw the second master of his school standing before him.

Mr Archdale had always been a favourite with the boys; he was a young man, and he sympathised heartily in all their pleasures, and yet, as they were wont to say, 'Its no use trying to give Archdale an imperfect lesson, he is more strict than the Doctor himself.'| Arthur had been almost entirely under the care of this kind master, and it had grieved him sadly to feel that he should have the benefit of that wise teaching and quiet guidance no more. His lip quivered when he attempted to answer Mr Archdale.

'I don't feel very bright, sir,' he replied. The master laid a hand upon his shoulder. 'Tell me all about it, Arthur,' he said simply, and began to walk with him down the street.

And Arthur did tell him all from beginning to end. Mr Archdale had not counted upon hearing so much; he even doubted if he were doing right in letting the boy speak so freely of family affairs, but it was almost impossible to check the frank confidence, which obviously gave the speaker great relief. When the story was all told, Mr Archdale's first question related to the picture.

"There was a sale of Bardley's effects,' he said, I saw it advertised; don't you know who bought that painting?'

Arthur of course knew nothing about it, and

surprise and admiration upon that copy which May had executed for her mother.

When he turned away from the Ferrington's door, he resolved to do all in his power to help this family in their troubles. He was not a rich man, but he and his sister Gertrude were not solely dependent on the income he derived from his situation, and his literary labours were becoming lucrative. He had few friends and few wants, and Gertrude's tastes and habits were as quiet as his own. Perfect sympathy existed between this brother and sister, and she soon became interested in his account of the Ferringtons.

The next day was Saturday, and having the afternoon at his own disposal, Ralph Archdale started off to Silverbury, to make investigations about the picture. In his first attempt to trace it he was singularly successful; it had been knocked down at the auction to the very broker of whom he made his first inquiries.

'And I sold it, sir, only three days ago, to a gent who came by the door and took a liking to it.'

'Do you know his name?'

'Yes, he was an artist sort of a gent, and his name was Morgan.'

'Did he give you a high price?'

'He gave me five pounds; I sent the picture, directed to him, to the "Dolphin;" he was putting up there.'

Has he left the place?'

'I'm sure I can't say, sir; I haven't seen him since.'

Ralph Archdale took his way to the 'Dolphin' hotel, and learned that Mr Morgan had removed to Sir Henry Vane's country-seat,

about three miles out of Silverbury. The young man set out to walk to Vane Court, with his heart full of hope for his poor friends. This Mr Morgan was an artist of established reputation, one whose pictures were well known and deservedly appreciated. He must have seen at a glance, that the painting he had purchased was worth far more than he had given for it. It was five o'clock when he reached Vane Court, and saw the turrets of the baronet's old mansion rising above the surrounding trees. He walked through the lodge-gates into the quiet shadows of the park, and came directly opposite the vast grey house, with the arms of the owners sculptured over the massive portico. Truly, Mr Morgan has aristocratic friends,' he thought, as he rang the bell.

He followed the tall footman into one of the grand oaken-panelled rooms, and then the man left him to carry the visitor's card to the artist. Here he waited until he began to chafe at the delay, and had already risen to pace up and down the apartment, when the door opened, and Mr Morgan entered.

The light was dim; but Archdale saw before him a tall spare man, with delicate features and full penetrating eyes, that looked at him a little haughtily, he fancied. Ralph went strait into his subject at once; he described the picture briefly, and asked if it were still in Mr Morgan's possession.

Yes, it is,' answered the artist. Ralph went on to tell the story of the picture, and of the cruel fraud which Bardley had practised upon the helpless girl. The artist seemed to listen coldly.

'It seems an improbable thing,' he remarked, 'that your friends, knowing the value of the picture, should have entrusted it to a person of whom they knew nothing.'

It was very incautious, I admit,' replied Archdale, but one scarcely expects to find much knowledge of the world in a young girl and a little boy, who have only lately been left fatherless.'

'But what do they expect me to do?' asked

And how am I to know that the picture really did belong to them?' said the artist, coolly.

Ralph took up his hat; he was waxing indignant. I did not come here to impose upon you, Mr Morgan,' he rejoined haughtily, "These friends of mine are in bitter need, or I should not have sought you at all. But if you will grant me another interview on Monday, I will bring you indisputable proof that the painting was theirs. Miss Ferrington, who has much talent, made a copy of the picture before parting with it. The manager of the Silverbury bank can prove the truth of what I have stated about the dishonoured cheque.'

'I don't doubt your sincerity in the affair,' said Mr Morgan, more politely. I will see you again on Monday, if you like, although my time is precious-very precious.'

They parted, and Ralph Archdale went home thinking hard thoughts of Mr Morgan. He was, however, too severe in his judgment, and could he have looked back upon the artist's earlier days, he would have taken another view of his character. He did not know that Mr Morgan had toiled unsuccessfully for years, that he had been soured and hardened by disappointment and treachery, and that now, when the long hard struggle was ended and genius had won the dearly-bought victory, there were none to share the fruits of his toil. The wife and child whom he had loved so well had passed away, when the waves of this troublesome world' were at their roughest, and he was left to sail upon the 'still waters' alone.

Ralph persuaded May to accompany him to Silverbury on the following Monday. He believed that this hard man might be softened by the sight of her pale face and deep mourning; and Mrs Ferrington was of his opinion. Mr Archdale got an assistant to fill his place that afternoon, and he and May, accompanied by Gertrude, went to Silverbury, taking the copy of the picture with them.

It was long since May had enjoyed herself so much. Gertrude Archdale and her brother were so kind and attentive, so anxious to make the little journey a pleasant trip to her, that all her old girlish vivacity returned, and she laughed and talked as she had done before the cares of life had cast their burden upon her spirit. She grew graver, however, when she and Mr Archdale set out on their three-mile walk to Vane Court, leaving Gertrude to see the Cathedral and the other objects of interest in the old city.

Mr Morgan did not delay his coming so long this time, and Ralph fancied that his manner_grew more gentle when he addressed May. Fortunately she had preserved Bardley's letter to her, asking for a sight of the painting; and having read it, Mr Morgan expressed his opinion of the man in no measured terms. Then Archdale showed him the copy of the picture.

The artist looked at it in silence long and earnestly, and when he raised his eyes again to May's face, they wore a very different expression. That copy of which she had thought so meanly, had told him many things. He saw that the work had not been merely mechanical, heart and hand had wrought together; she had gone about it reverently; for all true genius is touchingly humble; yet she had thrown her mind into sympathy with the mind which had conceived the picture. Herein lay the mystic power-this spirit-unison with a great master -which lifted May's copy above the level of many pretentious originals.

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This is very good,' said the artist simply. 'Are you a teacher of drawing?' 'Yes, sir.'

'And you find it weary work?' he continued. 'I was a teacher once.'