created by his own
sorrow and fear pressed him hard and dreams from incalculable depths
troubled and terrified his soul. In sleep it was no better. He was then
the prisoner of darkness, fettered with the bonds of a long night and
exiled for a space from the eternal Providence.

At length, however, the sun rose and John awoke and brought the terror
to an end by the calling on One Name and by casting himself on the care
and mercy of that One, who is "a very present help in time of trouble."
That was all John needed. He did not expect to escape trouble. All he
asked was that God would be to him "a very present help" in it.

Slowly and thoughtfully he dressed, wondering the while from what depths
of awful and forgotten experiences such dreams came. He was yet
awestruck and his spirit quailed when he thought of the eternity
_behind_ him. Meanwhile his trouble with Jane had partly receded to the
background of thought and feeling. He did not expect to see her at his
breakfast table. That was now a long-time-ago pleasure and he thought
that by dinner-time he would be more able to cope with the
circumstances.

But when he reached the hall the wide door stood open, the morning
sunshine flooded the broad white marble steps which led to the entrance
and Jane was slowly ascending them. She had a little basket of fruit in
her hand, she was most fittingly gowned, and she looked exquisitely
lovely. As soon as John saw her, he ran down the steps to meet her, and
she put her hand in his and he kissed it. Then they went to the
breakfast-table together.

The truce was too sweet to be broken and John took the comfort offered
with gratitude. Jane was in her most charming mood, she waited on him as
lord and lover of the home, found him the delicacies he liked, and gave
with every one that primordial touch of loving and oneness which is the
very heaven of marriage. She answered his words of affection with
radiant smiles and anon began to talk of the Club balloting. "Was it
really an important meeting, John?" she asked. And to her great surprise
John answered, "It would have been hard to make it more important,
Jane."

"About old Akers! What nonsense!"

"Akers gave us no hesitation. He was elected without a dissenting vote.
Another subject was, however, opened which is of the most vital
importance to cotton-spinners."

"Whatever is to do, John?"

"America is likely to go to war with herself--the cotton-spinning States
of the North, a