whispered in the woman's ear, "Be strong, God will help you," it gave
courage and re-assurance.

Up the broad steps and through the long corridors they passed; Martha
trembling and drawing closer, while Agnes dared not look to the right or
left. Presently they stopped before a curtained recess, and drawing
aside the curtain Mrs. Nelson passed in. Martha wanted her teacher with
her, she said; but when she was told her father might have things to say
to his wife and child alone, she withdrew her hand and followed her
mother. It was not long, however, until the nurse came out with a
request for Martha's teacher.

"He wants some singing, Miss, and the little girl told him you could
sing beautiful," said the man. As Agnes stepped near the bedside, Martha
called out eagerly, "Here she is, father, this is Miss Agnes."

He tried to speak, but it was only a movement of the lips, no sound
came. Sitting where he could see her, Agnes began in a low, clear voice,
to sing:

"There is a fountain fill'd with blood,--"

When she came to the lines--

"And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away,--"

the dying man held out his hand as if beckoning her over. Again his lips
moved, and stooping she heard: "Again--sing."

As her voice arose again, slowly repeating the words, her heart made
supplication for the soul so rapidly passing away. Hymn after hymn was
sung, all speaking of Jesus and his great love for sinners, and to Agnes
it seemed that Jesus was himself speaking in each. She knew he was there
in the midst of them, and wondered if the sick man saw him. Bending
down, she whispered: "O, how the Saviour loves you; do you love Him?"

He looked at her with the strange, earnest look the dying only have; the
look that seems to be measuring eternity; and then his hands were raised
and clasped, while his eyes remained fixed on hers.

"He is asking you to pray," said the nurse; "He is near gone."

There was no time to listen to Satan now, or to think of anything but
this soul venturing out into the unknown future. Was it prepared?

O, how she plead for him! As if face to face, she talked with God. The
Holy Spirit gave her words and great assurance; it seemed as if the
answer must come. He had promised to hear and to give the things
desired. He had _never_ refused to listen to the feeblest petition, and
here was a burdened soul; was not the Saviour near, to take from it its
burdens? S