nd
natural conscience. I admire your honesty and candor, Mr. Gillon, and,
although I cannot but regard your views as fanatical, I trust that
when the ardor of youth shall give place to the reflections of maturer
years, you will be as firm a believer in the Bible as I am."

"Ah!" said Mr. Gracelius, "that will depend upon the grace of God.
Farewell, young man, and may the Lord convert your soul and give us a
happy meeting again, where we shall sing the song of the Lamb forever
and ever."

Mary, still in tears, took Mr. Gracelius by the hand and said:

"Mr. Gracelius, I am not at all convinced that the Scriptures favor
your views, although I am not prepared to meet your arguments. But I
fear you have so confirmed Albert in his infidelity, that it will be
exceedingly hard to get him hereafter even to listen to Christian
instruction."

"Oh! my young sister," replied the minister, "the grace of God can
conquer the worst of infidels, and I hope your friend will yet become
an ambassador of Christ."

By this time the party were standing on deck, ready to bid the last
adieu. Our young friends were soon on board the merchant vessel and
out of sight of their strange benefactors.

They found that the pirates had liberated the crew and passengers, and
returned them to their vessel, retaining only the rich cargo.

Having been well supplied with funds, in gold, when they left home,
which Albert had about his person when taken up by the pirates, they
found no difficulty, on reaching France, in making their way to
England, and thence to the United States.

On the voyages Albert perused the Scriptures with great attention, not
only because Mary had urged him to do so, but because he felt that he
needed to be informed of the true nature and character of what was
claimed to be sacred writings. He was careful to avoid conversation on
the subject during the progress of his investigations; and Mary
herself was not, after her last interview with Mr. Gracelius,
sufficiently quieted in her own mind to give expression to her
thoughts.

It was in November, when an Indian summer was augmenting the beauty of
the scenery about the harbor of New York, that our young friends were
sitting together in Mary's spacious state-room on board the noble
vessel which was just passing Staten Island.

"Albert," said Mary, with deep emotion, and the tear in her eye, "I
have become an Abolitionist."

"And I," said Albert, with yet deeper emphasis, "ha