with cheerful warmth; "you must rouse yourself, and not let the evil one gain so much advantage over you. Remember, doubting of God's mercy is a sore sin; and so is rejecting His consolations."

"I used to think," said Henry, "that sorrow would always raise the heart to God; but I find it far otherwise."

The recollection of his conversation with Lady Constance, when he was walking with her on the first day of his arrival at Llanaven, rushed over his mind at that moment, and completely overwhelmed him. He remembered so well his own words: "Joy on the one side, sorrow on the other, lift the soul to God;" and as he felt how little that was now his own experience, and the memory of that delightful hour flashed across him, his spirits completely gave way, and a deep burst of grief broke for an instant the silence of the night.

Mr. St. Clair felt a painful compassion for this young and sorrowing heart; and spoke words of kindest sympathy. After a few moments, Henry became more composed.

"I am very weak," he said; "but I trust I shall be able to look more to God than I

have done lately, and then I shall be strengthened."

Mr. St. Clair remained with him during the whole of his watch, walking up and down with him. In the course of their conversation, he adverted to circumstances in his own life, which had shown forth the power of God to sustain under trial and affliction; and as Henry Ashton expressed a wish to know what they were, he gave him the outline of a life, which did indeed show that God is "a very present help in time. of trouble."

The outline of his life, which Mr. St. Clair gave that night to Henry Ashton, was afterwards more fully filled up during frequent conversations which they had together. For the sake of convenience, these detached accounts have been connected in a continuous form; while many events, with which it was impossible for Mr. St. Clair to be minutely acquainted, have been supplied from other sources.

THE

FIRST LIEUTENANT'S STORY.

CHAPTER I.

Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The Gods themselves throw incense.

KING LEAR.

Love at first sight, first-born, and heir to all.

TENNYSON.

"You have heard the youngsters on board here," said Mr. St. Clair, as he began his narrative, "call me by the name of John; to which they have added the blessed epithet of 'Saint;' but ill borne out, I fear, by any great holiness in me. But that is not my first christian name; Wilfred is the name by which I used to be called; but I had a fancy-a silly one perhaps-which made me shrink from hearing it

used now, so have always called myself by my other. I only mention this, because in saying what I am about to say, you might be puzzled in hearing of me with an 'alias.'

Well, you must know that some years ago— it was in the year twenty-five-when I was little more than a lad, our ship was cruizing in the Mediterranean, and, running up the Gulf of Genoa, anchored for a time off Nice; where we all of course in turn obtained leave to go ashore.

I was wandering about there alone one beautiful summer's evening, delighted to have the springing grass once more beneath my feet, and to exchange the tarry atmosphere of the ship, for the scent of the wild flowers which bloomed in profusion all around. The sun was sinking; and I had been watching its downward course, and the red clouds that followed its disappearance, when through the thickening gloom, my eye caught another light, which I perceived must proceed from some burning building. I rushed up the little knoll which hid that part of the town and shore from me,

and then saw that a solitary house, standing near the sea, was in one blaze of fire.

In a moment I was before it, in the midst of a motley crowd of sympathizing, but paralized spectators, who were venting in the wildest exclamations their grief and horror at the work of destruction going on; which feelings were raised to frenzy a moment after, by the sight of an old man, and a young girl suddenly coming out on one of the stone balconies which belonged to each window, their figures clearly defined against the glowing fire, which seemed to fill the whole interior of the house.

Exclamations of " Salvate la," "La poveretta," "La Bella," resounded on all sides, accompanied by the frantic gesticulation, and vehement action natural to the Italian ; while no one seemed to do anything, or to know indeed what to do. No ladder was at hand; so I ran down to some boats which were lying on the shore, intending to unstep one of the masts, and see what I could do with that. There I found some of my own men bound on the same errand; so in a few moments we had secured two of the highest we could find, and carrying them up to the burning house, we spliced them strongly to