raise to my eyes! Yes, He did bear everything-everything"

"And for your and my sake, on account of our faults," interrupted Evelyn. "There is the point for your faults, and to set you an example."

Then," said Eustace, "then do you mean to say that I should bear patiently, not only everything said against me, but should leave undefended even every false charge. That seems happy! to suffer undeservedly for His sake!" "Nay, stay," said Evelyn. "That might easily become a morbid feeling."

"What do you mean ?" asked Eustace, with some degree of distress in his countenance. "Evelyn, do tell me what you mean by morbidity ?"

"Well," answered Evelyn, "what I mean is this: that every principle, however high and beautiful, may go to seed-I mean go to an unreal excess."

"But," cried Eustace, with great agitation, "but how can any one go to excess in the love of our blessed LORD and in the suffering for Him. Surely the suffering undeservedly is of all sufferings the most happy if it be for His dear sake!"

'Eustace, did S. Paul sink under a false imputation ? did he not live as a Christian ? and as and because he was a Christian, die? Did not S. Stephen die on a true charge? and did not S. James, who fell beneath the sword of Herod, and Bartholomew, who died under the knife? They were martyrs, but nevertheless sufferers under a true charge."

"Yes, but-" said Eustace, "what follows with regard to me ?"

"What!" said Evelyn, "what? why the whole matter, whether you live and die for CHRIST, or for your SELF."

"For SELF! for myself," cried Eustace, in astonish

ment. "Oh, Evelyn, do you think I seek myself in the place of Him Whom I love, I think, with my whole heart ?"

"Yes, I said SELF, and I mean SELF. If you are morbid, you are simply selfish. Morbidity is the worship, conscious or unconscious, of self. In this way we so often see well-meaning and earnest Christians hindering the good they might do by mistaking a selfsacrifice which is not called for, and which leads to no definite duty, for that real self-denial, which He bids us exercise daily when He tells us to take our cross and follow Him. There is enough denial for most of us in taking up the cross which He lays upon us, and bearing it patiently after Him. There may be often idolatry in what men call self-sacrifice; and if men looked keenly, they would see that they are often really worshipping self, when they think they are serving Him. Wonderfully faint sometimes is the line between real love to CHRIST, and the putting self forward as an object of adoration.”

There was a silence for a few moments.

"I see what you mean," said Eustace; "at least I think I do, and I cannot help feeling that my character is just one which needs that warning. I have often thought, when I was doing what I imagined religious acts, 'Is this for CHRIST in reality, or should I not have done the same if I did not believe in or love Him at all ?" "

"I think, Eustace," said Evelyn, "you are one who peculiarly needs this check. There is a great tendency to rest in feeling only and self-consciousness in your character; and inasmuch as He loves you with a wonderful love, He will discipline and try you until He has convinced you of the error and refined your character." "Oh, Evelyn," said Eustace, looking up eagerly into

H

his face, while the tear glistened in his eye; "Oh, that

thought will comfort me. much as He does love you.' I, can I think it is so ?"

What blessed words! 'inas-
Do say them again. May

"I will-I do say them again," answered his friend, smiling with sincere affection on his young companion. "Because He hath set His love upon you, therefore will He deliver you.' But, dearest Eustace, LET Him refine you; LET Him check you in His own way, and all will be right at last."

"Let Him!" said Eustace. "Let Him! Oh, Evelyn!" "Yes, dear fellow; yes, I know what you feel, and how anxious and sincere you are; but it is not impossible that nevertheless you may resist unknowingly His chastisement by seeking for a more interesting or romantic mode of denial or sacrifice than He may Himself give you. And now to the point. Bear patiently the suffering which Mr. Cleffain's words have inflicted on you, but try and get to the bottom of it, and, if you are able, clear it all up. See Raymond or Stapleton, or get some one to put Mr. Cleffain right so far as the real truth is concerned. Do your best for this object, and if you fail, take it patiently, as being plainly God's will."

"I will, I will," said Eustace; "that I will. I thank you so much, Evelyn; you always do me good."

By this time the friends had reached the end of the lane which brought Mr. Cleffain's house full in view. Raymond was standing in the garden, which formed a sort of crescent on one side of the old house.

"I will go to Raymond directly," said Eustace.

99

CHAPTER XII.

IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

WHILE the two friends had been walking together, a conversation of a very different kind had been passing between Raymond and Stapleton. The latter had thoroughly enjoyed himself at the home of his young friend. Everything was done which could be to make him happy. He was known to stand in a high position in society, and his father was anxious to secure his influence for Raymond. Raymond's mother tooa woman devoted to the world and its vain interests, had set her heart on the cultivation of his friendship. To win the approbation of the youth, and to secure his personal interest in her boy, was her one object. Stapleton, young as he was, was cunning, far-seeing, and deceitful in plan to an astonishing degree. He saw quickly through Raymond's more open and unsuspecting character. He had ulterior views of his own, and the wealth which would in all probability accrue to Raymond, was an object of no small importance to his scheming friend. If Stapleton's position could help Raymond, Raymond, as a very rich man, could more still benefit Stapleton. To secure the wealth (as we have already seen) for the former, had been the great design of the intriguer. He found Mr. Cleffain apparently easily persuaded. He also quickly discovered in the old gentleman a strong inclination to think much of a good position in the world, and a desire that the boys connected with him should make what he called useful friends. On this feeling Stapleton worked. He knew he should play a losing game if he attempted to as

Eustace's character directly. The force of truth and the counter influences of Evelyn and others would be too much for him, especially with so eccentric a person as Mr. Cleffain. To misrepresent Eustace on little points; to place him before the old gentleman as a boy lacking the energy and spirit which gets a boy or a man on in the world; to try to undermine his views of his moral courage, and things of that kind, were the weapons which he used in the first instance, and he was making way fast.

Mr. Cleffain was charmed with Stapleton's manner and address-with his social position with his easy, agreeable, and attentive conduct to himself. Stapleton, for one so young, had a wonderful knowledge of human character, and knew well how much old people are pleased with the attentions of the young. There was just that shyness and peculiarity about Eustace's manner and appearance which gave Stapleton all the more advantage over him. The boy's very conscientiousness and scrupulosity often made him backward and silent when, had he spoken more out, he would have pleased the old gentleman far more. Mr. Cleffain did not understand Eustace; but Stapleton had a more formidable difficulty in Raymond. Raymond was a boy who was easily impressed and easily moved; but he had still many high and generous sentiments, and was peculiarly open to a horror of anything like taking a mean advantage or unfairness. We have seen already the reaction which was produced by Stapleton's too apparent effort to traduce Eustace.

'Well, and what of the old gentleman ?" said Stapleton, as the two lads were walking together up the lane; and as he knocked off the tops of the flowers with his stick, "Do you think you're making way ?"