ur own conscience to do so. God, in His mercy, has led you through
severe trials and hardships, and has mercifully preserved your life,
that you may, I trust, henceforth devote it to His service, and not, as
heretofore, to that of Satan. Ever remember, Archy, that we `cannot
serve two masters'--we must be either Christ's loving subjects, and obey
His laws, or we must be Satan's slaves, and do his will--he is a hard,
and oftentimes a very cunning task-master. Most of his slaves, while
following their own devices and inclinations, and, as they may fancy,
doing no great harm, are in reality carrying out his objects. He blinds
their eyes, and they are thus easily led captive by his emissaries, just
as you were led away, as I have since discovered, by that unhappy man,
Max Inkster. God's ways are inscrutable. He has been allowed to
perish, I fear, in his sins, while your life has been preserved. Then,
again I say, my boy, `Pray without ceasing,' that God's Holy Spirit may
strengthen and support you to walk in His ways, and to obey His holy
laws."

Archy assured the captain that such was his wish, and that, feeling his
own weakness, he would ever seek for strength from above.

"You will need it now, and throughout life," said Captain Irvine,
solemnly. "To God alone can we look for sure help, in time of need, in
all our temporal difficulties, much more then in our spiritual trials.
I would that all on board the ship knew this--it would sustain them in
the many dangers and the hardships they must be called on to endure. We
have now been well nigh a month shut up in the ice, and must expect to
remain nearly eight months longer. We had provisions only at the usual
rate of consumption for three months, and therefore from the day the
ship was frozen up, I was compelled to place the crew on short
allowance. Our fuel, too, will be exhausted long before the ice breaks
up. When that time comes, should the weather prove tempestuous, the
ship will be exposed to fearful danger from the huge masses of ice
tossed about by the waves, or from being driven against the icebergs
which may appear in her course. With the crew weakened as ours will of
necessity be by that time, how little able shall we be of ourselves to
contend against the perils which will surround us. I tell you this,
Archy, that you may be induced more completely to trust to the
protection of that God who can alone enable us to escape them."

Archy at length rec