rs in points of faith, and I felt it was
perhaps wiser to turn more to the tenderness of God as it is in Christ.
And I cannot agree with you that the doctrines are not in the Bible, Mr.
Dean."

"Well," the elder admitted, "of course. But not so he that runs may read,
or that the wayfaring man will not err therein. There is some folks as
would take 'God is love' out of the Good Book, and forget 'Our God is a
consuming fire.'"

John bent his head on his hand for a moment, and drove his mind back to
his old arguments for silence. Neither of the men spoke for a little
while, and then John said, still without raising his head:--

"Do you feel that this--neglect of mine has been of injury to any soul?
It is your duty to tell me."

It was here that Helen's knock came, and when John had taken his seat
again he looked his accuser straight in the eyes.

"Do you?" he said.

"Sir," answered the elder, "I can't say. I ain't heard that it has--and
yet--I'm fearful. Yet I didn't come to reproach you for that. You have
your reasons for doing as you did, no doubt. But what I did come to do,
preacher, was to warn you that there was a creepin' evil in the church;
and we need strong doctrine now, if we ain't before. And I came the
quicker to tell you, sir, because it's fastened on my own household. Yes,
on my own child!"

"Your own child?" John said. "You have nothing to fear for Alfaretta; she
is a very good, steady girl."

"She's good enough and she's steady enough," returned Mr. Dean, shaking
his head; "and oh, Mr. Ward, when she joined the church, two years ago,
there wasn't anybody (joinin' on profession) better grounded in the faith
than she was. She knew her catechism through and through, and she never
asked a question or had a doubt about it in her life. But now,--now it's
different!"

"Do you mean," John asked, "that her faith is shaken,--that she has
doubts? Such times are apt to come to very young Christians, though they
are conscious of no insincerity, and the doubts are but superficial. Has
she such doubts?"

"She has, sir, she has," cried the elder, "and it breaks my heart to see
my child given over to the Evil One!"

"No, no," John said tenderly; "if she is one of the elect,--and we have
reason to hope she is,--she will persevere. Remember, for your comfort,
the perseverance of the saints. But how has this come about? Is it
through any influence?"

"Yes, sir, it is," said the elder quickly.

"What is the es