deepest earnestness, there was likewise a look of indignation, as if something very dear had been assailed.

"I call the Bible the Light of life, sir, just because I know it is so; for it has lightened my own soul, and taught me to see two wonderful things."

"What may they be, Arnold?" inquired Sir Claude.

"The first was my own lost and helpless state. I knew always that I was a sinner, but I thought I could help myself, till I read what Paul said about his own righteousness; and then the second thing I learned was, that the Lord is my righteousness, and thus help is laid for me upon One that's mighty."

"Very good; you've heard what you think very good news. But how do you know it is true ? "

"They're many ways showing that, which Paley and others can do better than I can. But I know it's true; something within me answers to every word of it. I've not, sir, been accustomed to much logic, but I should not require a proof the sun was shining, if I saw it."

"But how would you convince a third person, who denied it?"

"I suppose, sir, I couldn't convince him at all; but, if it were possible, I'd get an oculist to open his eyes, and he would see. Pardon me, sir, if I'm too bold; but, if you want to see, ask of the Lord God, and He will open your eyes, and you'll never doubt any more."

"Of one thing, Edward, I am quite sure the Bible can do no harm; and I for one would gladly have all the

people read it. But do you think the poor can generally

appreciate such a book?"

"Oh! sir, did not our blessed Saviour say, 'Unto the poor the Gospel is preached?' It is our own book, sir; it tells us that the Lord careth for the poor. I was going to say, we should do worse than you without it; but, excuse me, sir, a rich man drowning would need the helping hand, just the same as the poor."

“But what makes you so assured that the Bible is the word of God?"

"We know, sir, man can't read the heart, but we may well imagine, He who formed it knows what's in it. The Bible tells all that's in mine. The Bible told me the very thing I was wanting; it told me how I could get it, and how I should then feel. I tried it, and I felt just as the holy word of God said. Sir, truly the writing on the fleshly tables of the heart, and the writing in that precious book, are by the same author, and He is God."

"Then has the Bible made you happy?"

"Most truly. It showed me how I could be justified by faith, and now I've peace with God."

Edward said these words most solemnly, most heartily. The baronet replied, "Thank you, Edward, for what you've said; I shall think of it, and let one of your first colporteur expeditions be to Laverock Priory, and we will have another lecture on the subject."

In the course of the evening Sir Claude said to Ethelda, "I have seen your friend Arnold, and I think he deserves that appellation."

"And did you like him?" Ethelda inquired.

"He at once secured a high place in my good books, though I am afraid I was put down very low in his bad ones."

"Oh! no; Edward would never think little of any one anxious to circulate God's holy word."

Sir Claude coloured; he felt that in subscribing liberally for the colporteur, he had led Ethelda to regard him almost as an earnest Christian. To appear under false colours was what his ingenuous soul abhorred. With an effort he

replied,

"Miss Alleyne, what would I give if, with Edward Arnold, I knew and believed that it was God's word!"

Ethelda was startled. She had not any idea of the sceptical opinions of Sir Claude. Her heart was filled with pity, as she saw the real sadness of heart of one who always seemed so thoughtless and volatile, and she replied earnestly,

"Faith is the gift of God. You must ask of Him who* giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.”

Sir Claude returned home by moonlight late that evening. He did not urge forward his beautiful horse, as was his wont. He watched the moon's reflection in the clear waters of the winding river, and he thought of Edward

Arnold's assurance, that thus the lamp of life illuminated his heart, that because he felt its reflection he knew that it shone. A prayer arose from his lips, not in the words, but in the spirit of the Psalmist of old, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

CHAPTER VIII.

LITTLE HARRY.

"O child! O new-born denizen
Of life's great city! On thy head
The glory of the morn is shed,
Like a celestial benison!

Here at the portal thou dost stand,

And with thy little hand

Thou openest the mysterious gate

Into the future's undiscovered land."

LONGFELLOW.

"DEAR father," said Ethelda, as, a few mornings after, she entered the library with the contents of the post-bag in her hand, "here are two foreign letters,―one, a ship one, from our Hubert, and the other from Percy. Do let me read them to you."

Old Mr. Alleyne at once pushed away his papers, and wiped his spectacles, as he said, "No, no, I must see them myself;" and he broke Hubert's seal with a trembling hand, or, more properly, tore open its gummed envelope. He commenced reading,—

"I can't make it out. Here, young eyes will do better than mine, Ethie. I will read it afterwards, when I'm by