ctly in the negative, Agellius replied that if so, he
thought it would be best never to be baptized till the hour of death. It
was a question, he said, which had perplexed him a good deal, but he never
had had any one to converse with on the subject.

Caecilius answered, "But how could you promise yourself that you would be
able to obtain the sacrament at the last moment? The water and the
administrator might come just too late; and then where would you be, my
son? And then again, how do you know you would wish it? Is your will
simply in your own power? 'Carpe diem;' take God's gift while you can."

"The benefit is so immense," answered Agellius, "that one would wish, if
one could, to enter into the unseen world without losing its fulness. This
cannot be, if a long time elapses between baptism and death."

"You are, then, of the number of those," said Caecilius, "who would cheat
their Maker of His claim on their life, provided they could (as it is
said) in their last moment cheat the devil."

Agellius continuing silent, Caecilius added, "You want to enjoy this world,
and to inherit the next; is it so?"

"I am puzzled, my head is weak, father; I do not see my way to speak."
Presently he said, "Sin after baptism is so awful a matter; there is no
second laver for sin; and then again, to sin against baptism is so great a
sin."

The priest said, "In baptism God becomes your Father; your own God; your
worship; your love--can you give up this great gift all through your life?
Would you live 'without God in this world'?"

Tears came into Agellius's eyes, and his throat became oppressed. At last
he said, distinctly and tenderly, "No."

After a while the priest said, "I suppose what you fear is the fire of
judgment, and the prison; not lest you should fall away and be lost."

"I know, my dear father," answered the sick youth, "that I have no right
to reckon on anything, or promise myself anything; yet somehow I have
never feared hell--though I ought, I know I ought; but I have not. I
deserve the worst, but somehow I have thought that God would lead me on.
He ever has done so."

"Then you fear the fire of judgment," said Caecilius; "you'd put off
baptism for fear of that fire."

"I did not say I _would_," answered Agellius; "I wanted _you_ to explain
the thing to me."

"Which would you rather, Agellius, be without God here, or suffer the fire
there?"

Agellius smiled; he said faintly, "I take Him for my portion here