seeming to be in any way benefited by it. But we cannot judge. I heard afterwards that he would often say to his daughter,

I dare say you think I don't care about such things, but I can tell you I care a deal more about them than I used to. No one knows what's going on in my heart, and I know I do wish to try and be better somehow."

The Angel of Death came to him, and called him gently to follow into the unseen land.

The last who was summoned from our midst was in the full tide of health and strength, and the picture of vigorous manhood. Suddenly, and without any apparent warning, the end came.

One winter's evening, before entering the room where the meeting was held, he asked if he might be allowed to say a few words to the men that night. Accordingly, when the meeting was over I asked if any would like to stay and hear what he had to say. A good many did so. He told them that a short time previously when he had been following the plough one day in the field,

a sudden message seemed to come to him from some unseen source, and the words were, "Be in earnest. In earnest for your own soul, and for the souls of others. time is short."

The

Although, he said, he had already given his heart to God, he now felt that he must live much closer to Him, and work more earnestly for Him, than he had ever done before; and therefore he had wished to speak these few words, and to entreat others to follow his example. What he said made a deep impression upon all who heard him, and no one could help being struck with the force and earnestness of his words. This impression was yet further deepened by the fact unknown to us then-that we were never to see him again.

Not long after he stayed at home one day from his work, in consequence of not feeling well, but his wife saw no cause for real anxiety. He went about the house as usual, but towards evening complained of feeling tired, and went early to bed. An hour later she followed him upstairs. One last word, one deep sigh, and all was over.

His spirit had returned unto God Who gave it.

To us the call seemed to come unexpectedly, and with little warning, but he, we trust, was prepared to meet it. For some weeks previously, his wife told me, she had noticed that a change had come over him. She had bought him a pocket Testament, which was his great delight, and also a large print Hymn-book, with music, out of which he could sing his favourite hymns.

"But there was one verse in the Bible," she said, "he was always wanting to find, and neither he or I could tell where it was. He said he knew we were told to speak to one another in psalms and hymns, and to make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Well, at last he found the verse, and he just was pleased! From that time to the end it seemed as if he did not care to talk about worldly things. His whole heart was taken up with spiritual things. I used to wonder about it at the time, but now I seem to see it all clear. He was being prepared for the change that was coming."

"The great lesson to learn from death,"

said one of our men in speaking on this subject afterwards, "is, that this life is so little, so short, and of so little importance. The next life is the true life; all we have to do here is to live for it, and to prepare for it. God, Who looks down from heaven, sees this. To Him a thousand years are but as one day.' Our lives here must seem so short to Him, just like the little gnats we see in the summer, living only for a day. But He is leading and guiding us all the time, whether our life is long or short."

"Yes," added another; "faith is the great thing to have. Faith in God's promises, and in the beautiful life beyond the grave. We must look at the other side. Death is not really sad. It is going to God, to be safe there. Indeed, we ought to rejoice when those we love are prepared to go, and then taken to be with God for ever."

CHAPTER XIX.

CONCLUSION.

“IF there is anything which brings still more sadness to the heart than the degradation of the ignorant, it is surely the thought of those called by their own hearts, by education, and the needs of others, to some noble purpose, who are yet content to dream away their lives, indifferent spectators of the sorrows, sins, and wrongs of men, when they might have been leaders in the battle against evil. The age of heroic deeds is not gone by. It cannot be but that a ready answer will be given to the voice as of a trumpet call—'Et nos vincamus aliquid!' 'Let us too conquer something!""_ The Life of Charles Lowder.

"Do not be ashamed of the grand invitation of infinite love which you are commissioned to carry. Do not be unbelieving as to its mighty power.

"There are many worn and weary men. and women plodding through their daily