occupied a small room in a dirty, wretched house; but this home was only a temporary one. In a few weeks, when she had recovered from the fever that had smitten her down, I intended to remove her to a new dwelling, fresh and wholesome and clean as the new life which she steadfastly purposed to lead.

"Her face brightened when I entered her dismal chamber; and I soon saw that there was something in her mind that she longed to speak out.

"I have been looking very eagerly for your coming, sir,' said she; for, if I am not much mistaken, there is a poor creature in the garret overhead who needs you even more than I do.'

"What is his condition?' I asked.

"Just the very worst, sir, that can be. He lies moaning all day and all night-crying out that he has ruined himself, body and soul. Will you go to him, and try if anything can be done that may give him peace?'

"I needed no second bidding. With a quick step I ascended the half-ruined stair that led to the dreary garret, and knocked gently at the door. A voice from within desired me to enter; and I found myself in the presence of one of the most wretched I had ever beheld.

"Do you remember John Bunyan's account of the man in the iron cage? This man might well have answered to that vivid description of a despairing soul. Hopelessness was written in every line of his haggard face; and he sat on his straw pallet, swaying himself slowly to and fro, and groaning now and again, but scarcely raising his eyes to my face. It mattered nothing to him whether I went or stayed.

"In such a case as this there was only one thing to be done. I knelt down beside him and prayed aloud that God's light might enter his dark heart. And He whose ears are ever open to the cries of His children heard and answered my petition.

"It was not until my second visit to him that I learnt his story. It was, alas! a very common one. Step after step had been taken in the downward road; vice had followed vice, crime was heaped upon crime, until every particle of self-respect and honesty seemed to be crushed out of him. And then his strength and health had given way, and, sick, half-starving, and utterly desolate, he found himself face to face with death, and remembered that he had an immortal soul. Day after day I talked with him; and by slow degrees that midnight of despair was chased away; all his guilt, all his uncleanness, had been thoroughly realized; but it was long before he could comprehend the breadth and depth of the Saviour's love. And when at last he was able to receive the hope of mercy the light poured in more freely, and he understood something of that mysterious tenderness which Jesus feels towards those for whom He died.

"There was no excuse for me,' he said on one occasion; 'I was not driven into bad ways as too many boys are. And yet I began to sin very early. My parents were very poor, but honest and industrious; and although they could not afford to give me any schooling, they did not neglect to teach me something of religion. But, sir, I was naturally sly and selfish, and I loved to follow my own inclinations. You said, one day, that I was tied and bound by the chain of my sins; and that was very true; but you don't know how the first link of that chain was forged. It was done years ago, and yet I remember it as well as if it were only yesterday. In our neighbourhood there were people of all sorts, good, bad, and indifferent, and the bad ones were always my chosen companions; I learned their tricks, and liked their company well.

"It happened one winter day that I caught sight of a little fellow, much younger than myself, who was wearing a fur cap. A smart cap it was, the colour of gold, and as soft as velvet-just

such a thing as I wanted for my own head. heart prompted me to take it from him.'

"Did you succeed?' I asked, eagerly.

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And my wicked

'Yes, sir; and God knows how sorry I am for it now. I enticed the little lad away from his own door, promising to give him some trumpery buttons which I carried about with me; and when I had lured him into a dark spot I dropped the buttons at his feet. Then I made a desperate snatch at his cap, and ran off with it, like a rascal as I was.. That was my first theft.' said, laying my hand upon his

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"I was that little boy,' I shoulder.

"He looked at me for some moments in silent wonderment, and then the tears coursed slowly down his thin cheeks.

"Oh, sir!' he cried, in a broken voice, has God sent me the very first man I wronged to be unto me a messenger of pardon? I robbed you, and you have pointed out to me the unsearchable riches of Christ: I ill-treated you,-and you have repaid me with mercy and kindness!"

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Nay,' I answered, 'speak not of the poor services that I have rendered you;-think only of Him whose law you broke, and whose forgiveness is so freely bestowed. That heavy chain of sin, forged by your own hands, is riven by the might of His grace: the pitifulness of His great mercy has loosed you; therefore "let all that is within you praise His holy name.'

The old gentleman paused; and with a slight tremor in my tone I asked him if that were the end of the man's history?

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No," replied he, softly, "only the beginning. It is the end of the first page in his life-and a marred and blotted page it was. But the other leaves of that volume are written in letters of gold; and I shall read them by-and-by in the light of heaven. He is there."

THE HALL-DOOR KEY.

OME years ago, when Ireland was in a more disturbed, though hardly more discontented state than it is at present, and murders, agrarian outrages, and other crimes were more common, a Mr. Scott, who resided in the western part of the county of Tipperary, was entertaining a number of friends at dinner.

Amongst the guests was one named Hunt, who had the reputation of being a man of more than ordinary courage, his claims to the character being the fact that he stood six foot two in his stockings, that he always travelled alone, and armed to the teeth, and was loud in speech as to his being ready for all comers.

His host, Scott, was a small but compact man, who was loved by "rich and poor, gentle and simple," as the Irish peasants say; he had always a joke for his acquaintances, "an' the purtiest sate on a horse ye ever see'd, bless him."

After dinner the conversation turned on the state of the country, and how much worse their own county was than any other. Every one had some story to tell, but Hunt expressed it as his opinion that the scoundrels should all be shot down, and that that was the way he would treat any of them that dared even to show a sign of molesting him.

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Come, Hunt," said Scott, "tell us if it be true that you carry a small armoury in your driving seat."

"Not exactly an armoury, Scott," replied Hunt. "But I do carry a brace or two of pistols in my dog-cart. I think I should be prepared in case of necessity, and, should I be attacked, shall use them without the slightest compunction."

"Why, my dear fellow, you don't expect they will attack you?" exclaimed Scott, in pretended astonishment.

"Well, perhaps not; but it is better to be prepared for these fellows. Look at poor Waller's case; they were not satisfied with one there. The ruffians killed the whole family."

"Yes, indeed, that is true," replied Scott. "But, Hunt, though I don't make bets usually, I'll lay you fifty pounds, and Hassett shall hold the stakes, that the first man who attempts to either rob you of your money or your pistols, when you are travelling in this armed-to-the-teeth style succeeds. What say you, is it a bet?"

"Really, my dear Scott, it is a strange wager," returned Hunt; "but I'll take it."

The money was deposited in Hassett's hands, whose eyes twinkled with merry humour.

"What are you up to?" said he to Scott, as the latter placed his stake in Hassett's hands.

"Bather shin" (never mind), replied Scott.

The subject then dropped, and the entertainment went on in real Irish style. Shortly afterwards Scott excused himself for a few moments, and had a short consultation with his head groom.

"Saddle Grapeshot," was his last order before returning to his guests, "and take him down to the fir clump."

"I wondher what the masther is up to!" said the groom to a fellow-servant.

"It's more than I know, Shann," replied the other; "but he's up to some of his jokes with Misther Hunt."

"Arrah! thin is he now ?" said the groom. "Thin it's meeself that hopes he'll take the consait out av him."

The groom then proceeded to carry out his master's orders.

On rejoining his friends, Scott found that Hunt, who had a long distance to go to reach his home, was preparing for a start, and had ordered his dog-cart.