d, and Jacob did such things, we feel
justified in proceeding accordingly.

"But as I have not time to go into very minute detail, I pass at once
to two very important points in the New Testament. The first occurs
in Christ's parable of the unjust steward. There the steward is
commended for making an arrangement by which he secured his permanent
interest by adroitly subtracting from what was due his Lord by his
debtors. He had acted unjustly in the office of steward, being bound
by honor to fulfil its duties and his obligations to his employer, but
so soon as his obligations to his employer ceased on being ordered out
of the stewardship, and his very living cut off, then it was no longer
unjust, but commendable to do that which before would have been fraud
or robbery.

"The other case is that of our blessed Lord himself. He sent his
disciples to take away from the place where they were tied an ass and
her colt; and he told them how to escape should they be caught at it,
by saying: 'The Lord hath need of them.' Now, when we take away the
property of others, we may reply to those who question us, 'The Lord
hath need of them,' for every good pirate will endeavor so to use what
he obtains as to promote the best interests of religion, and to
glorify our blessed Redeemer.

"And now, my dear young sister, what more need I say to establish the
point that piracy is not essentially sinful--that it is not _malum in
se_? Indeed, it stands upon the same footing that slavery does, and is
vindicated by the same process of reasoning. The argument for slavery
is identically the same in principle as for piracy. And you know it is
upon the ground that slavery is not under all circumstances a sin,
that Christians in the Northern States hold communion with you of the
South. And I admire that charitable spirit which induces them to
believe that Southern Christians do not uphold the barbarous features
which wicked and cruel masters impress upon the system of slavery.
They give you, therefore, very properly, the right hand of Christian
fellowship, which they could not do if slaveholding were sin in
itself. And I doubt not they would as readily commune with Christian
pirates, since it is evident that piracy is not, any more than
slavery, _malum in se_."

Mary made no reply, but sat musing with a countenance overwhelmed with
sadness.

Mr. Gracelius looked as though he had accomplished a decided victory;
and Captain Templeton smiled with a