s now, when it seemed to answer so well his own
spirit's need. With the deepest reverence he read the words:

"When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an
hungered.

"The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth
him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them;

"And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall
down and worship me.

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

"Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto
him."

Ishmael closed the book and bowed his head in serious thought.

"Yes," he said to himself; "I suppose it must be so. The servant is not
greater than the Master. He was tempted in the very opening of his
ministry; and I suppose every follower of him must be tempted in like
manner in the beginning of his life. I, also, here in the commencement
of my professional career, am subjected to a great temptation, that must
decide, once for all, whether I will serve God or Satan! I, too, have
had a long, long fast--a fast from all the pleasant things of this
world, and I am an hungered--ah, very much hungered for some joys! I,
too, am offered success and honor and glory if I will but fall down and
worship Satan in the form of the golden fee and the cruel brief held out
to me. But I will not. Oh, Heaven helping me, I will be true to my
highest convictions of duty! Yes--come weal or come woe, I will be true
to God. I will be a faithful steward of the talents he has intrusted to
me."

And with this resolution in his heart Ishmael went down into the library
and commenced his usual morning's work of answering letters and writing
out law documents. He found an unusual number of letters to write, and
they occupied him until the breakfast bell rang.

After breakfast Ishmael returned to the library and resumed his work,
and was busily engaged in engrossing a deed of conveyance when the door
opened and Judge Merlin entered accompanied by a tall, dark-haired,
handsome, and rather prepossessing-looking man, of about fifty years of
age, whom he introduced as Mr. Walsh.

Ishmael arose to receive the visitor, and offer him a chair, which he
took.

The judge declined the seat Ishmael placed for him, and said:

"No, I will leave you with your client, Ishmael, that he may explain his
business at full length. I ha