into the man's eyes, and without another word he joined their hands and then merged into unconsciousness. He was very ill.

This was a great shock to Marie, who all her life had been shielded from saddening scenes. Now the thought of parting with her beloved father in death was almost all her sorrowing heart could bear. Ruth, strong in heart and true, equal to any task, set about with the zeal of a professional to nurse the man back to life, with the hope that he might at least be spared to die beneath his own roof. The doctor was faithful in his attentions, scarcely leaving the bedside of the suffering man, encouraging as best he could, giving hope and comfort to the affectionate daughter, who felt she could not bear the separation from her father. She knew too well that all earthly love and skill are like a feeble zephyr; when God's messenger puts forth his hand and touches humanity with the icy fingers of death. That soul must go.

All day Ruth had sat by the bedside speaking from time to time in earnest solicitation for the welfare of a soul. But try as she would, she had not yet been able to fasten a single thought or to bring the man to see the dark yawning of eternity before him. But at last when she was almost discouraged and thought her efforts vain, she filled with joy to have him turn his pale face toward her with a look that seemed as though spiritual reason had come at last, and say: "Ruth, if my soul is lost I shall not be able to stand at the judgment bar of God and accuse you of having failed in your duty as an embassador for Christ. You have most faithfully done your duty in trying to show me the way of salvation. But (and upon his face was depicted most eager anxiety) I have lived almost seventy-four years in indifference. Think you there is hope for me now?"

"Ah, yes, sir! There is hope so long as there is life. Christ hath said: 'Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' Does not that 'whosoever' cover your case? God is gracious to bestow salvation and not willing to cut off any from eternal life."

The ship was just entering New York harbor as the dying man lay there saying over and over again, "Whosoever," "Whosoever." It came faint and fainter still as the man's soul seemed trying to grasp the hand of Him who hath said "Whosoever," seemingly unconscious that a woman with a burdened heart was praying for salvation to come to him in his dying hour.

"Whosoever" was once more audible to listening ears. A shiver passed over his frame and the millionaire lay dead.

Ruth closed her Bible, and taking Marie, who lay with her face buried in the bosom of her dead, gently led her away amid sobs and moans such as are known only to those who have not a Christian hope. Marie gasped for breath and held out her hands, while one could see that within her soul was a mute appeal to a something greater, something beyond herself. Pillowing the head of the bereaved child upon her bosom, Ruth whispered: "Dear one, my heart aches for you, but there is but one Comforter for human woes. Look unto Jesus, and He will help you."

It was a gloomy journey to them from New York to San Francisco. In the palace car sat Marie Earnestine in deep grief as she was whirled across the continent with the body of her dead. And gloomier still was that procession that mounted Nob Hill following the silent form of their beloved, who was to be buried from his own palatial home.

The ripened leaves from the trees in autumn fall to the earth having fulfilled their mission here. They fall

to rest upon the earth. So it is with man. The body, like a ripened husk, must break loose from the soul, the spirit must go out into the hereafter and the body goes to its own-the dust. The reaper's blade had cut Judge Earnestine down like the ripened shock and there was nothing left to witness for him but deeds. What were those deeds? Were they gentle acts of love fraught with human kindness? Were they seeds planted to spring and grow again to bear rich fruit for the master's use. Ah, no. A man had lived to amass wealth. That he might grow rich he had increased poverty. To bring into his coffers that gold that will become cankered, "the rust of which will testify against him," he had labored to perpetuate the liquor curse and had trafficked in human souls. Yes, he had planted seeds, but the seeds of his sowing would grow thorns instead of flowers upon his grave. Life on earth is a real earnest of the world to come; and when we pause at the end of that life and look into the black, yawning grave before us, we are willing to say in all wisdom that the evil deeds committed during one's life are not half so black as at one's death.