speaking with great difficulty, "if it's the last word Alice Wilkins will ever utter, I declare to you all, that those who think the justice of God stands in the way of His forgiving sin, make the greatest mistake they ever made. Didn't He send His Son into the world for this very purpose, that by His death He might enable His Father to pardon sinners and give them eternal life! If they'd remember that, they 'd never have such an unworthy thought of Him again."

Mrs Dunlop stood amazed, with the kettle in her hand, wondering whether Alice had not quite lost her senses, as, half sitting up in bed, with one hand raised upwards, while the other grasped the bedclothes, she went on, "Listen to me, a dying sinner, Mrs Dunlop. You've been very kind to me, and I thank you for it all. Mind you meet me there— above. I'm going there-my debt's paid-blotted out in the blood of Christ, God the Father is satisfied with the payment, and will never exact any from me. Wonderful! wonderful! Mind you meet me there." As she spoke, Miss Harrison and Mary entered the room.

"She's wild," whispered Mrs Dunlop; "quite astray, the creature! Sure she don't owe a penny, and she's romancing about some one having paid her debt, the poor thing! But the tea will do her good; the kettle's on, and I must go in and get my husband's supper ready. Maybe you'd make the tea for her."

66

Surely," replied Mary, glancing towards the

F

bed. Alice had lain back, her eyes were closed, and as the flush of excitement faded from her

cheek, a ghastly pallor succeeded. For some moments she lay still, not apparently conscious of the presence of any visible friend. Her thoughts had carried her before Him whom "not having seen she loved.” "Oh, blessed Lord!" she murmured, "all done for me-nothing for me to do but love-love! Oh, wonderful! poor sinful Alice sure of heaven! Thank God, all I owed paid— not a farthing against me."

Miss Harrison and Mary listened with deepest interest to these broken utterances of one at peace with God. After a few moments' silence, Alice opened her eyes, and reaching out her hand, said"It's much I have to tell you, but I'm too weak. I'll tell you all when we meet above. But I'd like once more to hear that hymn, miss, dear," she said, looking at Mary-a look which said the hymn and the singer were dearer to her than words could tell.

The last verse was nearly finished, when a peculiar look in Alice's face startled Miss Harrison. Putting her hand under the pillow, she raised the dying woman's head a little, and by a glance at Mary, told her the end was near. Running to the fire, Mary brought a little tea; but the cup was soon laid down; no earthly refreshment could now avail.

And now the watchers by her bedside expected each breath to prove the last, when suddenly Alice

opened her eyes, and looking steadily at Mary, she said, "You began and he finished-God bless you both! But it's all the work of the Lord my Saviour. You both told me He would prove 'faithful and true,' and He has. All my debt is paid, and I'm going-going to Him."

These were the last words of Alice Wilkins.

"How still she is!" whispered Mary, a few moments afterwards. Miss Harrison leaned across the bed, and laid her hand upon the yet warm forehead. It was the stillness of death.

Thus gently, without a struggle, Alice passed away. It was soon known amongst the surrounding cottages, and Mrs Dunlop and another neighbour having come in to ask, could they be of any use? Miss Harrison and Mary returned home.

"I thought upon my sins, and I was sad,

My soul was troubled sore and filled with pain;
But then I thought on Jesus, and was glad,
My heavy grief was turned to joy again.

"I thought upon the law, the fiery law,
Holy, and just, and good in its decree;
I looked to Jesus, and in Him I saw
That law fulfilled, its curse endured for me.

"I thought I saw an angry, frowning God,

Sitting as judge upon the great white hrone
My soul was overwhelmed, then Jesus showed
His gracious face, and all my dread was gone.

"I saw my sad estate, condemned to die;

Then terror seized my heart, and dark despair;
But when to Calvary I turned my eye,

I saw the cross, and read forgiveness there.

"I saw that I was lost, far gone astray,

No hope of safe return there seemed to be; But then I heard that Jesus was the Way,

A new and living Way prepared for me.

"Then in that Way, so free, so safe, so sure,
Sprinkled all o'er with reconciling blood,
Will I abide, and never wander more,
Walking along in fellowship with God!”

-H. Bonar.

CHAPTER IX.

IT so happened that Mary was spending that afternoon with her friend, a pleasure she seldom enjoyed, but granted that day at the special request of Miss Harrison, who wanted Mary to help her, after tea, to look over some school accounts. However, there was no business done that evening; to talk about the friend they had just lost was more congenial to both.

"It seems but a few days instead of weeks," said Mary, "since you asked me to visit Alice. How little I then thought what a pleasure those visits would be to me. You cannot imagine how I

"I can very well imagine it," replied Miss Harrison; "but you have the comfort of knowing that your visits were a great pleasure to her, and, I trust, a means of blessing also."

"Oh, yes," said Mary; "it was delightful to hear her so often say she longed for my coming. And, indeed, if I were a means of good to her, I am quite sure she was so to me. She taught me many a lesson by her patience, making me ashamed of my impatience when anything vexes me; and her gratitude for every little bit of kindness was wonderful. It did me good to visit her; indeed it did."