r Herezuelo's countenance. "Sometimes He
requires those whom He loves best, and who love Him, to suffer for Him
here, that He may give them a brighter crown, eternal in the heavens--
the martyr's crown of glory," he answered.

"Ah, yes, I know that thought should sustain a person," she remarked;
"yet all tortures must be hard for poor, frail human bodies to bear."

"Yes, if people trust to their own strength and courage they will mostly
shrink at the time of trial, but if they trust to the strength God gives
them, they will as surely bear with fortitude whatever He may allow to
be layed on them," was the answer. "Not one, but a hundred such
assurances He gives us in His holy Word. `My grace is sufficient for
thee,' He says to all who trust in Him, as He said to the Apostle Paul.
It is not moral, nor is it physical courage which will sustain a person
under such circumstances. No, dear one, it is only courage which firm
faith, or rather, the Holy Spirit of God, can give."

"I know that--I feel that; yet it is very dreadful to think that those
we love and honour may be brought to undergo such suffering."

"Not if we remember that they may thus be enabled to honour and glorify
their loving Lord and Master," answered Herezuelo. "But see, here comes
Don Carlos de Seso, one of the noblest of our band of evangelists. I
heard that he was about to visit Seville. To him I owe my knowledge of
the truth. He has, since his marriage with Dona Isabella de Castilla,
who is, you know, a descendant of the royal family of Castile and Leon,
settled at Villamediana, near Logrono. His evangelistic efforts at that
place have been as greatly blessed as they were at Valladolid; and among
many others, the parish priest of his own village has been converted to
the truth. At Pedroso also, the parish priest, Pedro de Cazalla, has
been brought to a knowledge of the truth, and now preaches it freely in
his own and the neighbouring villages. Oh, it is glorious work; would
that this whole nation might receive the Gospel!"

"Say rather the whole earth," said Leonor. "If Spain becomes the
mistress of the world, she will spread everywhere the glorious light of
truth."

"But if she puts out that light, she will as surely spread darkness and
error," observed Antonio, with a sigh. "See, De Seso is about to
address us. Let us pray that, whatever God in His wisdom orders, we may
believe in His justice, and submit to His will."

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