Those
Testaments and Luther's writings are the arms they dread more than
anything else. That makes me feel sure that I am doing God's work in
bringing them, and that He will take care of me while I am so employed."
A brave and faithful answer, little Julian. Oh, what noble, true
hearts there were in Spain in those days! and though many were crushed
and destroyed, still some survived, and their descendants at the present
day may yet become the salt of their native land--lights set on a hill
to enlighten their long benighted countrymen.

Before the guests separated another short prayer was offered up, and a
Gospel hymn was sung. Scarcely had the notes of the last verse died
away, when a servant who had been sent out on a message hurried into the
room. "Bad news! bad news!" he exclaimed. "We are all lost; the cause
of the pure faith is lost; the inquisitors will have their way."

The guests gathered round the man with anxious looks, for they knew well
that at any moment they might be placed in the perilous position he
announced.

"The widow Dona Maria Gomez is the cause of it all," the man answered,
to the eager questions put to him. "She is acquainted with every one of
us, and we all thought her a true Christian. Every one here is also
acquainted with the learned Doctor Francisco Zafra. The poor lady had,
it appears, gone mad, and had been placed by her friends under Doctor
Francisco's care. As he is with us, this would not have been of much
consequence, had not Dona Maria managed to escape from his custody.
Now, horrible to relate, she has made her way to the Inquisition at
Triana, and has denounced all the Protestants in Seville. As she was
making her way to the Inquisition, she cried out what she was going to
do, accusing all her former friends, and declaring that she should have
no rest till she had seen every one of them committed to the flames.
Doctor Zafra has never even been suspected by the inquisitors of
favouring the Lutherans. Now, as he will be among the first denounced
by the wretched widow, he has no chance of escaping. What shall we do?
what shall we do?"

"Do!" exclaimed a voice; "put our trust in God, and act like men! Do!
pardon me for speaking, senors--keep together and defy our enemies!"

It was Julianillo who uttered these brave words.

"But then we may all be captured together like fish by one net,"
observed a gentleman.

"Let us pray, friends, for guidance and protection to the