tried me she might have won me to her views, for no one has such influence as she has over me; and she really did once or twice make me wish to be a Christian. You know your Bible says, the wife may be the means of winning her husband back to God.' Why do you presume I should prove an exception ?"

"You forget another precept of the same apostle's, to young women; they are only permitted to marry in the Lord.' This plainly shows us the meaning of your quotation, viz. if, after marriage, the husband or wife become the object of saving faith, it may please God to make them the instrument of their partner's conversion also. The passage bears no other construction. Had the lady married you, she would have been inconsistent and disobedient to the principles laid down in the Bible, which is, of course, the Christian's only rule of faith and duty."

"But, my dear fellow, look around you at nine tenths of the marriages that take place; you rarely see Christians united. Do you mean to say that, consequently, every one must necessarily be an unhappy union? I know that this is not the case, and therefore your arguments cannot carry conviction."

"I do not mean to say there are not many worldly marriages which do, in the main, prove happy. There are also many who are united, who are just sufficiently alive to some few practices of religion, in which both agree to join, and on which they rest all their hope. Such unions, again, may not be productive of either misery or discord, although it is not the permanent, unchangeable happiness which I should choose, were I to marry. But these are not cases in question. I maintain that a union between two who differ so

greatly as you and the object of your affection could not but be miserable. I do not dispute there might be much real and deep affection between you; but the greater the attachment, the more agonising would be the thought to your wife, that your union on earth would not be one also in heaven. How could she bear, day by day, to see you pass on the broad road which leadeth to an eternity of misery, while she was drawn towards an eternity of happiness?"

Raymond's face had assumed an expression of deep thought; he rested his head on his hand a moment, and then replied:

"You speak strongly on this point. If I could think my union with her would be productive of such a result, I could not-dare not-desire things otherwise than they are; it would be selfish for my own gratification to wish to make her mine. But I cannot but regard her still as labouring under a delusion."

"There can be no delusion in well-grounded hopes for eternity, Raymond. Would that I could bring you to see these things in the right light! would that you would view this disappointment as a means of awakening you to the importance of religion, that you would see in it the hand of God drawing you to himself! Remember that the nature of a man is too deeply wrought upon by adverse circumstances, to allow of their passing away without leaving a trace behind. Your moral character will either be improved or deteriorated-softened or hardened—more alive to the teaching of God's Holy Spirit in nature, providence, and grace, or with a conscience more seared, and a heart more closed against their entrance. Believe me, I have tasted the blessed effects of afflic

tion !

You know what I was, and what God has been pleased to work in me; and I can truly say, I thank him that I was ever thrown into the furnace. I would rather give up all I have—life itself—than the blessed thought that Christ has washed me in his precious blood, and clothed me in the robe of his righteousness. I never knew what happiness was until I became a Christian, and went, weary and heavy laden, with my burden to the foot of the cross, and found rest and peace under its shadow. Will not you, too, search and see for yourself- not even for her sake?" said Beauchamp, earnestly.

"For her sake? Yes, I would do much for that. But then I have read the Bible scores of times, and I find no rest or consolation there, as I told her; and she gave me a very good answer why it did not profit, something about not being mixed with faith! I know I have no faith, and I cannot compel it; so why weary myself in a vain pursuit ?" replied Raymond.

Beauchamp was about to reply, when a tall, darklooking man, who might have been styled handsome, but for the supercilious, defiant expression on his countenance, approached them, and familiarly accosted Raymond.

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Ha, Morton! old fellow, how are you?" said Raymond, warmly. "You remember Beauchamp ?"

Morton bowed, and Beauchamp returned the courtesy, with a distant recognition. Morton took no notice, and putting his arm through Raymond's, the young men left the place together, on apparently very good terms. Beauchamp almost shuddered: Morton was a known and avowed Atheist, and he dreaded his influence on Raymond, whose mind just now seemed so fearfully disposed to cavil at the dispensations of

Providence. Silently Beauchamp in his heart offered up a prayer for Raymond, that he might be preserved from the temptations which would be placed before him, asking also for guidance and direction how to rescue his friend, if it were needful, from so fatal a delusion.

CHAPTER XXIV.

"Nay, these wild fits of uncurbed laughter
Athwart the gloomy tenor of your mind,
As it has loured of late, so keenly cast,
Unsuited seem, and strange."-JOANNA BAILLIE.

And on his spirit rushed one vast belief! From life and matter, from the sun and moon,

And the deep waters, did a power appeal, attesting God, and teaching His domain;

But how to worship, how his law obey, in vain would philosophic Reason find

In pensive shade, or academic bower."-MONTGOMERY.

"O God, the Father of the soul! O Jesus, Saviour of the world!

Spread knowledge, then, from pole to pole: be Faith's bright banner wide unfurled;

For whatsoe'er the soul may be, or wheresoe'er the soul may

dwell,

To live for immortality is better than to live for hell."

C. SWAIN.

SOME weeks passed on, and Beauchamp and Raymond frequently met in society, but they had no opportunity of renewing their conversation: indeed, Raymond avoided such an opportunity, for his conscience reproved him for his continued intimacy with Morton, whom he knew was in every respect an undesirable companion for him. He still continued to act his part