his
questions and replies how completely he understood it, and how his pure
unprejudiced mind revolted against the falsehoods of Rome, while it
quickly embraced the truth of the Gospel.

After quitting Monsieur Laporte, he paid a visit to the count. He found
Nigel hard at work in the garden, and Constance helping him. He
repeated to them what he had seen and the impression formed on his mind,
and they explained the truth much as the minister had done; to which
Constance added an account of the horrible system of the confessional,
which she had heard from some of her Papist friends, who had been
subjected to it, and the abominable questions which had been put to them
by the priests.

"That alone would have been sufficient to convince me that this system
is not of God. And He tells us from the mouth of the Apostle Paul that
we may come boldly to the throne of grace, trusting in the all cleansing
blood of Jesus; and Jesus Himself says, `Come unto Me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' I am sure that
He never refuses to hear when a human being comes trusting to His blood
shed on Calvary. Monsieur Laporte was reading from the Epistle of
Timothy a prophecy that there should come `some who shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe
and know the truth,' who would advocate will-worship and their own good
deeds in opposition to the all perfect atonement of Jesus. Such truly
is what the priests of Rome teach, though nearly for a thousand years
after Christ came Christian ministers, whom they acknowledged as
belonging to their communion, were allowed to marry like other men; and
certainly those who did so were less corrupt than the celibates who,
having no family ties, became the servile tools of Rome's tyranny."

Constance had now to go in to prepare for dinner, and Nigel then asked
Tecumah what remarks he had made to the governor and the priest. The
Indian told him.

"You spoke truly; but knowing what these priests are, I fear much that
they will endeavour to entrap you; and if they find that they cannot
compel you to believe in their false doctrines and to acknowledge their
authority, they will use other means to bring about your des