And can the rapacious hand of death steal into this palace, and bear away the only child and heir to all that proud domain? What place have hearses, and shrouds, and coffins, and plumes, and chargers, before a door like this— where fashion, and gaiety, and dancing, and music, alone have held sway?

We go through the long hall, up the staircase. We enter the chamber of Louise! There she lay, supported by the pillows; her rich curls fell gracefully around the pale brow. The windows were open, the blinds thrown back. "Air, air," was all her panting lungs desired.

The terrible guest had entered, his stern, cold hand pressed her brow! The gold of Ophir cannot drive him from this gilded room. He waits for Louise!

Mother's embraces, nurse's care, physician's drugs, cannot hold her a moment.

"Perhaps an hour longer," whispered the doctor.

I dropped at the side of the dying girl, and in a few broken supplications, commended this

child to the mercy of a dying Saviour, an infinity of love, whose height is from earth to heaven, whose breadth is from farthest east to farthest west, whose length is from everlasting to everlasting! As I rose, Louise grasped my hand.

"Dare I trust that plank? May I venture into that ocean of redeeming love?

"Deceive me not. A wretched sinner! Oh, lead me to the Saviour."

"Ten thousand sins may not keep you away, Lousie. Venture all, one name, alone, is given by which you can be saved. Put your feet on the Rock Christ."

of

"I will, said the dying girl.

"Saviour of my perishing soul! In this hour agony, I come to thee, to thee!"

Silently we stood by the still, canopied couch. Louise had fled to other worlds-and nothing remained, amidst the gilded trappings, but the lifeless form!

20*

CONCLUSION.

ENOCHS still walk with God-Daniels yet wear the insignia, "greatly beloved." There are men after "God's own heart," Annas and Simeons at the temple. Faith and love still throw their steady light upon the darkness of sin, and bands of brothers are yet united in the ascending prayer! The world's redemption hastens forward, amid all the confusion and apparent worldliness of the times.

A few steps onward, lies another picture, yet unpencilled -the coffin- the shroud — the closing up of life's great "dream." Above all, the great decision, whether the seed which you and I, dear reader, have sown, shall reap life everlasting.