turn up the whites of his eyes, shake his head and sigh, and hear him ask in sanctimonious tones whether 'Job fears God for nought,' and whether there are a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments,' adding that what with the lethargy and unspirituality of the Church, and the wickedness of the children of wrath, he feels like Elijah under the juniper tree alone-aloneyou may conclude that he and the old Tempter are close friends. It's Satan's old calling to suggest evil about the good, and he's never so dangerous as when he appears as an angel of light.”

"Ah, that's exactly it," said Shadrach, "it's the wolf in sheep's clothing that we are to beware of."

"Yes, Shadrach," said John, "and yet if we were but prayerful and watchful we should not be deceived even then, for the wolf is a longer animal than the sheep, so that when he tries to pass off as a sheep the sheep-skin doesn't cover him; the knave must show either his teeth or his tail."

"Old Hugh Roberts, of Pentre-mawr, once told me that," said Shadrach, "and I am quite sure it's true, spiritually. I've seen the wolf's teeth a few times in my life, and felt them, too, when he has had a sheep's skin on, and he would have had me but for the tender Shepherd's care. I well remember, too, how, after a narrow escape, I've stood as closely as I could by the Shepherd's side, and how, when the enemy has sneaked away, I've seen the wolf's tail plainly enough."

"Yes, the secret of safety is in being near Him, Shadrach ; in having our great Lord between us and the old Tempter. I remember hearing the Rev. Evan Harris, of Merthyr, preach from the words Forasmuch then as

the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.' In his own way he divided it into three divisions:-First-The children;' second-'He also;' third-'The devil.' And then he said, 'I hear some timid disciple say: Ah! I see, the devil lurks in that text. Yes, he does, but remember that 'HE ALSO' is there too. Fear not, timid one, for it cannot fare badly with the children' if 'HE ALSO HIMSELF' is between them and the devil.'

"That's exactly it, John. None shall pluck them out of my hands,' said the blessed Lord. If it hadn't been for those words, and words like them, I should have given up long ago, and the old Tempter would soon do for me if I were left to myself."

"Yes, Shadrach, that's just what my little boy felt the other day. He came to me almost out of breath, and, looking very much in earnest, asked, 'Father, is Satan bigger than I am?' 'Yes my boy,' said I, and I thought what a little he knew of his devices yet. Then he asked, Is he bigger than you, father?' I thought, Ah, my boy, you think a great deal of your father that he is a very wonderful man, but he is nothing in the old Tempter's hands, and I said, 'Yes, my boy, he is bigger than your father.' He looked surprised, but thought again, and then asked, 'Is he bigger than Jesus ?' 'No, my boy,' said I, quick as lightning, Jesus is bigger than he is.' As he turned away, he said with a smile, 'Then I am not afraid of him.' I thought to myself-and I couldn't help shedding a tear, Shadrach-what a beautiful illustration that was of the verse, 'Little children . . greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”

Shadrach was touched by this simple story, and his eyes glistened as he said, "That's beautiful, John, I shan't easily forget that."

The two friends shook hands and parted for their homes.

The services in the afternoon and evening, as well as those held on the following day, more than maintained the character of the morning service. But enough; we will listen to what Shadrach and his friends have to say about them in the smithy, and that shall suffice.

CHAPTER VI.

After-Meeting at the Smithy.

RGENT work

had kept Shadrach, much to his regret, away from the service on Monday morning; but in the afternoon and evening he was in his place at Horeb. John Vaughan had brought a week's operations to a close on Saturday night when he took home the boots as a trophy to Hugh Roberts of Pentre-mawr,

He and his workmen had cast hammer and lapstone, awl and stirrup, knife and polishing irons, all aside. The temple of Janus was closed, and universal peace proclaimed throughout the dominion of the workshop until Tuesday. It would, indeed, have required something very urgent, something far more pressing than is generally associated with leather, to disturb that peaceful tranquillity.

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Two well-known ministers, in addition to those who officiated on Sunday, were announced to preach on Monday, and thus there was a very special interest felt in the services. Although the church at Horeb" was a Baptist Church, and the ministers who preached were Baptist ministers, yet, as is customary on such occasions, members of all denominations attended in large numbers on Sunday afternoon and during Monday. The farmers and their servants not being busily employed at that season of the year were able to attend in large numbers, and, it being about full moon, they were able to return home at night along narrow roads and devious by-paths without any serious inconvenience. Many a quiet glen and secluded nook were awakened out of their slumbers by the songs of the pilgrim bands as they wended their way homeward on that bright, calm, moonlit night. The whole country for many miles round was astir with the music of the sanctuary.

On the following night, Shadrach was busy at work in the smithy, when John Vaughan entered. John was anxious to know how his cousin had been getting on since the services. Shadrach, who from his youth had been a member of the church at "Horeb," was a man of a volcanic nature, ever throbbing with a hidden fire, which at any time might leap forth into a livid flame. Throughout Sunday and Monday he had been ablaze, and whenever that occurred in Shadrach's experience the flame did not soon subside, but burned brightly for many weeks together. Thus John, although he had been hard at work, had been thinking of him all the day, and could stay away no longer.

John Vaughan had been brought up carefully in the Methodist persuasion. His mother was a Calvinistic