nt
on his sister, more gently, 'you cannot "blot out" your transgression
by your own efforts. Don't you know that we have, each and every one
of us, in the heavens, that great High Priest who is interceding for us
always, always? He, our dear Lord, has already done that "something"
which you are groping to do in your weak, small way. _He_ has worked
out your redemption--yours and mine. What you have to do is to carry
your sins to the foot of the cross, where the great "something" was
accomplished for us. You remember the hymn--

'"I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God."

Oh, Alick! I'm only a girl, and I can't say the words right; but you
must lay _your_ sin on Jesus, who has promised to bear it. Tell Him of
your sorrowing repentance. That's all you have got to do; He does the
rest!'

'And, Theo, there's Price,' Alick lifted his head to say presently.
'Oh, I can't tell you what he has done for me! He nursed me all
through in that slum of a Whitechapel--me, of all people! And when I
begged his pardon for all my bad conduct you should have seen his face!
Theo, if you'll give me your word never to tell it to any one, I cried
like a baby; for Price looked for all the world like Stephen looked
when they were stoning him. But you'll never tell I said so? I was a
cowardly wretch to insult him as I did; and to think how he has paid me
back--"coals of fire" are nothing to it!'

'Well, I always told you, Alick, that he was a true Christian
gentleman; I was sure of it.'

'I know you did. I've found it out for myself, now. Theo!'
energetically added Alick, 'I shall never be the same again, I hate my
old self! I mean to be so different. I shall work, and study, and----'

'And try "to do your duty in that state of life unto which it has
pleased God to call you," I hope,' put in Theo quietly. 'But, Alick,
you must ask His help to hold you up, and to prevent your footsteps
from sliding,' she added reverently. 'You can't do it in your own
strength, dear!' As Theo ceased there were tears on her face, and
Alick's also. For a long time no other words were spoken--none were
needed.

The sun was setting over the bay, and the fisher-folk, busy with their
preparations for the coming night's work, were cheerily shouting from
one boat to another. It was good indeed, Alick felt, his heart
throbbing with gratitude, to be once again in the dear old home, in the
clean, wholesome country.

By and by t