and Marie yielded to its power. Kneeling there with their arms twined around each other, God came down to meet the tired soul and to lift the burden from her life. Arising from their knees, a spirit of irradiation beamed from her countenance and gave evidence that she was indeed “born again," and Marie Stocklaid had taken one step upward in her Christian experience.

"Thus the weary days of watching,

And the nights of ceaseless care
That had tortured so her being

And had filled her with despair,
Now were laid upon the altar
For the Lord to bear away;
While a soul could sing triumphant
In the light of perfect day."

CHAPTER XXI.

FALSELY ACCUSED.

Marie Stocklaid stood before her elegant dressing case with a surprised look upon her face. Things were scattered about the room in great confusion, and the apartment looked as though it had been invaded by robbers. In her hand she held her empty jewel case, which she had just picked up from the floor.

It took her some time to collect her thoughts and to come to an understanding of what had happened to her treasures.

At last it dawned upon her that every jewel from her case had disappeared. What could have become of them? She knew for a certainty that there had been no one in her room that morning but herself, her husband, and Jeanetta, the nurse girl, whom she had had ever since little Earnie's birth. She seemed to suspect the girl, for who else could have done this wicked deed?

Had this have been the first thing she had missed from the house she would not have felt so bewildered; but mystery upon mystery seemed to envelop the place and she was becoming desperate. Surely there must be an end somewhere and she felt this morning as though this must be the culminating point of the thievish outrages that had been perpetrated upon her, and some one must be brought to justice.

Giving the bell a sharp ring for Jeanetta, the girl came rushing breathlessly into her presence to know what was the matter. Beholding the look upon the face of her

mistress, and taking in the situation at a glance, she exclaimed: "May the holy saints guard us, my lady! Who has entered your room?"

Giving the girl a sharp look, she replied: "Jeanetta, you know very well that there has not a soul entered my room this morning but yourself, and now I command you to bring back my jewels at once or I shall immediately summon an officer and have you taken to the police station."

The girl's face at once grew crimson with fright and then pale. Truly no culprit ever looked more guilty than she at that moment. Marie felt certain she was the offender.

"I will give you just five minutes, Jeanetta, to bring back my jewels or I will send for an officer and have you arrested."

Falling upon her knees before the imperious woman, Jeanetta clung to her skirts and asked for mercy. "I am innocent, Mrs. Stocklaid. I pray you believe what I say. Do you think me to be a thief? Remember I love you and please remember my poor sick mother. Do you suppose that I would steal your lovely jewels and break my mother's heart? Oh, my lady, I have not touched them, or even been tempted to do so."

To this appeal Marie was deaf, for she was convinced by the girl's manner that she was guilty of the theft. Therefore, stepping to the telephone, she called an officer and Jeanetta was hurried off to the station amidst tears of protestations of innocence and the screams of little Earnie, who clung to the officer, pounding him with his baby fists and persistently demanding that he "Let his Nettie alone."

At one time in Marie's life this morning's work would have made but little impression on her conscience, but at