long."

"Poor old Tim!" said Violet, softly.

"`Poor old Tim' no longer, Violet, my child. It is well with Timothy
Bent now, beyond all fear."

"Has he gone, papa?"

"Yes, he is safe home at last. The long struggle is over, and he has
gotten the victory."

The boys looked at one another, thinking of the words that had been
spoken to them a little while ago.

"It is Timothy Bent, mamma," said Violet, as her mother came in. "He is
dead."

"Is he gone?" said her mother, sitting down. "Did he suffer much? Were
you with him at the last?"

"Yes, he suffered," said Mr Inglis, a momentary look of pain passing
over his face. "But that is all past now forever."

"Did he know you?"

"Yes, he knew me. He spoke of the time when I took him up at the
corner, and brought him home to you. He said that was the beginning."

There was a pause.

"The beginning of what?" whispered Frank to Violet.

"The beginning of a new life to poor Tim," said Violet.

"The beginning of the glory revealed to him to-day," said Mr Inglis.
"It is wonderful! I cannot tell you how wonderful it seemed to me
to-night to see him as he looked on the face of death. We speak about
needing faith in walking through dark places, but we need it more to
help us to bear the light that shines on the death-bed of a saved and
sanctified sinner. How glorious! How wonderful! For a moment it
seemed to me beyond belief. Now with us in that poor room, sick and
suffering, and sometimes afraid, even; then, in the twinkling of an eye,
in the very presence of his Lord--and like him--with joy unspeakable and
full of glory! Does it not seem almost past belief? `Thanks be to God,
who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!'"

There was silence for a good while after that, and then David first, and
afterwards the others, answered the mother's look by rising and saying
softly, "Good-night," and then they went away.

CHAPTER TWO.

"Papa does not feel it to-night," said Jem, as they went up-stairs; "but
he'll be tired enough to-morrow, when he has time to think about it.
And so poor old Tim has gone!"

"`Poor old Tim, no longer,' as your father said," said Frank, gravely.
"It does seem almost beyond belief, doesn't it?"

"What?" asked Jem.

But Frank did not answer him directly.

"I wonder what battles old Tim had to fight," said he. "Your father
said he had gotten the victory."

"Oh! just the battles that other people have to f