irkers, cowards, would stay
behind. Therefore, if he stood by his principles, she would cast him
off with scorn and contempt. If he continued to hold by what he
regarded as the foundation of the teachings of the Prince of Peace, he
would lose the girl who was as dear to him as his own life.

Oh, how he longed to join the fray! Pride of race, and pride in the
history of that race surged up within him. He, too, had fighting blood
in his veins, and he longed to share in the fight. He did not fear
death. Once accept the theory of war as right, and death on the
battlefield, especially in such a cause, would be glorious. He was
young too, and his blood ran warm. What nobler cause could there be
than to defend a small people, and to crush the fighting hordes of the
Kaiser? And besides all that, there was Nancy. He had been dreaming
love's young dream, he had been living in the land of bliss, he loved
with a pure, devoted love the fairest girl in the county.

And he could keep her love! From signs which seemed to him infallible,
he judged that the Admiral during the last few days had learnt his
secret, and had not discouraged him from visiting the house, while
Nancy had hinted to him that the time was nearly ripe for him to
approach her father, and ask for his consent to their engagement.

But how could he? There were things in the world deeper, more sacred,
even than love for a woman--principle, conscience, faith. Could he
sacrifice these? Could he trample on the Cross of Christ, in order to
embrace the sword, and hold to his heart the woman he loved?

He looked towards the mantelpiece, and saw the picture of his father,
whom he had idealised as the noblest man who ever lived. He remembered
his teaching, remembered that to him the true man was he who sacrificed
everything to principle, to conscience. He looked around among the
many books, and noted those his father loved. He took from the table a
New Testament, and instinctively turned to the Sermon on the Mount.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of
God."

"Ye have heard it hath been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth. But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whosoever
shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

And so on and on. How could a man believing in this, grasp the sword
to take away the lives of others. The Germans were Christians just as
we were; Germany was the