could reproduce it for your benefit; but I can only give you a meagre outline. You can readily fancy the bearing and attitude of the two- the captain all fervor and spirituality; the professor calm, cool, and philosophical.

With his usual hearty hand-grasp, the captain received his visitor, and expressed his great pleasure at having the professor come and see with his own eyes what the Lord was doing in their midst― rescuing the outcast and the abandoned and bringing them as humble suppliants at the foot of the cross especially the poor sailor, who had no one to care for his soul, but all the powers of darkness arrayed against it.

"And you really find," inquired Professor R., "that these men, usually so recklessly vicious, are induced to lead correct and moral lives?"

"Mr. R., a sailor can't very well be a hypocrite," replied the captain; "not long, he can't be scarcely over night, in fact. He can't pay out cable enough to anchor in hell and yet ride in heaven. No, sir. Neither can he steer through the breakers and the shoals and the reefs with his hands in his pockets. He's either got to hold the tiller, and keep a sharp lookout, or go to the bottom - one or the other. There's no half way."

"I understand, captain. The temptations that surround the sailor are so numerous and powerful that unless he is very cautious and circumspect, he must get into trouble. Yes, I see what you mean."

"The temptations that surround the sailor are so numer

ous and powerful, that unless he has the grace of God in his heart, he must fall. And it is just the same, sir, with regard to you and me; only, perhaps, our temptations are of a different kind—that's all. There are temptations for the head as well as for the heart- for the eyes as well as for the stomach. We all know that."

Certainly, Captain Antle; we all know that. Temptations which may appeal irresistibly to poor Jack, have no attraction for us are repulsive, in fact, to you and me; while, on the other hand, pride of intellect, not to mention the more refined forms of sensualism may lead even us astray, if not strictly on our guard."

"And there is no other way we can be on our guard, except to have Christ within us the hope of glory-except to be born again of the Holy Spirit. Then, sir, whenever the thief comes, whether by day or night, he finds us prepared — he can't take us by surprise, no matter in what guise he comes. If the heart is only the Lord's, then the devil can have no power over us."

"That's very true, Captain Antle. A man can only be safe so long as his principles are sound and his appetites and passions controlled by reason."

"Yes, sir; and his reason controlled by the Holy Spirit - by the Spirit of holiness. How long, sir, do you suppose this Mission could live without the Holy Spirit in our midst? Not a week-not a day—no more than we can live without air. No, sir. It's no manner of use to slap Jack on the back; tell him he's a fine fellow; but he ought to be a good

boy, and quit rum and bad company, and go to church. Why, he'd only laugh at you; and who could blame him? It's no use - not a bit.

"Take a young fellow who's been knocking round the world for five or six months-living a dog's life and worse. Take that man and set him ashore with a pocket-full of money and all his appetites and passions raging within him, and talk to him about reason and principle—why, it's like whistling to a mile-stone! His reason tells him to enjoy himself, and his only principle is to have as good a time as he can, while he has the opportunity.

"It's all very well to talk, sir; but such talk is like rain on a duck's back. It's no manner of use! You've got to tear open his bosom and let the light and warmth of God's love shine right into his heart, till the stony is melted, the darkness chased away, and he cries aloud for God to have mercy on him-till he finds forgiveness and joy and peace. Then, and then only, can he have strength to resist temptation and steer his course in safety."

"I have not the least doubt of it, Captain Antle, - not the least doubt of it; and yet, haven't you found this to be the case with regard to most, if not all, of those persons who have come under the influence of your prayers and persuasions? Haven't you found that, however reckless and immoral may have been their conduct hitherto, down deep in their natures was some germ of conscience which often whispered its rebukes to them — some trace of early teaching- - some memory of a father's counsel or a mother's love,

which, like a smouldering spark, was fanned into flame by an unexpected, well-directed word or act of kindness from someone like yourself? Haven't you found that to be the case in more than one instance, Captain Antle? Nay, haven't you found it to be almost invariably the case?"

"Bless the Lord, yes! Yes, sir! I've never met with one of God's human creatures, however deep down in the mire of sin and wickedness, that didn't have some little spark of light in his soul, when I knew where to look for it. I believe, sir, there is no one so bad that the grace of God can't reach and save, and no one so good as to be saved without that grace. It saved the thief on the cross, and it has saved me, who was much worse. Nothing but grace saved us, whether we had any light in us or not; and I'm afraid I didn't have even a glimmer.

"I can't argue, sir, but I can testify. I know that the Lord brought me out of darkness into light; but I can no more tell you how 'twas done than I can tell how the sun shines. Just as soon as I realized that I was a lost sinner, Jesus came to my rescue, and here I am to-day, bless the Lord!

Here I am, sir, as different a man from what I was as I am from you, sitting there in that chair."

"The changes that are wrought in some men by sudden convictions and impressions are truly wonderful," remarked the professor. "I have known repeated instances of the kind myself, where persons have been completely revolutionized, as it were, not only as regards habits and conduct, but even in what seemed their fixed opinions and most stubborn preju

dices, men who, just as soon as they saw they were on the wrong track, wheeled right round and faced in quite an opposite direction. I've seen it not only in political but in social life."

Yes, sir; and when a man realizes that he is nothing but a poor miserable sinner blind, naked and helpless — and casts himself entirely on the Lord for mercy and salvation, then comes forgiveness and peace and strength and joy; then comes that change of heart, without which there can be no real and lasting change in life or conduct. It is that change which drove the poor, tattered, famishing prodigal back to his father, the change all must have before they can expect to feel the Father's loving embrace and to hear His forgiving voice.

"As for me, sir, I'm nothing but a poor ignorant sailor, and you are a great and learned doctor; but I bless God He revealed Himself even to me, as He will to you or to any man who comes to Him with an humble and contrite heart; comes to Him as a little child, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world.

"Oh, my dear sir! I can't read the Holy Book in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, as you can I can only read it in plain English; but to me, as I read, every word shines and glows like great blazing stars in the firmament- shines like a million. eyes like a million loop-holes letting the light of heaven into my soul. What more can I ask? What more could it do for me if I could read the blessed Book in all the languages