CHAPTER I.

"He is a chosen vessel unto me."-Acts ix. 15.

Na small town in the south of Russia resided a pious, though bigoted, Jewish couple, whose chief delight was to train up their family in the religion of their forefathers. The youngest son, in particular, early manifested a strong predilection for Hebrew and rabbinical literature, and his father, anxious that one, at least, of his children should occupy a high position in the synagogue, spared no pains to procure him the best education to fit him for so important a post, and, at the feet of two famous rabbis, he began, at a tender age, to

study the mysteries of Talmudical and cabalistic lore.

Surrounded by such influences, the boy grew up a thoughtful, earnest lad, full of reverence for that creed which he had been taught to regard as the only one given by Jehovah to man, and full of zeal to prove his devotion to it by dedicating himself to the service of God. His parents rejoiced that the child of their affections promised thus to repay them for their solicitude on his behalf, and they carefully watched and tended the expanding bud. A few years later, after his confirmation at the age of thirteen, he delivered his first sermon in the synagogue to a large and attentive audience. His instructors, proud of the manner in which their youthful disciple had acquitted himself, were loud in their praises of his genius and talents, whilst admiring friends gathered round the happy parents, predicting a brilliant future for their son and a name which should reflect glory on his ancestors, his family, and his native place. Imbued with a deep sense of religion, and fired by

an insatiable ambition, young Eliezer needed no other incentive to induce him to prosecute with renewed ardour his beloved studies; and, in course of time, a wealthy Jewish landowner, who had marked his career with an eye of satisfaction and pleasure, bestowed on him the hand of his daughter and a worthy marriage portion.

But Eliezer was not happy: he now possessed all that the human heart could possibly desire-an affectionate wife; a home where luxury and comfort abounded; a large circle of influential friends, and a high position in the synagogue. What more could he want? An unsatisfied longing filled his breast, and, with a feeling akin to loathing, he turned from all these earthly attractions and threw himself anew into his intellectual pursuits, sedulously endeavouring, by constant and unremitting application, to stifle that unaccountable yearning after nobler and loftier objects.

Thus some months elapsed, during which he prepared himself for an examination, which he passed, as all had anticipated, with

out any difficulty, and he was then nominated to the sacred office of rabbi. Vainly he now practised the most rigid pharisaical rites, and lived in an atmosphere of outward sanctity and piety. Nought availed to ease his troubled mind.

What could he do? A suggestion was made which he eagerly seized: he resolved to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to Jerusalem, the ancient home of his fathers. This meritorious act, he thought, could not fail to secure him what he so ardently desired-peace of conscience and rest of mind. The tidings of his intentions spread far and wide, and his Hebrew brethren residing at Constantinople solicited his presence there, and begged of him to make that city the chief halting-place on his journey. Nothing loth, Eliezer gladly availed himself of an invitation which was at once a tribute to his talents and flattering to his pride. All his arrangements being completed, he at length started, and, ere many days had elapsed, found himself in the capital of the Ottoman Porte, where he was received with open arms by his

Jewish co-religionists. Their first careapparently a very unnecessary one, but which eventually proved that God, in His good Providence, had directed his steps thither— was to warn him to beware of the missionaries who dwelt in Stamboul, and to put him on his guard against their insidious arts to entrap the unwary into Protestantism. Far from producing the effect they were intended. to have, these words, Missionary, Protestant, so unfamiliar to his ears, aroused within Eliezer an unconquerable feeling of curiosity. What was a missionary? What was a Protestant? he asked himself. What kind of persons could they be? He begged to be enlightened, but his hosts could only speak of such beings with curses and anathemas; and Eliezer, fearful of incurring their wrath, was, much against his will, compelled to stifle his newly-awakened interest. One day, however, a casual caller, who was standing near the open casement, exclaimed, amidst a volley of abuse and execrations, "There goes that apostate!" Here was an opportunity for solving the enigma; Eliezer hastened to look at