it was absurd that such
powers should be wasted on a village congregation, made up of rustics
and old women; he must preach from some city pulpit; he was a man
fitted to sway the masses in the east end of London, to be a leader
among his fellows; it was seldom that one saw such penetration and
power united with such simple unobtrusive goodness.

Mr. Ferrers would smile a little sadly when the speeches reached his
ear. He was a man who cared little for the praises of his generation;
his one aim in life was to devote his talents to his Master's
service--to work in the corner of the vineyard allotted to him. His
inner consciousness, indeed, told him that he had capabilities for a
larger sphere, a wider range of work; when the call came he would be
ready to leave his few sheep in the wilderness and go out into
pastures now. He was like a knight watching beside his armor until the
reveille sounded; when the time came he was ready to go down to the
battle.

When the call came! Alas! it never came in this world for Raby
Ferrers. In the full prime of youth and strength the mysterious doom
of blindness came upon the young vicar and left him groping in a
darkened world.

There was bitter trouble at the Grange just then; a young cousin of
Margaret and Raby Ferrers, who had lived with them from childhood, and
had been the spoiled darling of the house, had left her home suddenly,
leaving no trace behind her.

Gossip had been rife in Sandycliffe, but no one except Hugh Redmond
knew the rights of the case, or why the girl should have abandoned her
home when Raby Ferrers was lying on a bed of suffering, and Margaret
was watching beside him in trembling anguish for the result.

There were weeks and months of bodily suffering and fierce internal
conflict--bitter hand to hand fights with despair. And then the strong
will and faith of Raby Ferrers triumphed; back from the shadow of the
valley of death he came, mutilated, scarred, and victorious; and like
blind Samson, led by a boy, he one day electrified his people by
entering his pulpit again; and at the sight of the changed pale face,
and of the deep melodious voice speaking with its old tender
authority, there was hardly a dry eye in the church.

From that day Mr. Ferrers never flinched from the purpose he had set
before him as far as lay in his power to do his duty. Bound by his
ordination vows, he still gloried in the dignity of his priesthood.
Sunday after Sunday saw him occu