e is
perishing around them, and they will not put forth a hand save to
mistreat a Quaker or throw a stone at a Churchman. Our Puritanism is
like iron to resist tyranny,--but alas! it is like iron, too, when one
tries to bend it to some generous undertaking."

He stopped, checking back other and more bitter words. All his soul
rose up in revolt against the prejudice by which he was surrounded.
Then Ruth spoke timidly.

"Seeing that it is so, would it not be best to let this missionary
subject go, and preach on practical every-day matters? I am not wise
in these things, I know; but would it not be better to preach on
common subjects, showing us how we ought to live from day to day, than
to discourse of those larger things that the people do not
understand?"

His face darkened, though not angrily. This was the same prejudice he
had just encountered in the meeting-house, though in a different form.
He arose and paced back and forth with quick, impatient steps. Then he
came and stood before her with folded arms and resolute face.

"Ruth, I have tried that so often, tried it with prayers and tears,
but it is utterly impossible. I cannot bring myself to it. You know
what the physicians say of my disease of the heart,--that my life may
be very short; and I want it to be noble. I want to live for the
greatest possibilities within my reach. I want to set some great work
in motion that will light up thousands of darkened lives,--yea, and
grow in might and power even after my lips are sealed in death."

The little figure on the chair moved uneasily under his animated
though kindly gaze.

"I do not quite comprehend you. I think the best work is to do what
God gives us to do, and to do it well. To me he has given to labor in
caring for the house,"--there was a patient weariness in her tone that
did not escape Cecil,--"to you he has given the duties of a pastor, to
strengthen the weak, cheer the sorrowing, comfort the old. Is it not
better to do those things faithfully than to spend our time longing
for some more ideal work not given us?"

"But suppose the ideal work is given? Suppose a man is called to
proclaim new truths, and be the leader in a new reform? For him the
quiet pastorate is impossible; nay, were it possible, it would be
wrong, for would he not be keeping back the message God had given him?
He would be one called to a work, yet entering not upon it; and upon
him would come the curse that fell on the unfaithful p