eeter sympathy,
or more salutary counsel, than was given to Rodney within the
walls of that old Arch-street jail, by his fellow-prisoner.

[Illustration]

"Rodney," said Warren to him one day,--it was the first day
that he had left his cot,--"I shall soon leave this place; I
have written to my father, and he will be here at the trial with
such evidences in my favor, from the whole course of my life, as
cannot fail to secure me an acquittal. I feel no doubt that this
stain upon my character will be wiped away. And I believe that I
shall have reason to thank God, as long as I live, for having
permitted this trouble. It is a very hard lesson, but I trust it
will be a salutary one. Since I have been here, I have prayed
earnestly to God for the pardon of my sins. I have resolved, in
sincerity of soul, to consecrate my affections and my life to
his service. I have had a severe struggle; but I believe, I
_feel_, that God has heard my prayers, forgiven my iniquities,
and the last few days in this jail have been the happiest of my
life. I feel that I hate the sins of which my heart has been so
full, and that I love God even for the severe providences that
have checked my course of impenitence. I feel like a new man;
and if I am not deceiving myself,--and I pray that I may not
be,--I have experienced that regeneration of heart of which I
have so often heard, but which I could never before comprehend.

"I hope that you, too, will try and seek the Saviour, pray to
him for forgiveness, and beg the guidance of His Holy Spirit for
your future life. If we both do this sincerely, we shall have
reason forever to bless God for the way in which he has led us."

"Pray for me," said Rodney; while tears rolled down his pale
cheeks. "I want to be a Christian, and I hope that God will have
mercy upon me, and guide me, for the future, in the right path."

A few days after, Warren was called into court to take his
trial; and, to Rodney's great delight,--for he had learned to
love him like a brother,--he heard from one of the nurses that
he had been honorably acquitted.

During the same week, the case of Rodney was called up, and he
was conducted by an officer to the court-house.

CHAPTER XI.

THE TRIAL.

Justice was now to be administered, and Rodney was brought into
the crowded court-room for trial. The officer led him to the
prisoner's narrow dock, an enclosed bench, at each end of which
sat a constable, with a long staff