gree to follow me in a new walk. Some of them have come to the Lord
already. I'm goin', sir, to get these to form a band of workers, and
we'll take up a district."

"Good," said the missionary, "there's nothing like united action. What
part of the district will you take up yourself, Ned?"

"The place where I stand, sir," he replied. "Where I have sinned there
will I preach to men the Saviour of sinners."

And he did preach, not with eloquence, perhaps, but with such fervour
that many of his old comrades were touched deeply, and some were brought
to Christ and joined his "Daniel Band." Moreover, Ned kept to his own
district and class. He did not assume that all rich church-goers are
hypocrites, and that it was his duty to stand in conspicuous places and
howl to them the message of salvation, in tones of rasping discord. No,
it was noted by his mates, as particularly curious, that the voice of
the man who could, when he chose, roar like a bull of Bashan, had become
soft and what we may style entreative in its tone. Moreover, he did not
try to imitate clerical errors. He did not get upon a deadly monotone
while preaching, as so many do. He simply _spoke_ when he preached--
spoke loud, no doubt, but in a tone precisely similar to that in which,
in former days, he would have seriously advised a brother burglar to
adopt a certain course, or to carefully steer clear of another course,
in order to gain his ends or to avoid falling into the hands of the
police. Thus men, when listening to him, came to believe that he was
really speaking to them in earnest, and not "preaching!"

Oh! that young men who aim at the high privilege of proclaiming the
"good news" would reflect on this latter point, and try to steer clear
of that fatal rock on which the Church--not the Episcopal, Presbyterian,
or any other Church, but the whole Church militant--has been bumping so
long to her own tremendous damage!

One point which told powerfully with those whom Ned sought to win was,
that he went about endeavouring, as far as in him lay, to undo the evil
that he had done. Some of it could never be undone--he felt that
bitterly. Some could be remedied--he rejoiced in that and went about it
with vigour.

For instance, he owed several debts. Being a handy fellow and strong,
he worked like a horse, and soon paid off his debts to the last
farthing. Again, many a time had he, in days gone by, insulted and
defamed comrades and friends.