entre in
that room. Gradually reflecting neighbours began to learn that there was
a beneficent force other than intellectual at work there.

Young men who needed interest and pleasure, the poor who needed warmth
and food, came together to that room, and met there the drunkard in his
sober intervals, the gamester when he cared to play for mere pastime;
yes, and others, the more evil, were made welcome there. It was not
forgotten that Toyner had been a wicked man and that Ann's father had
been a murderer.

It was a strange effort this, to increase virtue in the virtuous, not by
separation from, but by friendship with, the unrepentant. To Toyner sin
was an abhorred thing. It consisted always, yet only, in failure to
tread in the foot-prints of God, as far as it was given to each man to
see God's way--in obedience to the lower motive in any moment of the
perpetual choice of life. For himself, his life was impassioned with the
belief that it was wicked to live as if God was not the God of the whole
of what we may know.

I, who have seen it, tell you that the atmosphere of that house was
always sweet. There were many young girls who came to it often, and
laughed and danced with men who were not righteous, and the girls lived
more holy lives than before. I would say this:--do not let any one
imitate the method of life which Toyner and his wife practised unless by
prayer he can obtain the power of the unseen holiness to work upon the
flux of circumstance; yet do not let those fear to imitate it who have
learned the secret of prayer. It was a strenuous life of prayer and
self-denial that these two lived until their race in this phase of
things was run.

* * * * *

_It is with this abrupt note of personal observation and reflection that
the schoolmaster's manuscript ends. He had evidently become one of
Toyner's disciples. It is well that we should know what our brothers
think, feel with their hearts for an hour, if it may not be for longer._

* * * * *

Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ltd., London and Aylesbury

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