te
of the monastery. An ample supply of copies of the Scriptures, and of
Protestant books in the Spanish language having been received, they were
read with avidity by the monks, and contributed at once to confirm those
who had been enlightened, and to extricate others from the prejudices by
which they were enthralled. In consequence of this, they and their
Prior agreed to reform their religious institute. Their hours of
prayer, as they were called, which had been spent in solemn mummeries,
were appointed for hearing prelections on the Scriptures; prayers for
the dead were omitted, or converted into lessons for the living; papal
indulgences and pardons, which had formed a lucrative and engrossing
traffic, were entirely abolished; images were allowed to remain, as they
could not have been removed without attracting notice, though they
received no homage; habitual temperance was substituted in the room of
superstitious fasting; and novices were instructed in the principles of
true piety, instead of being initiated into the idle and debasing habits
of monachism. By their conversation also abroad, and by the circulation
of books, these zealous monks diffused the knowledge of the truth
through the adjacent country, and imparted it to many individuals who
resided in towns at a considerable distance from Seville.

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE STORM BREAKS.

The advocate Herezuelo returned one afternoon to his lodgings in good
spirits. He had been pleading an important cause, which he had gained--
right against wrong--the cause of a widow and her children; on one side
helplessness and poverty, on the other power and wealth. It had been
held that the widow had no prospect of success till the young advocate
undertook her cause.

Leonor rejoiced with her husband. He had been prompted by no
expectation of fee or reward; but simply from a desire, through love of
his blessed Master, to assist the distressed. It was a happy evening to
both of them. They sat in a balcony overlooking an orange-grove, the
soft air they breathed made fragrant by the sweet-scented flowers. The
stars shone brilliantly in the clear sky; and as, their hands clasped
together, they gazed upwards into the immeasurable space, they felt what
happiness would be theirs, could they be allowed to wing their flight in
company to that blessed region where all is peace, and quiet, and joy.

"But we may yet have work to do on earth in our Master's service, dear
o