sense of isolation
came at length a great longing to leave these inhospitable shores, and
return to her native environment and the sympathy and tender
solicitude of her beloved Rosendo and Padre Jose. But, alas! that was
at present impossible. Indeed, she could not be certain now of their
whereabouts. A great war was raging in Colombia, and she knew not what
fate had befallen her loved ones. To her many letters directed to
Simiti there had come back no reply. Even Harris, who had written
again and again to both Rosendo and Jose, had received no word from
them in return. Corroding fear began to assail the girl; soul-longing
and heart-sickness seized upon her; her happy smile faded; and her
bright, bubbling conversation ceased.

Then one day, standing alone in her room, she turned squarely upon the
foul brood of evil suggestions crowding upon her and, as if they were
fell spirits from the nether world, bade them begone. "Listen!" she
cried aloud. "I know you for what you are--_nothing_! You seemed to
use Padre Jose, but you can't use me! God is everywhere--right here!
He is my life; and you, evil thoughts, can't make me think He isn't! I
am His image and likeness; I am His witness; and I will _not_ witness
to His opposite, evil! My life is filled with harmony; and you, evil
thoughts, can't reverse that fact! God has brought me here, else I
would not have come, for He is the cause of all that is. It is for me
to stand and see His glory. No! no!" as she paced about the room and
seemed to ward off the assaults of an invisible enemy, "there is no
power apart from Him! On that I stand!"

Then, in the lull of battle, "Father divine, I thank Thee that Thou
hast heard me. And now I lay my all upon the altar of love, and throw
myself upon Thy thought."

From that day, despite continued attacks from error--despite, too, the
veiled slights and covert insinuations of her schoolmates, to whom the
girl's odd views and utter refusal to share their accustomed
conversation, their interest in mundane affairs, their social
aspirations and worldly ambitions, at length made her quite
unwelcome--Carmen steadily, and without heed of diverting gesture,
brought into captivity every thought to the obedience of her
Christ-principle, and threw off for all time the dark cloud of
pessimism which human belief and the mesmerism of events had drawn
over her joyous spirit.

Mrs. Reed had not been near her since her enrollment in the school;
but Ketc