ner of the room where stood a small
wooden box that contained the few articles of clothing which he
possessed. From the bottom of this he fished up the New Testament that
had been given to him long ago by Reggie North. Drawing his chair to
the table and the candle to his elbow, the returned convict opened the
Book, and there in his garret began for the first time to read in
earnest the wonderful Word of Life!

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE GREAT CHANGE.

Punctual to the day and the hour, the missionary returned to Ned's
garret.

Much and earnestly had he prayed, in the meantime, that the man might be
guided in his search after truth, and that to himself might be given
words of wisdom which might have weight with him.

But the missionary's words were not now required.

God had spoken to the rough man by his own Word. The Holy Spirit had
carried conviction home.

He had also revealed the Saviour, and the man was converted before the
missionary again saw him. Reader, we present no fancy portrait to you.

Our fiction had its counterpart in actual life. Ned Frog, in essential
points at least, represents a real man--though we have, doubtless,
saddled on his broad shoulders a few unimportant matters, which perhaps
did not belong to him.

"I believe that this is God's Word, my friend," he said, extending his
hand, the moment the missionary entered, "and in proof of that I will
now ask you to kneel with me and pray."

You may be sure that the man of God complied gladly and with a full
heart.

We may not, however, trace here the after-course of this man in detail.
For our purpose it will suffice to say that this was no mere flash in
the pan. Ned Frog's character did not change. It only received a new
direction and a new impulse. The vigorous energy and fearless
determination with which he had in former days pursued sin and
self-gratification had now been turned into channels of righteousness.

Very soon after finding Jesus for himself, he began earnestly to desire
the salvation of others, and, in a quiet humble way, began with the poor
people in his own stair.

But this could not satisfy him. He was too strong both in body and mind
to be restrained, and soon took to open-air preaching.

"I'm going to begin a mission," he said, one day, to the missionary who
had brought him to the Saviour. "There are many stout able fellows here
who used to accept me as a leader in wickedness, and who will, perhaps,
a