ridden these twenty-five years. I was prepared to pity him, but he called on me to rejoice. Are you not wearied out with the length of your affliction?? Wearied, Sir,' said he, No. Nature would soon faint, but God sustains me. I could lie here another twenty-five years, if it pleased .God. I have found this bed to be the very gate of heaven!-Length of my affliction, Sir! O, let me not call it long-it is short, very short, and will soon be over. These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' This is a happy state of mind,' said I. Thank God for it!' said he, as.in an act of devotion. Then addressing me- Why, yes, and every thing God does is to make us happy. Is he not all love?-he cannot then be unkind. Is he not all-wise?-he cannot then do wrong. Are not His promisés yea and amen in Christ Jesus?-he cannot then break his word. None who have trusted him have repented of it. My day of affliction has been twenty-five years long; but I have found, as my day so my VOL. I. I.a

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strength has been. Blessed be his holy name!-O, Sir, I dare not complain. My affliction is a mercy. It came upon me when I was a young man-when I was worldly, thoughtless, and foolish; and, I dread to think what I might have been, but for this affliction. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy word. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.'-We sang and prayed together, and parted in pleasing hope of meeting in a better state.

"What an instance of the power of religion!-What could the world have done for such a person?-May it be our support, and comfort, and exceeding great reward!

"Your's, my dear friend,

"Most affectionately,

"JAMES DOUGLAS."

Lefevre was evidently uneasy till he received the reply from Douglas. And, as the first letter had given him an unac-

countable degree of anxiety, so this seemed to yield undue satisfaction. If these powerful emotions are to find an explanation, it must be in some future event of the history, In the midst of his satisfaction, however, he was little affected by the more important parts of the letter. He blamed himself for the severe manner in which he had written, and admired the moderated temper of Douglas; and, perhaps, he did this, the more readily, that, in the exercise; those impressions which were of a religious character, might evaporate. Such is the subtlety of the human heart!..

Notwithstanding the tender and unexceptionable behaviour of Douglas, Lefevre's conduct from this period was sensibly changed. He became more shy and reserved; and encreasingly avoided his society. He seemed to have lost his former confidence and dignity towards him; and was careful merely to avoid giving him offence.

Douglas, however, was determined on his course. He would not pay indifference with indifference; but would maintain his

hold on his friend to the last. He thought he could easily account for Lefevre's deportment. He was aware that Wallis was endeavouring to create prejudices in his mind; and, he knew, that his admonitions could not be grateful to him, and that his very presence must remind him of the height from which he had fallen, of the joys he had cast away. But he was persuaded that Lefevre still respected and loved him'; and he was resolved his respect and love should be made to contribute, as far as possible, to his deliverance. The hand of Providence was once more about to extend itself to co-operate with Douglas, in executing his benevolent purpose.

CHAPTER XVI.

IN the ensuing spring, Douglas was called to suffer great domestic trials. His grief soon found its way to the sympathetic heart of Lefevre; and he hastened to his side, to verify, by the kindest attentions, the unabated strength of his friendship. He was not now, indeed, sufficiently at ease with himself, to pay those little offices on common occasions, which once made him the most obliging of persons; but extraordinary events could yet call forth the great and good qualities of his mind.

Douglas received the sympathies of Lefevre, as they were a pledge of love, with answering kindness; and, as they were a likely means of benefiting him who offered them, with hopeful joy. His overtures of assistance were embraced, as they would necessarily multiply their interviews; and as it became needful for Douglas to take a short journey on an