t I am wicked, and very unlike what you, and Mr Ramsay, and
Jeanie are, who are Christians; but I cannot think that the Son of God
should have suffered death for a poor miserable boy like me."

"It's very simple. God does not give us a very difficult task,"
answered Mrs Ramsay. "All He requires of us is to take Him at His
word: `God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.' You understand, Laurence, that God does not say, only people who
have have been generally well behaved, and are supposed to be good, but
_whosoever_, which includes every human being, however bad and abandoned
they may have been. The prodigal son had been very ungrateful and very
wicked, but his father received him as soon as he came back. That
parable was told by Christ himself, to show that His Father in heaven
gladly receives all sinners returning to Him. When God says, `He so
loved the world,' He means the people in the world, and we know that the
world lies in wickedness. Oh, trust God, for He is loving and merciful,
and without doubt or fear accept His offers of reconciliation."

CHAPTER NINE.

ARRIVAL OF MR. MARTIN, THE MISSIONARY--HE PREACHES THE GOSPEL TO THE
INDIANS--LAURENCE LISTENS WITH ATTENTION--LEARNS MORE OF THE TRUTH, AND
EXPRESSES HIS WISH TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO OTHERS--THE SPRING RETURNS.

A keen, strong wind was blowing, driving the heavy snow which fell in
small sharp flakes over the ground, when, one evening shortly after the
arrival of Laurence, a dog sleigh was seen approaching the fort. The
sleigh, which was simply a narrow board turned up in front, a slight
iron frame forming the sides and back, and lined with buffalo skins, was
drawn by six dogs, harnessed two and two, while the driver ran behind,
with a long whip guiding the animals. On it came, in spite of the snow
storm, at rapid speed, for the sagacious dogs knew that they had nearly
reached the end of their journey. The traveller, who had faced the
dangers of a long journey over the trackless wintry waste, was welcomed
by Mr Ramsay, who conducted him to the house. Some time elapsed,
however, before he could venture near a fire, after the bitter cold to
which he had been exposed.

"We have been long looking for you, Mr Martin," said Mrs Ramsay, as
she came out to greet him; "and thank Heaven that you have arrived in
safety."

"We should thank the God of heaven