liberty as was given them, hastened from the room and found their way
into the courtyard. There were several other persons brought into the
prison, for slight offences probably. Most of them were engaged in
various games, some of ball or tennis, while others were content to walk
up and down, to stretch their legs and to inhale such air, close and
impure as it was, as they were allowed to breathe.

As Ernst and A'Dale were on their way back to their chamber, the hour of
their liberty having expired, they met a venerable personage,
accompanied by a guard, proceeding along the passage. He stopped and
gazed at them with an air of commiseration, and inquired for what cause,
they, so young and innocent-looking, had been committed to prison.

"On a false accusation, sir," answered Ernst; and in a few words he
explained what had happened to them.

"There are many who are brought here on false accusations," observed the
venerable-looking stranger. "However, you are young, and may, I hope,
bear your imprisonment with less suffering than I do. Better far that
you should be brought here innocent than guilty; and yet, my young
friends, let me ask you--How do you stand before God, innocent or
guilty?"

"Very guilty, I am afraid, sir," answered Ernst, looking up.

"If you are judged by your own merits, yes," answered the stranger; "but
if by faith you have put on Christ's righteousness, you stand free and
guiltless in the sight of the Judge of all things."

"Oh yes, sir! yes!" answered Ernst; "I know that the just shall live by
faith."

"Well answered, my boy," replied the stranger. "Trust not to works, not
to ordinances, not to forms, not to creeds, but simply to the
all-sufficient merit of Christ. You must take Him as your own Saviour,
as He offers salvation, and rely on Him, and Him alone through faith.
It is an important truth; and happy are you that you have been brought
into this prison if you accept it."

"Come, move on, move on!" exclaimed a rough voice. "We cannot let you
teach your heresy to these boys, albeit the fire will probably purge you
and them of it ere long."

Ernst, looking round, saw the burly form of Master Babbington, the
warden of the prison, approaching.

He and A'Dale, respectfully wishing the old man farewell, hurried on,
that they might avoid an encounter with the jailer. The stranger was no
other than the venerable John Hooper, late Bishop of Worcester and
Gloucester. Ernst afterwards