tentively.

"I begin to get a glimmering," she said at length, "of the inspiration
in this kind of work. Before it has all seemed unutterably repulsive to
me. But it has its rewards."

"Yes," said he, lapsing still deeper into a mood which she soon came to
recognize in him as a frequent one of spiritual exaltation, "we who toil
here, labor amidst the wreck and ruin of war without the benefit of that
stirring impulse which fills the souls of those who actually go into
battle. The terrors of human suffering which they see but for an
instant, as when the lightning in the night shows the ravages of the
storm, encompass us about and abide with us continually. We are called
upon for another kind of fortitude, and we must look for our reward
otherwise than in the victor's laurels. We can only have to animate us
our own consciousness of a high duty well done. To one class of minds
this is an infinitely rich meed. The old Jewish legend says that
Abrahams principal jewel was one worn upon his breast, 'whose light
raised those who were bowed down, and healed the sick,' and when he
passed from earth it was placed in heaven, where it shown as one of the
great stars. Of such kind must be our jewel."

He stopped, and blushing through his beard, as if ashamed of his
heroics, said with a light laugh:

"But if there is anything I fear it is self-righteousness which
cankereth the soul. Come; I will show you a sight which will repress
any tendency you may ever feel to exalt your services to the pinnacle of
human merit."

While leading her to a remote part of the hospital he continued: "Of
course greater love hath no man than this, that he gave his life for
that which he loves. Considered relatively to the person the peasant who
falls in the defense of his country gives just as much as the Emperor
who may die by his side. In either case the measure of devotion is
brim-full. Nothing more can be added to it. But there are accessories
and surroundings which apparently make one life of much greater value
than another, and make it a vastly richer sacrifice when laid on the
altar of patriotism."

"There are certainly degrees of merit, even in yielding up one's life,"
said Rachel, not altogther unmindful of the sacrifice she herself had
made in coming to the front.

"Judged by this standard," the Doctor continued, "the young man whom we
are about to see has made a richer offering to his country than it
is possible for most men to make. It