he says: "Surely after I was turned, I repented. I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth."

From the day Ruth Mansfield came into the service of this aristocratic family she had measured Marie's true worth, and had been praying that the girl might be changed and brought to repentance where she could know experimentally the testimony of that grand old prophet and experience a Savior's love, which would so beautify her life and make her a blessing to the society in which she moved, a blessing to the home in which she lived.

She prayed, trusting that ere long she should hear the glad news that salvation, the free gift of God, had come to the young mistress of the Palace Earnestine.

Shortly after the death of her father, the Sisters of Charity had called upon Marie and earnestly besought her to come into the church with which her people had been identified. But her life of worldliness and the training of her childhood had been such as to have a tendency to harden her young heart, and she treated her visitors with a most indifferent spirit, for which Ruth was sorry, and said: "Dear Miss Earnestine, I am not a Catholic, yet I believe that any religion that has the blessed Lord Jesus in it has Christ enough to save a soul. You had better consider carefully the purpose of these good women and weigh their desire to do you good before you dismiss from your thoughts the object for which they come."

Marie looked steadfastly at her while she spoke and then in all candor replied: "I am glad that you are so frank with me, dear Ruth, for it makes me free to express the thoughts of my heart. I have often wished that I might be associated with some sect or religious society where I could know and be known with good people; but when

I compare your code of morals with the habits of my life I can not see what good thing there would be left for me to enjoy should I forsake all pleasure and become as you are. I would rather belong to the world than be a hypocrite and profess to be good before men and in my heart love sin."

Ruth smiled sweetly and said: "You are quite right, Miss Earnestine, in your sentiments regarding the true way for a Christian to live, but there is a wide difference in the government and discipline of these two sects—the Catholic and Protestant religions. The Evangelical Protestant churches do not approve of worldly amusements or of the use of wine and strong drink as a beverage, and their members who do these things are excommunicated from the church and counted by that body to be in a lost and fallen state. But with the Roman Catholic Church the matter of heart purity is left with the individual and his God, since the great heads of the church have not thought it wise to cut off any for indulgence in worldly pleasure. It does not matter what the creed says, soul purity is a privilege that all may enjoy, and I urge you to seek God while He may be found, and if these dear Sisters come to you again I pray you be kind to them at least." The tears then welled up in her eyes and she continued: "Dear Miss Earnestine, I have prayed so long for you; how it would rejoice my heart to know that you would put your influence on the right side." Marie sat for a moment with downcast eyes, as if lost in thought, and then looked her maid full in the face and said: "Ruth, if ever I become a Christian, I shall certainly unite with the Catholic Church. Would you pray for me as a Catholic or would you hate me?"

Ruth smiled at the frank honesty of the girl, and throwing her arms about her neck exclaimed: "Hate

you, dear! What for? Simply because you had united with the church of your choice? Ah, no! my precious friend, I would love you for having had the courage of your convictions. There is nothing in an earthly name. 'There is but one name given under heaven, and among men, whereby we may be saved, and that is the name of Jesus.' Take that precious name with you into your church, your business and your life, and it matters not what the sect may be; where Jesus is, there is salvation. I repeat it, there is nothing in a name, and it matters not whether it be Catholic or Protestant, Christ is the beginning and the end of the law to every one that believeth.' There is but one God, one Law Giver, and 'Whosoever will walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, verily he shall be saved.'"

The time wore on and stretched out into weeks and months and each day seemed to bind these two girls more closely together. Different in temperament, different in tastes and different in habits, and even in their social standing, yet like the "fern to be," their life lines ran parallel with each other and each seemed necessary to the other's happiness.

It has been said that “prejudice is the meanest trait of the human character," and it is even so. Prejudice is one of the devil's best agencies to dwarf a human soul. It shuts the door to reason, warps and twists the imagination, makes bigots and fools out of intellects which God has created for His glory and to be a blessing to the world. It has been said that "The worlds do move," and if that be true, and human progress is not a myth, then the time has come when, as exemplified in the lives of Ruth and Marie, there should be a growing together of the Protestant and Catholic Churches and God's people should be united in holy unity and truth.

The millenium day will be dawning
When the saints from near and from far
Are united in holy unity and love,

And cease from vain striving and war.

Yes, the millenium day will be dawning,
How sweetly, how gently, it will come!
God hasten the beautiful morning

When Christ and His people are one.

Oh, tell us, kind friend of the Master,
Who came so lowly and meek,
Cradled by Mary in the manger,

And taught by all wisdom to speak.

The truth from the father who sent Him,

The wonderful gospel of God;

Are not the Protestant and Catholic religions
Both built on His excellent word?

How fervently Ruth Mansfield longed to see Marie brought into the kingdom! It mattered not to her under what schism she was baptized only so her feet were planted upon the foundation, "The Rock Christ Jesus, Our Lord."