to realize that Christ is still on the earth. That He is
with us all the time. We ought to realize this. We ought to try to
realize it. It would make our lives different if we could realize that
Christ is always with us. I expect some of us wouldn't always feel
comfortable if we should find Him walking along with us, listening to
our talk. We ought to try to live so we would feel all right if we
should find Christ walking with us some day. And I heard a story once
about a boy who had been a cripple, and he had been a great Christian;
and, when he came to die, they asked him if he was afraid; and he said
no, he wasn't afraid, that it was only going into another room with
Jesus. And I think we ought to all live that way. We will now listen
to a solo by Mame Beecher, after which the meeting will be open, and I
hope that all will take part."

It was a crude little speech, haltingly spoken, and the speaker was
evidently relieved when it was over. Yet there had been amazing truth
in what he had said, and it came to the two visitors with the force of
newness. As he mopped his perspiring brow with a large handkerchief
and sat down, adjusting his collar and necktie nervously, they watched
him, and marvelled again that he had been willing to be put in so
trying a position. There had been a genuineness about him that brought
conviction. This young man really believed in Christ and that He
walked with men.

Allison, always ready to curl his lips over anything sissified, sat
watching him gravely. Here was a new specimen. He didn't know where to
place him. Did he _have_ to lead a meeting? Was he a minister's son or
something, or did he just do it because he wanted to, because it
seemed his duty to do it? Allison could not decide. He knew that he
himself could have made a much better speech on the subject, but he
would not want to. He would hate it, talking about sacred things like
that out to the world; yet he was frank enough to see that a better
speech might not have been so acceptable to God as this halting one
full of repetition and crudities.

The girl up by the piano was singing the solo. Why did she let herself
be called "Mame" in that common way? She was a rather common-looking
girl, with loud colors in her garments and plenty of powder in
evidence on her otherwise pretty face; but she had a good voice, and
sang the words distinctly.

"In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious ar