ten who were
quite at home on all these subjects. He was silent for a time, and
then began again.

"I'd like to ask you one thing," said he, "very much."

"What is it?" asked Ethel.

"Do you believe," asked Tozer, solemnly, "that we're living in the
Seventh Vial?"

"Vial? Seventh Vial?" said Ethel, in fresh amazement.

"Yes, the Seventh Vial," said Tozer, in a sepulchral voice.

"Living in the Seventh Vial? I really don't know how one can live in a
vial."

"The Great Tribulation, you know."

"Great Tribulation?"

"Yes; for instance, now, don't you believe in the Apocalyptic Beast?"

"I don't know," said Ethel, faintly.

"Well, at any rate, you believe in his number--you must."

"His number?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, the number six, six, six--six hundred and sixty-six."

"I really don't understand this," said Ethel.

"Don't you believe that the Sixth Vial is done?"

"Sixth Vial? What, another vial?"

"Yes; and the drying of the Euphrates."

"The Euphrates? drying?" repeated Ethel in a trembling voice. She
began to be alarmed. She felt sure that this man was insane. She had
never heard such incoherency in her life. And she was alone with him.
She stole a timid look, and saw his long, sallow face, on which there
was now a preoccupied expression, and the look did not reassure her.

But Tozer himself was a little puzzled, and felt sure that his
companion must have her own opinions on the subject, so he began
again:

"Now I suppose you've read Fleming on the Papacy?"

"No, I haven't. I never heard of it."

"Strange, too. You've heard of Elliot's 'Horae Apocalypticae?', I
suppose?"

"No," said Ethel, timidly.

"Well, it's all in Cumming--and you've read him, of course?"

"Cumming? I never heard of him. Who is he?"

"What, never heard of Cumming?"

"Never."

"And never read his 'Great Tribulation?'"

"No."

"Nor his 'Great Expectation?'"

"No."

"What! not even his 'Apocalyptic Sketches?'"

"I never heard of them."

[Illustration: "TONITRUENDUM EST MALUM!"]

Tozer looked at her in astonishment; but at this moment they came to a
turn in the road, when a sight appeared which drew from Ethel an
expression of joy.

It was a little valley on the right, in which was a small hamlet with
a church. The houses were but small, and could not give them much
accommodation, but they hoped to find help there.

"I wouldn't trust the people," said Ethel. "I dare say they're all