CHAPTER XII.

THE STRUGGLE AND THE CONQUEST.

ONE morning Mr. Dexter's man handed John a third note, which, upon opening, he found read as follows:

"MY DEAR JOHN,

"I respect you all the more for your refusal, the other night, to accept my of fer. I always thought it noble in Moses to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather, for conscience's sake, the humbler lot of his Hebrew brethren. I am afraid, though, that he got better paid in the end than you ever will, for it certainly was vastly better to be the world-renowned leader of the Israelites than some old forgotten mummy of a Pharaoh, whose very name the wise men quarrel

about, peradventure said mummy should. escape from the hungry Yankee engine, whirring past his mausoleum. By the way, a dastardly trick that, of the irrev erent moderns!

"But to emerge from the catacombs, here is another offer for you. I will pay all of your bills till you have acquired just as good an education as you desire, — all but the theology. If your mind runs that wise, I will pay all up to the university door, but not a step within said enclosure. If you choose any other profession, I will be responsible for the whole course of study. Moses let his educational bills be sent in to Pharaoh, or, if he did not know his origin then, was undoubtedly thankful afterwards that he had got such a good bill out of the government! You are too sensible a young man to let pride make you refuse this aid. Principle has nothing to do with it.. It is a gift, not a debt. I

do not restrict you in the least. Be a tract-distributor between schools, and a parson in the end, if you choose. It shall not be said I will not have to think so meanly of myself that I was too selfish to continue my cffer when you refused it, though you would pay me vastly more than the worth of the sordid coin in filial regard.

"All your bright dreams,-you are too smart not to have them, besides, I have read them in your eye,-all these can be fulfilled now, if you choose, without the cost of a particle of self-respect; for somewhere in that Book you prize so highly is the command 'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,' and I know you sadly wish I would obey its commands more faithfully.

"With genuine respect,

"J. DEXTER."

John put the letter in his pocket with

out saying a word about its contents, even to Jerry; but he wore a more thoughtful look during the day, for that day was one of strong temptation. At night he handed the letter to Jerry, without a word.

"How very fortunate!" exclaimed his friend, joyfully. "There is surely no reason why you should refuse this offer."

But John leaned wearily against the bed-post, as he replied, in a low voice, "Jerry, I am tempted more than I can bear! All my bright dreams might be realized!"

"There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it,'" answered Jerry, on the impulse of the

moment.

"I thought I loved Christ most of all,

but now I find I love myself best of all; yet I would give all the world if it were not so!" said John, the hot tears springing to his eyes.

666 Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand,"" quoted Jerry, in reply.

My

"Please read to me a chapter. head aches with thinking; it seems as if I were drifting away from Christ."

Jerry, not knowing what to choose, opened his Bible at random, and read,

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness,