CHAPTER V.

UT the trials he had hitherto undergone were, comparatively speaking, nothing to what still

lay before him. On the twenty-first of October, fetters more massive than usual were fastened upon him and he was chained to three murderers, with whom he was driven on foot along the highways and roads rendered almost impassable by heavy rains and floods. Weakened by want of sufficient food, and the mental and physical troubles he had already suffered, and his feet mangled and bleeding, he was unable to proceed at the rapid pace the guard required, and often stumbled. His companions endeavoured to drag him along by the chains, but in their efforts they not unfrequently threw

him down and trampled him under foot, whilst the soldiers beat him most unmercifully with the butt end of their guns. It was all to no purpose, and, at length, he sank powerless and exhausted to the ground. Even in this extremity his faith did not forsake him, and, hardly knowing what he said, he cried out," Lord Jesus have mercy upon me! " One of the soldiers, a Prussian, perceiving his weak condition, hastened to his side and demanded of him, in German, if he were a countryman. Eliezer answered in the negative, adding, however, that he professed Protestantism, the prevailing religion in Prussia. A few more inquiries elicited the real facts of the case, and the soldier, returning to his chief, held a hurried consultation, which resulted in Eliezer being separated from the other prisoners and led along slowly by the guards, till they reached their midnight-quarters. But the cessation of the march and rest from fatigue produced a reaction, and Eliezer dropped down unconscious. The kind German quickly procured a cordial, and, forcing open the sick man's

mouth, poured in a few drops. He then bathed his wounds, made him swallow a few mouthsful of food, and watched by him till the following morning, when he brought a conveyance, which he had borrowed from a peasant, and placed him carefully on it, so that he was enabled to continue the journey with comparative ease.

At the next station a large gang of prisoners, with a guard eighty strong, awaited them, and to the tender mercies of the latter Eliezer was consigned. His story had been made known to them by his Prussian friend, and, ere long, a circle of eager and curious questioners gathered around him, and he found him self called upon to answer endless queries concerning Judaism and Christianity. His knowledge so profoundly impressed his hearers that, instead of looking upon him as an ordinary mortal, they began to regard him as a Prophet sent by God, and could scarcely be persuaded that he was a frail, erring, human being like themselves. When, at length, he succeeded in convincing them that such was the case, they, nevertheless, heard

him gladly and begged to be instructed in the doctrines of the Gospel, of which they knew little if anything. Eliezer willingly acceded to this request, and it was with real regret that, a week later, he took leave of them and was hurried away, under a strong escort, he knew not whither.

At one village, as they came in sight, the peasants hastened towards them, exclaiming : 66 Where is our brother in Christ?" On beholding his wasted, emaciated form, many gave way to audible expressions of grief and sorrow, and embracing him, said with tears: "Ah! dear brother, the Lord help thee to glorify His holy name as thou hast done hitherto. Depend alone on thy Saviour, for many are the troubles that lie before thee, and He alone can support thee amidst them.” How necessary was the warning, for temptation in a new form was about to assail him, and, without his Redeemer's sustaining power to bear him up, he must have succumbed to it!

Their next halting-stage was a large town, where resided several wealthy and influential Jews, amongst whom were Eliezer's uncle

and other relatives.

They were prepared for his advent, and received him rather as a hero than as an apostate, and a pervert from the Jewish faith. His uncle came towards him, flung himself on his neck, and greeted him with the utmost affection. He begged him to take a seat in his carriage, and, had he not refused, would have driven him as a guest to his mansion. Seeing that his nephew was not to be moved thus, he burst into tears and exclaimed: "My beloved kinsman, thou hast plunged our whole house into mourning. Thou wert its crown, its glory and its stay; now thou hast trampled under foot thy most holy religion, and hast forsaken it for that of the accursed Nazarene. Give up this freak, my son, I implore thee; all the past shall be ignored and forgiven; thy chains shall be removed; riches, lands, houses, whatsoever thy soul desireth, thou shalt possess-only acknowledge thy error, and God will pardon thee, and thou shalt henceforward lead a happy and joyous life." Like an evil dream his mental and bodily sufferings during the past few months, the persecution, hidden